No more secondhand smoke
April 17, 2008 10:02 AM Subscribe
I have been working at an art gallery for over a two years. When I first was hired they asked me if I was okay with smoking from time to time. The two directors smoke once or twice when they are in the gallery. I had told them it was fine since I knew they wouldn't be in the gallery every single day. Now our gallery has several new people who smoke and they are in every day. I can't stand it anymore. It's 5 out of 6, who smoke or don't care if anyone else smokes in the gallery. How do I politely tell the group of smokers to smoke somewhere else in the gallery or not smoke near me at all after I had told them that it was okay for them to do it in the first place? I'm afraid they just might end up hating me and firing me.
Response by poster: yes, but the owner of the gallery smokes so everyone follows
posted by likeapen at 10:08 AM on April 17, 2008
posted by likeapen at 10:08 AM on April 17, 2008
i'd meet with the director(s) and let them know that one or two smokers was ok, but things are getting out of hand, and then ask them for a solution.
or just tell them someone complained, and that you researched it and discovered that the gallery is afoul of the law.
posted by lester at 10:10 AM on April 17, 2008 [2 favorites]
or just tell them someone complained, and that you researched it and discovered that the gallery is afoul of the law.
posted by lester at 10:10 AM on April 17, 2008 [2 favorites]
Wouldn't smoking in an art gallery damage the art? Could you perhaps bring up the point that your coworkers are depositing tarry yellow residue all over everything when they smoke in there? My dad used to smoke in the house, and it took two layers of Kilz underneath a new paint job just to keep the tar from creeping through. It seems like a pretty big concern, and I'm not even anti-smoking in general.
posted by showbiz_liz at 10:19 AM on April 17, 2008
posted by showbiz_liz at 10:19 AM on April 17, 2008
The text of that law:
posted by smackfu at 10:20 AM on April 17, 2008
Smoking in public places, places of employment, and governmental vehicles prohibited. No person shall smoke in a public place or in any place of employment or within 15 feet of any entrance to a public place or place of employment.The only exceptions are things that make sense, like tobacco shops, private residences, hotel rooms, and nursing home rooms.
posted by smackfu at 10:20 AM on April 17, 2008
You could also inform them that cigarette smoke is damaging to artwork (paintings anyway), so it might be a good idea not to smoke in the gallery.
posted by BozoBurgerBonanza at 10:20 AM on April 17, 2008
posted by BozoBurgerBonanza at 10:20 AM on April 17, 2008
In that case definitely what lester said about meeting with the directors. But I would heavily present the health portion as the issue. No preferences mentioned at all.
I wouldn't even mention the law unless it seemed that they were not recieving things positively at all.
Personally think that the health issue would make it less likely for hateful feelings to sprout.
posted by MsLgean at 10:20 AM on April 17, 2008
I wouldn't even mention the law unless it seemed that they were not recieving things positively at all.
Personally think that the health issue would make it less likely for hateful feelings to sprout.
posted by MsLgean at 10:20 AM on April 17, 2008
...as showbiz_liz points out
posted by BozoBurgerBonanza at 10:21 AM on April 17, 2008
posted by BozoBurgerBonanza at 10:21 AM on April 17, 2008
Like showbiz_liz and as a smoker I'd personally be more concerned about smoking in a place where works of art are hanging.
No harm in politely asking your bosses to cut down / cut it out. Especially if you can be confident the law is on your side.
posted by twistedonion at 10:25 AM on April 17, 2008
No harm in politely asking your bosses to cut down / cut it out. Especially if you can be confident the law is on your side.
posted by twistedonion at 10:25 AM on April 17, 2008
I doubt they'd hate you and fire you, unless they're really immature. If they did fire you for complaining about smoking (which would be incredibly stupid), you could sue them for a mint. Just nicely ask the owner to limit smoking, and mention the harm it does to the artwork. They're liable for any damage done to the artists works, I would imagine. IANAL.
