...Old Smoke Dustin McCabe BUS309-011016 11/27/2011 Old Smoke Employee rights arise from federal and state laws that overtime, have established various rules that govern the employer – employee relationship (definitions.uslegal.com, 2011). It includes the right to privacy and freedom from discrimination based on age, gender, race, national origin or religion (employment.findlaw.com, 2011). Having employee rights ensures equal opportunity for all employees, as well as, it makes the employee feel comfortable in their work environment. Protecting employees rights benefit both the employees and the business by limiting the misunderstanding that may occur in the work place. I In this paper, I will explain how I would handle the situation if I were Charles Renfold, describe the policy on smoking that I would recommend, explain how this case would change if the situation was not about old smoke but the smell of Alice’s perfume or Frank’s body odor and explain whether it is fair or reasonable to ban employees from smoking in their cars in company parking lot. Explain how you would handle this situation if you were Charles Renfold. Mr. Renford had already explained that the law in their state requires a smoke free work area and that his area was smoke free. That Alice and Frank were always considerate when Darlene comes into the file room by not smoking and opening the windows. Darlene is being insubordinate by dictating what she will not do to her supervisor, which cannot...
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...report in the room where Alice and Frank have been smoking. Even though they are respectful to not smoke while she is in there the residue of the smoke still remains in spite of them opening the window to air out the room. Charles realizes that the law is his state requires him to provide a smoke free environment when the employee desires it. If I were Charles I would provide another area in which Darlene could do the necessary report. Darlene is in titled to have her moral and human rights respected by her employer. She does not have to be subjected to the old stale smoke in the room where the smokers work. It is great that they are trying to be considerate, but the one smoker, Alice, is rather resentful of Darlene thinking she is being overly sensitive to the smoke. I feel she is being unfair because what if it were Darlene smoking I am sure Alice would want her concerns heard. 2. Describe the policy on smoking that you would recommend to Redwood Associates. The state law requires the company to provide a smoke free environment. I would recommend that if the employees want to smoke I would have a place designated for smoking outside of the building which would be fair to both the employees who smoke and the ones that do not smoke. In this day an age it is surprising that it is not already a smoke free environment. If I worked there I would not want to be inhaling that old smoke. Regardless of my co-workers efforts to cover up the evidence, which I might add is not working. That...
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...Old Smoke Bus 309 Lynne Anderson Professor Richard Carroll Strayer University February 21, 2012 1. Explain how you would handle this situation if you were Charles Renfold. What is Darlene’s personality? Is she a valuable employee with a sunny disposition and the ability to get along with everyone, who happens to have an allergy to cigarette smoke or has other general respiratory problems? Or is she an employee who has a different problem every day, no matter what the circumstances? From the article, it would appear that she DECIDED she would not work in an area where she could smell cigarette smoke. She did not state, ‘I can’t breathe in the file room’ or tell her boss about her medical issues. She simply stated, ‘I am not going to work in there today.’ I would not try to placate her further. She has the option of asking the two smokers to use special ashtrays that absorb smoke, or only smoking in one part of the files room, or only smoking during certain times of the day. She could try to work this out with them, instead of making this her boss’s problem and being so confrontational with him. Chances are she does things that other people don’t like. I would remind Darlene that she is talking about what she wants, not what she is entitled to, under the law. Alice and Frank have already taken steps to minimize the impact of their smoking by refraining from smoking when she is in the files room, and by airing it out before she comes into the room...
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...Old Smoke Explain how you would handle this situation if you were Charles Renfold. If I were Charles Renfold, smoking would be restricted in the workplace areas. He should take in to concern that secondhand smoke is hazardous to your health. Smoking in the workplace has always been an issue. Alice and Frank were always considerate when Darlene came into the file room by not smoking and opening the windows. However, you still have the smell of old smoke. Smoking should not be permitted in the work areas; it is a voluntary, unnecessary behavior that can negatively affect the health of others in the vicinity. It has been suggested that smoking related disease kills one half of all long term smokers but these diseases may also be contracted by non-smokers. That puts non-smokers at risk for developing respiratory problems. Pulmonary diseases may also be contracted by non-smokers just as easily as in smokers. The company has followed all the laws that are set by the state and the state has no reference to the smell of old smoke. Redwood Associates do not desire a smoke–free workplace. They should have a designated area for smokers. Whether you are a participant or bystander, no person should have the right to inflict harm on another. The designated place for smoking allows those that choose to ingest nicotine to do so without inflicting the effects of their decision on those who do not. Darlene’s Attitude was very unruly and disorderly towards her supervisor. She should...
