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Talk:Debate:Should government restrictions on smoking be tightened or rolled back? (view source)
Revision as of 17:25, July 23, 2008
, 17:25, July 23, 2008→Comments
:::::::I have no problem with reasonable guidelines to ensure workplace safety. The key word here is "reasonable." Ensuring that the building has fire escapes is reasonable; demanding that all keyboards be replaced with ergonomically-designed models to reduce the terrible risks of being injured at a 9-to-5 desk job is not. No job in the world is without some form of risk, and piling mandate after mandate on employers in order to "baby-proof" the workplace simply results in a lot of small businesses that can't stay afloat. --[[User:Benp|Benp]] 12:55, 23 July 2008 (EDT)
:::::::I have no problem with reasonable guidelines to ensure workplace safety. The key word here is "reasonable." Ensuring that the building has fire escapes is reasonable; demanding that all keyboards be replaced with ergonomically-designed models to reduce the terrible risks of being injured at a 9-to-5 desk job is not. No job in the world is without some form of risk, and piling mandate after mandate on employers in order to "baby-proof" the workplace simply results in a lot of small businesses that can't stay afloat. --[[User:Benp|Benp]] 12:55, 23 July 2008 (EDT)
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I'm for simplicity, fewer regulations, and increased freedoms as well, Ben. I've witnessed first-hand how some people expect employers to accommodate every ridiculous request for "ergonomic safeguards" that are nothing more than unnecessary creature comforts (free coffee in the office being the obvious exception ;-) ).
Where smoking is concerned, it just seems that maintaining a smoke-free environment as the default makes the most sense. Non-smokers can shop, eat and work comfortably, and smokers can step outside for a break when they need to. (Ironically, in my office some of the non-smokers complain that the smokers are getting extra paid time off by being allowed to take breaks, where non-smokers are not).
Also, a German firm tried to start an airline in 2006 that would allow smoking and it never launched due to low interest. It's a good example of people voting with their wallets to take a few-hour break from smoking to save money. --[[User:DinsdaleP|DinsdaleP]] 13:25, 23 July 2008 (EDT)