SMOKERS AND WORKING LIFE - BEFORE AND TODAY

[♔Chello]

SMOKERS AND WORKING LIFE - BEFORE AND TODAY

Once upon a time...
A long time ago, smokers had all the rights, and those who did not smoke had to accept being enveloped in smoke while they worked and while they ate - everyone smoked wherever they wanted and when necessary.

Very little consideration was shown to those who did not smoke.

Then came the 1990s, with new, strict rules to protect people from the harmful effects of tobacco smoke.
Very efficient fans were required to be installed in all cafes, restaurants, pubs, etc.

These were so efficient that you could stand and smoke with the bar counter, without bothering the person standing next to you.

In the midst of this, the law was suddenly tightened, and it became illegal to smoke in public spaces - smokers were assigned a separate space or room.

The consequences of this were sometimes fatal, when patients who had undergone surgery had to leave the hospital and stand outside to smoke in the winter - they got pneumonia and died.

In many workplaces there was a total ban on smoking, and smokers were treated like criminals, and were accused of being less productive than others.

This is largely true, because the allowed 5 minutes always became longer.

In my case, however, it has never been true, because I compensated for my smoking by being more productive, and set production records every year.

Nevertheless, I was accused of producing too little, simply because I smoked.
It did not help that I pointed to my actual production rate, which was far higher than others'.

One employer even blamed me for a dust silo catching fire, because I was the only one smoking - it was suggested that I must have smoked while standing with the machines, which I had not done, and never did.


I am almost glad that I am retired today, not having to endure the stress of having to spend several minutes finding a place at every break where smoking is allowed.

It would not surprise me that smokers today who are in the workforce meet an early death as a result of stress in order to get a smoke that is supposed to be a stress reliever.

Even smoking on the street often results in people looking at you as if you are a leper, and would rather report you for environmental pollution.

Most forest fires are claimed to have been caused by smoking drivers, which may also be true, because cars today do not have ashtrays, and you have to throw the cigarette out the window..!

And when you are going to sell something, it is more and more common for the buyer to pay less if the product has been in a smoky environment.

Or you risk having the product returned and charged for shipping.
Because it smells of tobacco...