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...Old Smoke In today’s society, tobacco smoke is a concern which has resulted in banning smoking in the workplace, restaurants, and recreational facilities that have sporting events. Numerous studies have found that tobacco smoke is the major contributor to indoor air pollution, and that breathing secondhand smoke is a cause of disease in healthy nonsmokers, including heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease, and lung cancer (Model Ordinance Prohibiting Smoking in all Workplaces, n.d.). A smokefree environment allows human beings to breathe air that is not polluted by cigarette smoke. This allows them to enjoy life without the second hand smoke that can cause health issues as they grow and develop in life. Explain how you would handle this situation if you were Charles Renford. It is the manager’s duty, and responsibility at a company or organization to listen to both sides of a concern in the workplace. In the case where Charles Renford’s position as a supervisor at Redwood Associates, an employee felt strong enough to complain about smoke in the work place, he should address the complaint with all employees involved directly. The odor of smoke was strong enough that Darlene, the employee came to the supervisor, Charles Renford with a complaint about the smoke in the main file room. Charles Renford reminded Darlene, “that although the law in their state requires companies to provide a smoke-free work area for employees that desire it, it doesn’t force companies to...
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...“Old Smoke” BUS309 11/23/2011 1. Explain how you would handle this situation if you were Charles Renfold. Charles Renfold is put in a tough situation. He is counting on Darlene to help him with a report and last minute was left alone to do it because of the “old smoke” smell that lingered in the filing room. The way Darlene handled the situation was not professional or appropriate. I would have told her that as soon as we were done with the report, I would have done something about the smell. She is right in the idea of her not having to work in such a choking environment, but she also had a job to get done. If I was Charles I would have told Frank and Alice that their smoking was affecting the work of others. In the meantime, I would open all windows and call a professional cleaning service to get rid of the smell. Once Darlene found out that all of the steps have been taken to get rid of the smell, hopefully she would have been the bigger person and worked in that condition one last time. 2. Describe the policy on smoking that you would recommend to Redwood Associates. I would definitely recommend a smoke free environment for Redwood Associates. It is more sanitary. I don’t think that clients and future employees would want to walk into an office that smells of “old smoke.” It is even worse that the smell sticks to your clothes and will be with you for the remainder of your day. This means nonsmokers have no choice but to smell like smoke if they have activities...
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...This paper will touch on bad smells in the workplace; to include old cigarette smell, perfume, and body odor. It will further discuss smoking area solutions and smoking policies for companies. 1. Explain how you would handle this situation if you were Charles Renfold. The situation Charles Renfold is faced with is twofold; first he has just received notification from top management on a report due “yesterday” and second Darlene Lambert informed him the odor of smoke in the file room was awful and she refused to work in there. The refusal on Darlene’s part to go inside the file room where the smell of old smoke is prevalent has put her job in jeopardy. Mr. Renfold should explain by refusing to produce the required report; she is being insubordinate and he has grounds for dismissal. Since the state law requires companies to provide a smoke-free work area for those who desire it (Shaw, 2010). Charles Renfold needs to come up with a solution to accommodate Darlene and other non-smokers. Even though, both Frank and Alice are conscious to the non-smoker’s sensitivity regarding smoking and have done their best to alleviate the smoke smell in the file room while they are present; it still does not eliminate the problem. The smell permeates the furniture, walls, and other fixtures in the room, so if smoking is allowed to continue in the room the old smoke odor will always be present. One way to handle this situation is to have Alice and Frank remove the files to Darlene’s...
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...Joseph Lockaby Professor Bill Lolius Assignment #2 Case 8.4 Old Smoke BUS 309 November 27, 2011 Old Smoke This is case regarding smokers and non-smokers in the workplace. Smokers are entitled to smoking rights while non-smokers are entitled to their rights. Can a company infringe on the rights of smokers verses non-smokers and how will this affect the productivity of the workers? This will be discussed in this the questions that are asked in this case and what how smoking and non-smoking employees can affect the outcome of a company's business. How I would deal with this situation is; I would ask the Alice and Frank if they could find the reports that are needed to do the research. Then I would ask Darlene if they gave her the reports and she did not have to be in the file room, would she be able to do the research? I would then tell the employees that we are going to have to change the smoking policy in the office. The smoking policy that I would implement for this small office is no smoking in the office common areas. This includes the file room. The reason being is that the company is to provide a smoke free work area to the employees who do not smoke. This being a small office it is hard to get the smell of the smoke out. I am not saying that the office has to become smoke- free, however, the office filers may have to step outside when time permits for them to take a smoke break. Most offices have a place where they send the smokers to enjoy...
