Dear Members
Please help me to solve a problem. During office lunch a senior person of my company usually sit aside and start smoking . How to gently tell him to avoid while sitting with me. Please advice.........?
From Pakistan, Faisalabad
2Please help me to solve a problem. During office lunch a senior person of my company usually sit aside and start smoking . How to gently tell him to avoid while sitting with me. Please advice.........?
From Pakistan, Faisalabad
Dear Atq,
When your senior start smoking, go to him and start chit chat, come gradually to the point of concern and tell him politely that it is better not to smoke in public and let him know that people generally do not like it. If he do not turn the deaf year and persist his behavior then show your dis likeness through your attitude. Leave the room, make face, start coughing etc.
From Pakistan, Karachi
When your senior start smoking, go to him and start chit chat, come gradually to the point of concern and tell him politely that it is better not to smoke in public and let him know that people generally do not like it. If he do not turn the deaf year and persist his behavior then show your dis likeness through your attitude. Leave the room, make face, start coughing etc.
From Pakistan, Karachi
Dear, Find the attached PPT and represent in the front of those who can smoke in positive way. Hope this is useful to you. Regards dev
From India, Ludhiana
From India, Ludhiana
Here's what I have seen - smokers tend to cast out the people who come between them and their smoke. It has been depicted very well in many movies and television series where a person retaliating suddenly becomes an outcast for the smoker.
Since, this is a senior you don't really want to be outcast but still want the message to be sent across. The way this can be done will depend on your gender but in both cases "humiliation" should not be your weapon of choice.
If you are a woman: cough gently to make it known that you are uncomfortable - when the smoker decides to notice your plight and stubs out his cigarette - praise him for being chivalrous by smiling and saying "Thank you". Be genuinely impressed that the smoker thought of you before his/her smoke.
If you are a man: Direct the conversation towards health and fitness, talk about stamina etc. Do not make it obvious that you are doing it to point out the smoker.
Just my two cents - try out as many ideas as you can without turning hostile.
From India, Gurgaon
Since, this is a senior you don't really want to be outcast but still want the message to be sent across. The way this can be done will depend on your gender but in both cases "humiliation" should not be your weapon of choice.
If you are a woman: cough gently to make it known that you are uncomfortable - when the smoker decides to notice your plight and stubs out his cigarette - praise him for being chivalrous by smiling and saying "Thank you". Be genuinely impressed that the smoker thought of you before his/her smoke.
If you are a man: Direct the conversation towards health and fitness, talk about stamina etc. Do not make it obvious that you are doing it to point out the smoker.
Just my two cents - try out as many ideas as you can without turning hostile.
From India, Gurgaon
Hi ATQ,
I am an ex-smoker, and I can tell you with absolute certainity that there is NO way for a non-smoker to tell a person to not smoke without them getting offended/embarassed. They will probably stop smoking around you, but will also always remember.
A better bet would be to make some jokes about smokers, we tend to be pretty easygoing with jokes about it. However it won't probably won't make them stop smoking.
The best way would to either have your HR designate the canteen area as No-smoking Area (which by law it should be), and if it is official you can't be blamed for it. OR move your seat if you don't want to anger the senior.
If you don't care about being on his good side then tell him to his face. Please do note that no matter what, do NOT complain about him behind his back to colleagues, it is the worst thing you could possibly do.
From India, Madras
I am an ex-smoker, and I can tell you with absolute certainity that there is NO way for a non-smoker to tell a person to not smoke without them getting offended/embarassed. They will probably stop smoking around you, but will also always remember.
A better bet would be to make some jokes about smokers, we tend to be pretty easygoing with jokes about it. However it won't probably won't make them stop smoking.
The best way would to either have your HR designate the canteen area as No-smoking Area (which by law it should be), and if it is official you can't be blamed for it. OR move your seat if you don't want to anger the senior.
If you don't care about being on his good side then tell him to his face. Please do note that no matter what, do NOT complain about him behind his back to colleagues, it is the worst thing you could possibly do.
From India, Madras
Company policies prohibit smoking inside office/cabins. For smokers, separate location is identified and they go there for a buff. In air conditioned offices, smoking spoil the atmosphere and environment for co-workers. I am a regular smoker but go out of office for smoking.
Pon
From India, Lucknow
Pon
From India, Lucknow
Let me begin by saying that a general rule smokers are supposed to follow during office hours, official meetings is to ask permission for smoking. All the more so when in company of mixed group, i.e. men and women. (There are different rules about whom to ask permission while addressing a group of people, but this is not the topic at hand.)
While I don't agree with Gokul's views that it is not possible to ask a smoker to smoke somewhere else without offending him/her, as they smoke for their own gratification, and need not necessarily subject others to the puffs of smoke exhaled by them, thereby offending and harming them; I agree with him on point that the HR should be approached and the dining area should be made NON SMOKING.
What you could do in such a case is approach HR, and present a general case on how some people are smoking in the dining room (without fussing about who does it and making the issue a personal one), during lunch hours and how it is making you a passive smoker. You can also enlist help of your peers, seniors who are also facing the same problem.
