Old smoke

SMOKING A 5-min cigarette advertisement would always end in this 5-sec line: Smoking is dangerous to your health. It is also written on a pack of cigarette with a font visible enough for a reading smoker to see. Smoking cessation in the context of its health consequences have been among the major campaigns of concerned individuals and groups for years. However, despite the picture of a smoker’s body reeling all over the corners of health care facilities as well as in all forms of mass media including the internet, the prevalence of smokers in a certain country is still above 25% of its total population. Medically speaking, smoking is unhealthy. But for those who see smoking as something that is good for them, then stopping them would be otiose. As a matter of fact a Spanish film director named Luis Buñuel (1900-1983) called tobacco a loyal friend through fair weather and foul while Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), an Irish poet, playwright and wit, addressed cigarette as an exquisite and perfect type of perfect pleasure.
Smoking is both a Choice and a Responsibility
Even though Thomas Edison did not have any smoker employees, in the present era, smoking is something that is included in the choice and freedom of an individual. As long as this freedom does not interfere with other’s freedom, then there should be no problem. In this case, banning of smoking among employees inside their private vehicles in a company’s parking lot is unacceptable in a democratic country.
Higher number of subordinates means a more diverse set of personalities and cultures to deal with. Thus, as a part of management team, a supervisor should know how to balance things for the benefit of all of his subordinates and not just for the good of some.
It is unethical to put away something that is already embedded in one’s culture if it is not affecting the person’s productivity and the organization’s well-being. Hence, the essentiality of one’s choice/ right and the responsibility attached therein should be made clear to all members of an organization, regardless of rank/ position. In this case, smoking, as a choice and right, has also its corresponding responsibility. An individual may enjoy this right as long as he/ she do not hamper the right of other people. Also, the consequences of a person’s choice should not jeopardize the welfare of the organization where he/she belongs to.
Fairness to All
Management interventions arise once productivity is being compromised. Thus, in order to prevent conflicts, the management should ensure fairness in creating/ implementing rules and regulations. For instance, one good action in order to be fair among smokers and non-smokers employee is the provision of smoking areas outside working areas. In this way, productivity of those who are smoke-sensitive would not be affected by those who smoke and vice-versa. Also, cigarette breaks in between major breaks may be allowed provided that goals/ deadlines are met. Also, an employee should be well-informed of the conditions of the working environment prior to deployment so that unpleasant dilemmas would be prevented to arise, if not minimized.
Agencies and individuals concerned have done their part to inform the public of the hazards that smoking might bring to one’s health. Now, whether to stop or not is for an individual to decide. As long as no other people suffers for the choices that he/she makes. Besides, humans are created with their freewill intact to be enjoyed/ utilized and more importantly be responsible of.
Reference
“ Smoking.” Microsoft Encarta 2009 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2008.