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...Case 8.4 “OLD SMOKE” DONALD HITCHCOCK SHAFIQUR MALLICK BUS 309 BUSINESS ETHICS JANUARY 28, 2012 CASE 8.4 OLD SMOKE 1. Explain how you would handle this situation if you were Charles Renfold. If I were Charles Renfold and was confronted about the smell of “old smoke’’ I would listen to the complaint from Darlene and explain to her that the company has not banned smoking at the work place. I would also remind Darlene that she has a job to accomplish in the file room and that this is what the company pays her to do and any refusal of such an order could be deemed as insubordination and could result in disciplinary actions. Next I would go talk to Frank and Alice about smoking in the office because he has had a complaint about the odor. He should remind them that while the company and the law does not prohibit smoking in doors, they still have to respect each individual right that work for the company. Charles should contact the main office and try to put a policy in effect that gives the smokers of the company a designated area to participate in this activity. Not allowing employees to smoke or use tobacco products in the office should not drop moral or productivity because using tobacco should only be allowed on designated brakes or at lunch and should also only be done in a designated area that is suitable for the environment. 2. Describe the policy on smoking that you would recommend to Redwood Associates. The policy that I would incorporate at Redwood Associates...
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..."Old Smoke" Case 8.4 Michael A. Kidd Professor Jane Bolduc Osburn Business Ethics – BUS 309 February 20, 2012 Explain how you would handle this situation if you were Charles Renfold. When we look at this scenario, I can only imagine how many times this same situation happens in workplaces all over the world. For Charles Renfold, handling the situation will require tact, understanding, and patients. Now, if I were in Charles’s position, I would begin by sympathetically acknowledging Darlene’s concerns and grievances, giving complete understanding and validation to her ill and nauseating feeling from the bad odor of old cigarette smoke. Letting her also know that I understand completely when working in an uncomfortable environment, especially those with offensive sights, sounds, and smells, it can be quite a hindrance to complete tasks and assignments in a timely manner and with proficiency. As her supervisor, I would look into trying to provide an alternative work space then that of the environment with the bad smell, and even though Frank and Alice have been trying to air out the room, I would also explore the possibilities of providing better ventilation in the small confined areas. Reminding Darlene that yes the company is aware of the states law about providing a ‘smoke-free’ work area for those non-smokers who desire it, I would ask Darlene to try and understand the difficulty...
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...Smoking At Work Phillip Singleton Business Ethics 309 May 26, 2012 Professor Problems With Smoking At Work At Redwood Associates, a situation developing involving three employees Darlene, Frank and Alice. Darlene was sickened by the smell of old cigarette smoke in Frank and Alice’s office, in which, she had to complete a report that was past due. As a result, Darlene took the issue up with her supervisor, Charles, to no avail, because the law did not prohibit harmless offensive odors in the workplace. Next, Darlene demanded that Frank and Alice should quit smoking altogether, but Charles said that the company could not force them to quit. She then delivered an ultimatum saying if she had to go into the room to do the past due report then she is “simply not going to do it“(Shaw, 2010). Charles was taken aback by Darlene’s request, and was faced with the dilemma of her not finishing the vital report if he did nothing about the odor. Unfortunately, not much could be done to alleviate the smell in that time span, and had policies already been in place to prevent such an instance, this problem could have been avoided. In hindsight, Redwood Associates should consider putting policies in place that would allow smoking in designated areas outside of the building. Changing company policies for the benefit of health is important, but organizations must be careful not to infringe someone’s personal rights. Handling this situation from Charles’s perspective...
