[annyokie]

"Personally, I believe that smoking is a foolish habit."

Indeed. I am a smoker who has quit hundreds of times (like Mark Twain). It's my belief that employers should provide a smoking lounge for their employees who smoke. Heck, most have break/lunch rooms. We had one at the hospital I worked at when I was a candy-striper in high school.

To force your employees who smoke to stand out in the elements, especially on the East coast just drives up claims on their health insurance since everyone is outside in the rain/snow/sleet and contracting bronchitis or strep throat or just persistant winter colds. Additionally, I think people smoke more when they are restricted to going outside for 10 minutes and try to huff down three cigarettes.

I used to see the office workers in Pittsburgh huddled together at a corner of the Steel Building to stay out of the wind. They litter up the sidewalk with cigarette butts since no one provides ashtrays anymore, another stupid oversight. /rant off

[brewcrew]

To force your employees who smoke to stand out in the elements, especially on the East coast just drives up claims on their health insurance since everyone is outside in the rain/snow/sleet and contracting bronchitis or strep throat or just persistant winter colds.

If you believe there is any direct correlation between short-term exposure to the elements and an increase in sickness, I have a bridge to sell you.

[Ditter]

I always thought it was being 'cooped up' together INSIDE that brought on disease. Not counting hypothermia, of course.

[GYPSY286]

I was no doubt one of those you saw huddled there. Gosh, I hated working downtown! I worked in the US Steel building on the 43rd floor. Sometimes my smoking break would be used just getting to the ground floor and outside!