If smoking is allowed in the work place the smokers should pay the none smokers health ins.

Our smoking policy varies with the customer, but generally, we don't allow smoking inside a home after drywall is installed. We normally set aside a smoking area somewhere outside at this point. We do have a job going at the moment where the owner wanted no smoking anywhere on his property, so if someone wants to smoke, they must stand in the street or sit in their car (parking is off site).

The Americal Lung Association has had a Healthy Home Designation for years. In addition to meeting lots of strict criteria for people with allergies, the sign outside the work area says "NO SMOKING" on the work site. Green Homes are Healthy Homes with air quality standards.........No SMOKING....I would not like any part of my home absorbing smoke particles.

I do not smoke, I do not allow anyone to smoke in my home or office.
We are currently reviewing implementation of a no smoking policy at our job sites.
Our customers don't like it, our techs smell of smoke and customers feel like they are paying our men to smoke on their jobs.

As a confirmed non-smoker, I do not allow smoking in my home, vehicles, inside of clients homes, or in my direct presence, even at lunch time. If subs must smoke, it is to be done outside, away from the house, regardless of the weather, or in the sub's own vehicle(s). And, cigarette butts will be picked up and disposed of in the trash, or in the smoker's vehicle, not on the grounds of the client's home. These terms are non-negotiable. If you want to work on my project, you will abide by my rules, since I am the one writing the check.

I have to qualify my comment by saying that I am a former smoker which means I am sympathetic on the one hand and very quick to avoid cigarette smoke on the other. The problem with this issue, as in most things controversial, is that people have to get extreme, no middle ground. Are people just not smart enough to work out business rules that don't subject the employer to excessive lost time, turn off customers who don't want workers smoking in their building (even if it isn't finished), and yet don't infringe upon worker's right to make personal decisions.

I smoke and so does the guy I work with. This time of year we are working outside on docks.
We don't take smoke breaks, we just smoke while we work. Other times when I'm working inside my clients homes, if they don't smoke, we will go outside for a smoke break. I would also like to note that I don;t throw my butts on their property, I put them in my tool bag with scrap nails. (yes, I make sure they are out), and my customers appreciate the effort. I have never had one complaint about taking a few minutes to go out and smoke as I'm thinking about the next move on the work at hand.

We own a landscaping business in Washington state and do not have any smokers hired on our crew. We have had smokers in the past and find that they take more breaks, are not in top physical condition and leave their cigarette butts all over the jobsite which many customers have complained about. We run a very efficient crew and time is critical every day. We get alot of comments from homeowners of how clean our crew is as well as our jobsite compared to past subs they have worked with. I do not smoke myself and can't stand getting into one of our work trucks that the smoking employee drives. Even if they smoke on their break and then get into the truck to drive, it still stinks. I realize tons of construction workers smoke, and when we had smokers, we just told them they had their two 15 min. breaks and 30 min. lunch break they could smoke on and that was it. Washington state has a ban on smoking in a public building as well as 25 ft. within the entry. Why would someone's home be any different?

What happened to freedom in America, you can't smoke, but we can't have a bar/rest./nightclub where you can smoke either, for smokers only, then it's descrimination against the non-smokers, so now we can't smoke on the jobs, the hell with this bull crap, I guess we will have to divide America in halves, it will be like back in the old days when we had blacks and whites segregation. It's just that the people that smoke are being attacked, this country is a joke any more, just like if someone breaks into your house you can't shoot them, the criminals have more rights then the homeowner thats being invaded. What about the smokers rights to have a smoke. It's our choice and an addiction that we can't kick or we may go postal.

Hey, Mark - Enough's enough. Do YOU have to be one of these people that butt into other people's business, also? What do you mean innumerable smoke-breaks? These people know how to wait for their two 15 minute breaks and lunch break just like everybody else. Write about something that people come to your column for - not this drivel.

I told the builder of my house if I found cigarettes on the property or in the house, I would not purchase the house. I meant it. I was not going to purchase a house already stinking of cigarettes. I agree that an employer should not pay a smoker by the hour. Maybe the price of homes could be reduced if the crew was actually working 8 hours instead of smoking for two hours, shopping at the food truck and eating for one hour, and maybe working five hours.

I am a smoker. I think it is more professional to not smoke on the job site. The first reason is for respect of the homeowner. Why should their house smell like smoke when they don't smoke? Even in early construction many homeowners cruise over to see their house's progress, why should it be tainted by seeing a bunch of workers standing around smoking inside their hard earned money?

Second we should respect our employer's image. They get paid to hire professionals why shouldn't they get their moneys worth? It might help us to get future jobs and isn't that what it is all about: Making Money??

As far as scheduled breaks and unscheduled breaks...we can go drink some water...it smells better and it's way more healthy

I don't know where you work, but here in NYC no smoking on the jobsite is the law. Non compliance will result in a personal fine from the FDNY and your ultimate removal from the jobsite by the Construction Manager, in conjunction with a layoff by your employer. I heard all the comments about how everyone will quit, nonsense. Once this was established as an industry standard, people are left with no choice. Plus the customer/owner/developer prefers this hands down.
So you have to ask yourself whats more important a cigarette or your job! Oh, by the way I used smoke.