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...Darlene was upset about having to deal with the odor of old cigarette smoke in her company file room. She decided to take a stand and inform Renfold that she refused to work in the file room. This jeopardized a report that was due immediately. I will explain how I would handle this situation if I were Charles Renfold. I will describe the policy on smoking that I would recommend to Redwood Associates. I will also look at how this case would have change if what bothered Darlene was not old smoke but the smell of Alice’s perfume or Frank’s body odor. And finally I will resolve whether it is fair or reasonable for companies to ban employees from smoking in their cars in the company parking lot. Supervising Smoke In this case, I believe Darlene Lambert may have a very good argument but her handling of this legitimate problem is very wrong. Charles Renford is the supervisor in this situation and Darlene is not showing the proper protocol. Charles has reminded Darlene that she has never come to him to discuss this problem before. He also made it clear that the file room workers were not violating company policy with their smoking. Darlene on the other hand is being insubordinate by refusing to do the work. If I was supervisor I would remind Darlene of that fact and remind her of the jeopardy she is putting her position in by refusing to perform an important task. I would empathize with her desire to have a smoke free environment but suggest to her that she must follow...
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...Sakoria Osborne Chapter 4 pp.146-150 Psychology Key Questions What are effects of depressants? The effects of depressants are people less restrained in their words and actions, and more likely to engage in dangerous forms of behavior. Barbiturates are also a type of depressants, which are contained in sleeping pills and relaxants. The barbiturates produce a feeling of relaxation and euphoria, which causes confusion, slurred speech, memory lapses, and reduced ability to concentrate. Barbiturates induce sleep; people often take them to treat sleep disorder. What are effects of stimulants? Stimulants produce the opposite effects of depressants. Some drugs raise blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration. As the drugs wears off user often experience an emotional crash involving anxiety, depression, and fatigue. What are effects of opiates? Opiates produce lethargy and pronounced slowing of almost all bodily functions. These drugs also alter consciousness, producing a dreamlike state and, for some people, intensely pleasurable sensation. Opiates have a legitimate use for treating chronic, intense pain for cancer patients. What are effects of psychedelics and hallucinogens? Psychedelics and hallucinogens drugs most effects are on the consciousness. Psychedelics drugs increase heart rate, change blood pressure, and dilation of blood vessels in the eye, thus producing bloodshot eyes. Short term effects include heightened senses of sight and sound, and rush of ideas...
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...Old Smoke in the Workplace By: Jennefer Paddock BUS 309: Professor Handel Smith February 26, 2012 Old Smoke in the Workplace “Old Smoke” is a case where there is a file room, where Alice and Frank smoke, that smells of cigarette smoke. In this case, Charles Renford, office supervisor for Redwood Associates, assigned a task to one of his employees, Darlene Lambert, to help him with a report that was due right away. When the office supervisor asked his employee to go into the file room to start assembling the data needed for the report, Darlene refused the task claiming that the file room smelled like smoke and it was too bad for her to be in there. Darlene has worked in the file room before, and she has never went to her supervisor and complained about the smoke smell. This case shows that Alice and Frank are considerate as they were always considerate of Darlene, as well as nonsmokers, by opening the windows to air the room out ahead of time if they knew that Darlene was going to be working in there. Companies have implemented a non-smoking policy in places of employment, and according to this case smokers have rights, and the office supervisor reminds Darlene that their state law does not ban smoking in the workplace. Due to Darlene not going into the filing room, the office supervisor is concerned with the report that is currently due. With this case, Charles Renford could have handled the situation better than what he did, and Charles Renford should implement a policy...
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...Old Smoke Bus 309 Assignment #2 Old Smoke Ronic West Instructor BUS309 February 26, 2012 Abstract This is our second assignment for Bus 309 we are to write on case study 8.4. Regarding Old Smoke and follow the metric for this assignment described in the course syllabus. If I was Charles Renfold I would closely weigh the options and look at what other companies in my field are doing with smoking policies. Companies are passing more and more no smoking laws for employees even going as far as employees cannot smoke on the grounds of work. With these considerations I would come up with a designate smoker’s area for my smoking employees. Charles will need to consider her opinion because she is the only employee that can complete an extremely important report for the company. Charles could show his smoking employees how to complete the report for his managers. I find it disturbing personally that a company still allow employees to still smoke inside the building. Then to allow employees to air out the room by opening windows this obvious cannot be healthy for anyone involved. I feel breaks should be built into the work day to insure productivity is still kept at a maximum. Maybe two breaks and lunch for all employees. I think of the companies that are banding smoking from the entire campus how is this being handled. I would definitely build in breaks into the work day and make...
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