Well, for 2 and half years, I spent a lot of time with a chain smoker that happened to be my (former) boss. He smoked heavily everywhere, including at the office (my office door was about 8 feet away from his office door). Now his wife said the building is a private building, that's why he can smoke all he wants (I asked her about possible lawsuits from OTHER FORMER employees and she got all defensive). But with fifteen other employees, I thought that CA laws (or are there federal regs too?) prohibits smoking in the workplace.

I know people will suffer from second hand smoke over time, so I'm looking to find out any and all legal info on smoking in the office.

Thanks!

 

I skimmed it real quick and apperantly the smoke free work place act has been in effect since 1998. Heres a link, also tells you where to file a complaint. Dont know why I did this because I smoke, but I know its bad and I am considerate to others.

http://www.breath-ala.org/

 

oh and don't forget: document, document, document! keep a log of dates, times, who said what, what someone did, etc.

wherever this goes... if it goes anywhere uncomfortable or unpleasant for you... your written chronology of events can only help you.

$.02

 

talking about smoking at work....there is a company up in lansing michigan where they fired anybody who smokes (at home or at work) after the new year.

 

isn't that illegal?

 

nope. I think they call it at-will state where there is no contract. the federal and state law don't protect smoker. The odd thing is that the federal law protects over weight ppl.

 

Link to the news article

 

Back in 1992, I had to deal with 18 smokers.... (out of 20-21 total employees)...... i went to the health board and got "no smoking" signs...... after i put them up and told them they all had to smoke in one room, I went to lunch... but i left a tape recorder recording....ahhaha... "what a dick" i think was the common statement as i left.....

Turned out that legally they could smoke whereever they wanted....the company had to have a written policy saying not to..... so they were legal.... i just bullshitted them.

goodluck......... times have changed a lot since 1991, but you probably needed to address it from the get go, not 1-2 years later.

 

 

A little off topic - - - when we re-enrolled during our yearly health-benefits enrollment period, smokers had to pay a higher premium than non-smokers for the same coverage...$15 to $20 per bi-weekly pay period for each smoker on the policy (worker, spouse, child). You were required to 'attest' to your smoking status. If you are found to be lying, coverage is denied on the spot.