I think it is each persons right to smoke or not smoke, drink or not drink, etc. but I also believe there are places you can smoke and places you should not smoke. No smoking in someone's home or a business while you are working there. Smoking definitely leaves behind a very bad smell. After you quit smoking you notice the smell in your friends homes that still smoke. Be considerate of the non-smokers.

If they have to smoke on the jobsite they need to go to their vehicle and not smoke where they are working. Office workers must obey the rules which usually are, they only get two breaks a day and a lunch hour, and that is when they do their smoking. Not where your boss is trying to make a living for you.

This is from a long time smoker who believes not everyone likes my smoke.

It's only a courtesy to all concerned.

This thread sparked a memory I had tried to forget!
When we built our home about 15 years ago, we acted as our own contractors and hired what we could not do. A friend had recommended someone to do the staining and installation of the woodwork.
He cut the stain with gasoline while smoking a big cigar! It's a wonder the whole place didn't blow up! What a flake!
As to the topic at hand, if the butts are picked up I wouldn't have much of a problem. Once the paint is on the walls I wouldn't want anyone to smoke in the building.

IMHO, unless the client specifically allows it, there should be no smoking in a finished or close to finished house or project. If my wife and I were doing a renovation, it would be unacceptable to have smoking in our home and would probably lead to negative recommndations f it happened. Outside, if they pick up (basic respect), fine.

Most of my clients are the same way, especially with the growing "green" awareness. Plus, again, it is a matter of respect for the client.

On an un-finished site, say in framing or initial drywall, up to the GC.

Hope the fire insurance is paid up.

What a crock about all this so called time wasted smoking on the job. Somehow, this attitude towards smokers implies that it's the only time waster on any job. Wonder how many nom-smokers are fielding calls from their families, surfing the net, bs'ing or engaging in any other non-productive or personal activity? The business focus should be on the overall efficiency of the work, the quality of the finished product and level of professionalism projected - not micro-managing smoking minutes, in my opinion.

Yes I'm a smoker (hopefully not much longer). No I don't smoke in my home, the home of others or in my office, or anywhere else it could offend. I also work harder and longer than many non-smokers I know. (Oh, and yes, I do support a smoke-free jobsite and work place. After all, it really is in everyone's best interest!)

I've been a smoker for 40+years. Built new house and won't smoke inside. I don't throw butts anywhere but trash. Hate them in my grass, really hope to quit soon. With all price hikes and new taxes will be forced to anyway. Well if I want to eat, which I also love to do. But if everyone quits, where will money come from for children's healhcare, as this new tax on cigarettes is to pay. Maybe we should tax FOOD so everyone can donate to children's healthcare costs!!!

High school's over, kids! Time to grow up and stop hanging out outside around the door for a smoke. Start taking responsibility for your health, and, if you're not too concerned about your own, please be considerate of other people's health. There's no smoking at our company, no smoking at the job site. Unfortunately, the trucks and the smokers themselves still smell like hell. Very unprofessional!

Employees are just that. If they are hired, they should have a set of rules. I have worked for 40 years. Every where I worked had break times. Start at 8AM, cigs or not. If you are late, you dont work that day. 10AM break. noon break. 2PM break. What people choose to do on their break, should be up to them. I learned this from being an employee and having employees.

I smoke, but I like to think of myself as a considerate smoker. I get two breaks as well as lunch. I go outside, rain or shine, snow or sun, away from the jobsite to smoke and I dispose of my butts properly. This hasn't and shouldn't be a problem with anyone. And I have had customers comment positively about my courtesy.

Maybe all the smokers should start chewing and spitting on the floors?

what ever happened to the right to do as we wise. if i want to smoke leave me alone!i should have all the same rights you all have111

I thought smoking was banned in the work place already? I used to be a smoker, but I used to ask people if it bothered them (which I guess I was the only one who did it back then).
Now I have respiratory problems and I dislike the fact that people who smoke stand at the door of buildings and puff away, while I and others have to eat it! All smoking should be banned from any work place, second hand smoke is the leading cause of cancer!

If all you have to worry about is someone else smoking you need to get a life. If you want to worry about something worry about all the overweight people you know who cost the health care billions each year. Worry about your job, the economy, your family. I don't smoke never have and have nothing to with the tobacco industry and I sure don't worry about someone else smoking. If you take care of your own business you will not have time to worry about someone elses business.

I also agree that people should tend to their own business and quit worrying about what everyone else is doing. There is "no smoking" in public places and just about every work place, including in most constructions sites (in home-owners projects)I smoke and wished I didn't and with the restrictions I am grateful. That is less time I smoke. Worry about our financial situation of our country.Sometimes we tend to run things into the ground.

I am a former smoker and I started a new job where my boss and another worker smoke in the building. I get to inhale second hand smoke all day. My doctor smelled smoke on me and asked when I started smoking again and I told him I didn't smoke but my coworkers did. He asked me if I could not find another job. Jobs are hard to come by so I keep my mouth shut!

All this "mind your own business" commentary is a load of bull because you're talking about your own, literal, business. Or freedom. All jobs have rules. At least not smoking inside someone else's house actually directly affects the job, unlike the minutiae of a cube farm. I doubt micromanaging smoke breaks would up productivity, though.