Dear Seniors,
I have a very different problem to discuss and request you to provide a valuable solution for the same.
My director is a chain smoker, and despite many requests, he smokes on the office premises, creating a very unprofessional ambiance. We have a company policy signed (by him) stating that smoking is STRICTLY PROHIBITED within the office premises, and any employee found doing so will be punished.
Now, my query is: What punishment can be given to the Director/owner of the company? Are the rules only applicable to employees? Do we have any rules and regulations for the employer as well?
I really do not understand how to derive a solution. Please suggest.
Regards,
Smriti
From India, Chicalim
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2I have a very different problem to discuss and request you to provide a valuable solution for the same.
My director is a chain smoker, and despite many requests, he smokes on the office premises, creating a very unprofessional ambiance. We have a company policy signed (by him) stating that smoking is STRICTLY PROHIBITED within the office premises, and any employee found doing so will be punished.
Now, my query is: What punishment can be given to the Director/owner of the company? Are the rules only applicable to employees? Do we have any rules and regulations for the employer as well?
I really do not understand how to derive a solution. Please suggest.
Regards,
Smriti
From India, Chicalim
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Whether this is your complaint or the complaint of all employees, if it is the complaint of all employees and you are the HR head, you can represent the case in front of your boss in a mild way on behalf of the employees. If you are not an HR person, you can present it to the HR.
Last but not least, if it is your complaint and no other employees have a problem, then it's better to adjust with him until you find a better job. Since he is the owner, he will make decisions according to his choice, and the policy will be amended accordingly. There is a good saying: "The boss is always right because he is the boss," and even if the boss is wrong, you still have to follow him because he is the boss. Thus, you cannot ask your boss to leave his cabin; instead, you should leave his cabin. Whenever he asks you the reason for leaving his cabin, you can say that you are allergic to smoking, and gradually he may quit smoking in the office or public area.
Hope this will resolve your query.
From India, Ahmadabad
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Last but not least, if it is your complaint and no other employees have a problem, then it's better to adjust with him until you find a better job. Since he is the owner, he will make decisions according to his choice, and the policy will be amended accordingly. There is a good saying: "The boss is always right because he is the boss," and even if the boss is wrong, you still have to follow him because he is the boss. Thus, you cannot ask your boss to leave his cabin; instead, you should leave his cabin. Whenever he asks you the reason for leaving his cabin, you can say that you are allergic to smoking, and gradually he may quit smoking in the office or public area.
Hope this will resolve your query.
From India, Ahmadabad
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Dear Saji,
Thank you for the reply.
I am working as AM-HR, heading the HR department, and reporting directly to the Directors. The issue I had discussed is actually a complaint that I occasionally receive from my employees. I have previously requested my director to address this matter and explained the problems we typically encounter. He assured me that he would not repeat it, but as you said, HE IS THE BOSS.
I truly enjoy my job here and have no desire to move elsewhere.
Regards,
Smriti
From India, Chicalim
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Thank you for the reply.
I am working as AM-HR, heading the HR department, and reporting directly to the Directors. The issue I had discussed is actually a complaint that I occasionally receive from my employees. I have previously requested my director to address this matter and explained the problems we typically encounter. He assured me that he would not repeat it, but as you said, HE IS THE BOSS.
I truly enjoy my job here and have no desire to move elsewhere.
Regards,
Smriti
From India, Chicalim
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I don’t know whether it works but ask each employee to wear a mask whenever they meet your Boss and Stick NO SMOKING bills every where. Maybe he feel guilty and stop smoking
From India, Ahmadabad
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From India, Ahmadabad
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Dear Smriti,
Please ensure that the employees understand the following point: if they truly enjoy working for such a great company, minor issues should not deter them, and they should not hesitate to come forward with any concerns or complaints.
Thank you.
From India, Vijayawada
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Please ensure that the employees understand the following point: if they truly enjoy working for such a great company, minor issues should not deter them, and they should not hesitate to come forward with any concerns or complaints.
Thank you.
From India, Vijayawada
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Dear Smriti,
Some have given you some good ideas. So, let me ask a couple of questions to get a clearer picture of the scenario. How large is the organization, and is the Director who smokes a major shareholder/partner? Does he report to anyone else, or is he the top man?
From United Kingdom
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Some have given you some good ideas. So, let me ask a couple of questions to get a clearer picture of the scenario. How large is the organization, and is the Director who smokes a major shareholder/partner? Does he report to anyone else, or is he the top man?