Another option, while a little drastic, is to change your eating timing. If you have some company, then change your lunch timing so that it doesn't clash with this smoker's lunch time. If asked, you can politely say the truth. Again, i dont know the dynamic you and your team and this senior person share, so it has to be your call.
In most companies there are different smoking zones where smokers can enjoy a puff. Moreover, as I believe, most smokers ARE considerate of others' feelings and don't mind having to go to a separate place to smoke. Hence, find out these details in your company and take next course of action.
From India, Mumbai
While I don't agree with Gokul's views that it is not possible to ask a smoker to smoke somewhere else without offending him/her, as they smoke for their own gratification, and need not necessarily subject others to the puffs of smoke exhaled by them, thereby offending and harming them; I agree with him on point that the HR should be approached and the dining area should be made NON SMOKING.
What you could do in such a case is approach HR, and present a general case on how some people are smoking in the dining room (without fussing about who does it and making the issue a personal one), during lunch hours and how it is making you a passive smoker. You can also enlist help of your peers, seniors who are also facing the same problem.
Another option, while a little drastic, is to change your eating timing. If you have some company, then change your lunch timing so that it doesn't clash with this smoker's lunch time. If asked, you can politely say the truth. Again, i dont know the dynamic you and your team and this senior person share, so it has to be your call.
In most companies there are different smoking zones where smokers can enjoy a puff. Moreover, as I believe, most smokers ARE considerate of others' feelings and don't mind having to go to a separate place to smoke. Hence, find out these details in your company and take next course of action.
From India, Mumbai
Two ideas :
1. Cigarette smoking is Injurious to health, not only to smoker, but others too. This is a Govt’s official slogan. Quietly Approach your HR or ADMIN Boss, with few of your friends, and request him to make a separate Area for Smokers. He will certainly listen. To implement this suggestion, no expenses are involved. Simple typed banner ‘SMOKING AREA’ to be put at respective places, and your problem is solved. Even you may get Suggestion Award, if such policy is there in your Company.
2. Talk to your Senior : ‘Sir, I like your company very much, when we sit together and exchange our thoughts and ideas. On many occassions your suggestions and advise has helped me a lot, not only in office matters, but also in my personal life too.
But, today, Sir, I am really nervous to talk to you on some personal issue. Believe me, You have very good style of smoking. I really like it. Somehow I like this tobacco smell also. For past many days, we sit together for few minutes, and make ourselves relaxed and your Cigar has also become our regular friend. I don’t mind at all.
But, Sir, for past one week I am experiencing some kind of breathing problem, especially in nights, and my sleep is much much disturbed. Y’day I happen to my Doctor, to whom I mentioned about my sleepless nights due to breathing and coughing problems.
On checking my eyes and throat he asked me whether I am a smoker or tobacco eater. I was shocked for his question, as in my life I have never touched these things. When my reply to him was negative, he asked me any of my family members or close friends are smokers. Hurriedly, I gave my answer negatively. Then he told me to think once again, and my answer remained unchanged. Then he gave me a long list of Lab tests to be done, and then only he will decide further course of treatment.
On my return home, suddenly I remembered you, Sir, yes, everyday we sit together for a while, and your Cigar also accompanies us .. make good story ahead…
From India, Mumbai
1. Cigarette smoking is Injurious to health, not only to smoker, but others too. This is a Govt’s official slogan. Quietly Approach your HR or ADMIN Boss, with few of your friends, and request him to make a separate Area for Smokers. He will certainly listen. To implement this suggestion, no expenses are involved. Simple typed banner ‘SMOKING AREA’ to be put at respective places, and your problem is solved. Even you may get Suggestion Award, if such policy is there in your Company.
2. Talk to your Senior : ‘Sir, I like your company very much, when we sit together and exchange our thoughts and ideas. On many occassions your suggestions and advise has helped me a lot, not only in office matters, but also in my personal life too.
But, today, Sir, I am really nervous to talk to you on some personal issue. Believe me, You have very good style of smoking. I really like it. Somehow I like this tobacco smell also. For past many days, we sit together for few minutes, and make ourselves relaxed and your Cigar has also become our regular friend. I don’t mind at all.
But, Sir, for past one week I am experiencing some kind of breathing problem, especially in nights, and my sleep is much much disturbed. Y’day I happen to my Doctor, to whom I mentioned about my sleepless nights due to breathing and coughing problems.
On checking my eyes and throat he asked me whether I am a smoker or tobacco eater. I was shocked for his question, as in my life I have never touched these things. When my reply to him was negative, he asked me any of my family members or close friends are smokers. Hurriedly, I gave my answer negatively. Then he told me to think once again, and my answer remained unchanged. Then he gave me a long list of Lab tests to be done, and then only he will decide further course of treatment.
On my return home, suddenly I remembered you, Sir, yes, everyday we sit together for a while, and your Cigar also accompanies us .. make good story ahead…
From India, Mumbai
What can you do that put NO SMOKING sign board in the canteen , conference hall, Board room, plant area and all the places.
if then also he Continuous , click his photo and put on the notice board and put NO SMOKING.
From United Kingdom, London
if then also he Continuous , click his photo and put on the notice board and put NO SMOKING.
From United Kingdom, London
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