Right of Employee to Smoke, Essay Example

We as the employees’ fraternity understand that we have our human rights as well as rights granted by this company in our position as workers. These rights are well documented in the international human rights charter. These rights are also documented in the company’s chapter of the employees’ welfare. Of recent times this organization has taken steps that have cast shadows at its determination to observe these employees’ rights. Such employees’ rights include the following:

• Right not to be discriminated
• Rights to be paid the minimum wage as well as the overtime
• Right to a safe workplace
• Right for a leave to take care of an ill family member
• Right to privacy for personal matters.

I am saying this because the management of this organization has just decided to abruptly change their position on matter that affects the welfare of its employees without considering having a dialogue with their representatives. Dialogue is important since it helps to understand both sides of argument of the parties concerned thus drawing a clear-cut course of action that has been agreed upon by all parties.

In recent times the company has passed a decree that prohibits smoking within the companies premises. In fact the prohibition states that the organization will no longer tolerate any habits of smoking once an employee is within the organization’s perimeter fence. This ruling has come as a surprise to the employees since it has not been triggered by any case cited for any harmful effect of smoking while inside the company’s premises. Furthermore all employees who are smokers fully understands that smoking while one is doing his obligations or while one is inside an office or recreational areas in the organization’s compound is unacceptable; on that note no employees has ever been reported as having broken such a rule. In a view of that matter the employees would then fail to understand the need for this course of action. I have spoken with my fellow employees and they have expressed their discomforts in this ruling in fact they feel that their right of not being discriminated or harassed is being trampled by the management of the organization.

Similarly the employees feel that there are other better ways to address this issue rather than passing such un-informed decision and imposing it on the workers. I am of the view that if the organization is fully dedicated to upholding the human rights and in this regard the workers right as stipulated in the organization’s workers welfare, then this approach to addressing an issue should be changed. Most importantly the organization must treat all people with respect. It must also accommodate the different personalities and habits. One question that the employees’ smokers are asking is the reason for the decision yet smoking in the institutions has been a non issue for a long time, why it that the no attempts were made to speak with the employees’ representatives before the decree was passed.

I have held a dialogue with my fellow employees and we recommend the following to the organization

• Unconditional withdrawal of the decision
• Creation of special smoking areas and
• A meeting with the employees representatives to address the issue

We hope that you will act at your best of your wisdom to address this issue. Please get back to us as soon as possible.

I have received your memo and I beg to reply as follows. The management of this organization fully understands that every employee has human as well as workers rights as you earlier said. Similarly let me assure you once again of the dedication and commitment that the organization has at upholding these rights. Furthermore I know that good relationship between the workers and the management are pivotal for the development of the organization.

However, you have to note that the organization is responsible also to other stakeholders and not just the workers alone. We are answerable to the government, our esteemed customers and the shareholders. Therefore let me make it clear to you that every decision made by the management of the organization is made with consideration of all the above stake holders and not just the employees. Still on that, I wish to inform you that the decision to ban smoking in this organization’s compound has been reached by the management committee and not just an individual. On the same point the decision was made with regard to a number of issues that includes the following: as you will recall a rule was recently passed by the legislative that banned any act of smoking in food processing companies. This law meant that nobody be it the employees, employers, customers or shareholders may be permitted to smoke a cigarette once in the organizations compound. Failure to adhere to this law could result to heavy fines by the government and the association of food processors watchdog.  These actions therefore have necessitated such a decision from the management of this institution.

On the other hand   you are aware that this company has sometimes ago conducted a research on the effects of cigarettes smoke on its operations. Furthermore the results were published in the company’s monthly magazine. Later pamphlets were distributed to the employees while the company’s notice boards were filled with publications on the same. The main message of these materials was to encourage the smokers who work in the processing department to reduce their smoking habits. This is because part of the research showed that the cigarette smoke contained harmful substances that could contaminate our products in the processing and the canning departments. These harmful cigarettes particles get embedded in the respiratory tract of a smoker and get emitted during the breathing in and out mechanism even long after the smoker has stopped smoking. Therefore to ensure that our mission of providing the communities with high quality and hygienic products are met it was mandatory for the company to take those measures.

The employees’ fraternity must understand that this action is aimed for their benefit also. In addition to working towards fulfillment of the above statements also wishes to encourage the cultivation of a non- smoking behavior among the employees.  It is the responsibility of the company to teach its employees on the best lifestyles and therefore such a decision is in line with the teaching mechanism. As you already know smoking causes many diseases and diseases are a liabilities to the company and therefore this declaration that nobody should smoke inside the organizations compound is mutually beneficial

Let me state therefore that the institution will neither withdraw the decision   nor create special smoking areas as you had proposed for the above mentioned reasons. The organization will however create more awareness on the effects of smoking on the personal welfare of the smoker, the welfare of the non smoker and also the welfare of the organization itself.  I hope that in the long run all the stakeholders be it smokers on a non smokers will realize the benefit of this decision. Finally let me assure you that this office is open to more views from our employees at time of the day.