From United Kingdom
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Dear Simhan,
We have around 40 employees and 2 directors. One is a silent director, and the other (who smokes) is the main person in the company as he makes most decisions and is solely involved in the company's operations. He does not have anyone superior to him; he is indeed the "TOP MAN."
Here, I would like to share something with all of you. When he was smoking in the common area, I went and closed the door in his face (I think he felt at fault and at least I cannot take it). Later, to my surprise, he wanted to inquire about certain things with me (random queries, maybe to check my temperament), to which I did not give a detailed answer (to ensure he understands what is running in my head). After that, I saw him smoking on the next floor. Now, here the problem remains the same only the location of the crime changes. :)
The thing is if I take any action against him (maybe by wearing a mask), his sentiments might get hurt, and the results will surely not be positive. Besides, I want to make him understand the problem rather than making him feel guilty (as nobody can make anyone feel guilty; it is the inner feeling a person has).
Please advise,
Smriti
From India, Chicalim
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We have around 40 employees and 2 directors. One is a silent director, and the other (who smokes) is the main person in the company as he makes most decisions and is solely involved in the company's operations. He does not have anyone superior to him; he is indeed the "TOP MAN."
Here, I would like to share something with all of you. When he was smoking in the common area, I went and closed the door in his face (I think he felt at fault and at least I cannot take it). Later, to my surprise, he wanted to inquire about certain things with me (random queries, maybe to check my temperament), to which I did not give a detailed answer (to ensure he understands what is running in my head). After that, I saw him smoking on the next floor. Now, here the problem remains the same only the location of the crime changes. :)
The thing is if I take any action against him (maybe by wearing a mask), his sentiments might get hurt, and the results will surely not be positive. Besides, I want to make him understand the problem rather than making him feel guilty (as nobody can make anyone feel guilty; it is the inner feeling a person has).
Please advise,
Smriti
From India, Chicalim
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Thanks, Smriti, for the details. It is always prudent to give all the details at the outset as it helps experts to give suggestions based on full facts. Are there other smokers among the staff, and if so, what do they do? Do they go out of the building to smoke, or is there a smoke room?
This reminds me of a story told by my father. It seems that during the time when the British ruled India, one of the British managers was in the habit of putting his feet up on the table while talking to people. Once, one of his new subordinates put his feet up on the table when the boss walked in and started to talk. The boss called him and asked, "Why did you put your feet on the table? Do you not know that it is rude?" To which the subordinate replied, "Sir, I was only copying you. I thought that was good manners. My father had told me that we should always copy English Gentlemen, as they set the standard for politeness and are well-mannered." The boss had no answer and desisted from doing it from then on.
Maybe you could quote this to the director and say that if a worker copied him and smoked at work, it would not be easy to take action and discipline the worker.
From United Kingdom
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This reminds me of a story told by my father. It seems that during the time when the British ruled India, one of the British managers was in the habit of putting his feet up on the table while talking to people. Once, one of his new subordinates put his feet up on the table when the boss walked in and started to talk. The boss called him and asked, "Why did you put your feet on the table? Do you not know that it is rude?" To which the subordinate replied, "Sir, I was only copying you. I thought that was good manners. My father had told me that we should always copy English Gentlemen, as they set the standard for politeness and are well-mannered." The boss had no answer and desisted from doing it from then on.
Maybe you could quote this to the director and say that if a worker copied him and smoked at work, it would not be easy to take action and discipline the worker.
From United Kingdom
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You mean to say that employees have to smoke to teach his superior/Boss a lesson for which I don't agree. But yes, you can quote that it will be difficult to take appropriate action against any employee if they smoke in the office.
From India, Ahmadabad
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From India, Ahmadabad
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Dear Simhan,
We do have other smokers in our organization, but since I have introduced the policy of "NO SMOKING WITHIN OFFICE PREMISES," they make a point to go out and smoke. They understand the problem and cooperate. Also, I discussed with my director that if he smokes on the premises, others may also start doing the same. To this, he replied, "I won't repeat."
Regards,
Smriti
From India, Chicalim
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We do have other smokers in our organization, but since I have introduced the policy of "NO SMOKING WITHIN OFFICE PREMISES," they make a point to go out and smoke. They understand the problem and cooperate. Also, I discussed with my director that if he smokes on the premises, others may also start doing the same. To this, he replied, "I won't repeat."
Regards,
Smriti
From India, Chicalim
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