Posted on 01/07/2006 6:08:58 PM PST by GYPSY286
After being laid off when my company was sold in early 2004, I was finally blessed (with Freeper prayers, I'm sure) in finding a wonderful position in early March 2005. The day before yesterday, I was blind-sighted when I was called into an office and fired. The reason I was told "it just isn't working out". The real reason? I am a smoker (which they knew when I was hired) and the "boss" of the department does not want any smokers or divorcees working in his dept. The company is not a "smoke free" company - there are several smokers in other departments. I was just getting on my feet after the last lay-off - the light at the end of the tunnel was apparently an oncoming train. Please pray that I'll find a position quickly. Thank you!
God Bless, and Good Luck,
Witch.
It is quite a challenge for you, but you have my prayers that your needs are met in this new year. Never a door closes that a window doesn't open.
One day at a time with God's help, all things are possible. My prayers are with you.
Prayers up.
I'm gonna play devil's advocate, because in my work I've seen a lot of workplaces and a lot of people get hired and fired.
I'm sure you have your reasons for 'assuming' the 'real' reasons you have given... but I'd be careful about doing that. Nine months is long time to have kept you on just to fire you over two rather superficial first-impression kinds of issues. You may be wrong about 'the real reason', it may be a personality or job mismatch, there also might be issues you can work on for next time.
YOU CAN DO IT!!!!
However, that said...smokers take "tons" of time in "smoking breaks" as opposed to those who don't smoke. I can say that for SURE working for a BIG airplane maker in the NW. I know I worked at LEAST an hour a day longer than the smokers.
Thanks for your strong words of encouragement....I think this is the year. Otherwise I'll end up like poor Lou Rawls, God rest his soul.
9 months and you now are fired for being a smoker?? Sorry, ain't buyin' it. I have been let go couple times from jobs in the past ten years. But never would I have thought about airing it on a public forum... strange days indeed....
Sleep well tonight.
Then first thing tomorrow morning, start setting up a plan of attack for Monday. Just do the plan tomorrow. Think of the types of jobs you would do and for how much pay and write them down and score them. Consider moving to a new city if necessary and what that would take. Consider taking training courses.
First thing Monday, get your resume in order, and use the shotgun approach sending it out. Plan follow up calls, follow up letters, and ask for visitations/interviews. Employers for whom you will like working will be impressed by your persistence and perseverance.
Good luck, just take it one day at a time.
Our Company is 95% smoker's and they made us start going outside to smoke because of the 5% who don't of course they played it off like it was the customer's complaining but the ratio of customers coming through the shop just don't add up with the story
It didn't take long for all of us to figure it out though because in the line of work i'm in they can't just fire the whole company and start over [not yet anyway !]
Smokers may ignore that, but you are right. Smokers often work an hour less than your other average good employees. It can show up in overall contribution.
Best Wishes to the fired one in quitting smoking and finding a new job.
That's indeed often one of the issues.
Notwithstanding companies that have gone 'smoke free' per their agreement for medical insurance plans (they're a different story), if a boss has issues with smoking among his employees, it's usually because it affects work.
Are you gone ten minutes out of every hour, often enough that the boss notices it when he comes out to ask you something and you aren't there?
Do you smell strong of cigarettes? It's not pleasant to be around someone who smells strongly of cigarettes. I do smoke, but I recognize the problem. I don't smoke in my own house because I don't like my clothes to be permeated with it... I don't let my car fill up with smoke on the way to work, and when I am done smoking at work, I chew a mint, wash my hands and face, and apply a little spray de-oderizer (odor killer, not a perfume). I'm a little obsessive about it, but it makes a lot of difference. Most do not know I smoke when I show up for meetings at a new office.
Then there are the issues with health. Not nanny type healthy yuppy issues but issues like are you sick or hackin' all the time?
I'm not making assumptions that any or all of these occurred on this job, but those are the reasons smokers can be less desired even in workplaces that are not anti-smoking as a policy. And any of one of them can be overcome with competence on the job, but any one of them can be 'trying' to be around, and might be a strike against you.
For what it is worth, I smoked for 30 years and quit 5 years ago by using Nicotrol Inhalers and Zyban.
The Inhaler works great -- it is a sponge impregnated with nicotine. You get a good "hit" like a cigarrete and you get the nicotine. You can also use it indoors, at work, on airplanes, etc.
The Zyban just helps with nerves.
I ignored all the printed materials and perscribed myself what I wanted and when I wanted until I tapered off to nothing. I even kept some around for a year just in case I got a craving.
Sorry about what happened Gypsy and good luck to all of you.
Don't get me wrong...the smokers were often the highly regarded workers...they just weren't around a lot. I feel bad for them. The guy who sat next to me deserved to be a supervisor because of his knowledge...he just wasn't there.
"The real reason? I am a smoker..."
Sorry, don't buy it. Good luck anyway.
I'm with ya. I used to print out whatever I was workin' on to go proof while I had a smoke. My boss knew that 'cuz he saw me walkin' down the hall reading it. It's good to get up once in awhile, but many are gone too often and too long.
And if you are in a job where phone coverage is your job... well, it affects everyone else if you're not there. I might hire a smoking accountant before I'd hire a smoking receptionist ;~D
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