posted by Koko at 10:42 AM on April 17, 2008
posted by Koko at 10:42 AM on April 17, 2008
I wouldn't buy art that smelled like cigarette smoke. That's insane.
posted by sully75 at 11:12 AM on April 17, 2008
posted by sully75 at 11:12 AM on April 17, 2008
I'd be really pissed that everyone was smoking around my artwork. You should say something, if only for that reason.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 11:13 AM on April 17, 2008
posted by The Light Fantastic at 11:13 AM on April 17, 2008
When I walk into a business where people are smoking, I immediately think: low class. This would be doubly so were it an art gallery.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 11:47 AM on April 17, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 11:47 AM on April 17, 2008 [1 favorite]
Well, there's two sides, on one hand, the situation you're in is flatly illegal - not to mention a real dumb policy in an art gallery for a lot of already stated reasons. With a telephone, a city directory and a little initiative I've no doubt you could bring official pressure to bear on this situation. To the issue of getting fired - are the owners well-off? Because I don't expect you having any trouble getting legal representation for that lawsuit, as you'd be getting fired for asking your employer to obey the law.
On the other hand, if you are the person who eliminates smoking in your workplace you will undoubtedly get bad vibes, and maybe worse, from at least some of your coworkers. You might get targeted even if it's not public that you blew the whistle: if you're the only nonsmoker, as it sounds, they may just assume you did it. On the other hand, smokers have had a long damn time now to deal with the reality that pretty much the only place you can smoke in public is outside. So if you're resilient it will probably blow over.
If I were you I'd communicate in writing (or in person with a copy of the essential points provided in writing) to the directors that the change in the working environment in that there are now a number of people routinely smoking on the premises is creating a problem for you. I'd think it counterproductive to even get into the previous situation with just them, it's clearly a different issue now. I'd say, the situation really isn't appropriate in the workplace and I believe a policy change needs to come from management that smoking isn't allowed in the workplace. I wouldn't get into any legal claims without getting a lawyer. Chances are this change creeped up on them too, on some level they must know it's not right, but change will only work if they are both explicit about it and lead by example. I'd hope that having the issue forced to their attention would lead them to take the proper initiative their positions demand - and frankly I'd think a request that your identity as the instigator be kept private would not be unreasonable (as I said before, what people believe is another issue, but they might at least be able to frown on anyone bitter actually getting in your face about it).
posted by nanojath at 1:14 PM on April 17, 2008 [1 favorite]
On the other hand, if you are the person who eliminates smoking in your workplace you will undoubtedly get bad vibes, and maybe worse, from at least some of your coworkers. You might get targeted even if it's not public that you blew the whistle: if you're the only nonsmoker, as it sounds, they may just assume you did it. On the other hand, smokers have had a long damn time now to deal with the reality that pretty much the only place you can smoke in public is outside. So if you're resilient it will probably blow over.
If I were you I'd communicate in writing (or in person with a copy of the essential points provided in writing) to the directors that the change in the working environment in that there are now a number of people routinely smoking on the premises is creating a problem for you. I'd think it counterproductive to even get into the previous situation with just them, it's clearly a different issue now. I'd say, the situation really isn't appropriate in the workplace and I believe a policy change needs to come from management that smoking isn't allowed in the workplace. I wouldn't get into any legal claims without getting a lawyer. Chances are this change creeped up on them too, on some level they must know it's not right, but change will only work if they are both explicit about it and lead by example. I'd hope that having the issue forced to their attention would lead them to take the proper initiative their positions demand - and frankly I'd think a request that your identity as the instigator be kept private would not be unreasonable (as I said before, what people believe is another issue, but they might at least be able to frown on anyone bitter actually getting in your face about it).
posted by nanojath at 1:14 PM on April 17, 2008 [1 favorite]
you could anonymously notify the enforcing agency that the rule is being violated at your workplace. that makes them the bad guy, not you. you can probably just tell them that you're an employee, you don't want to give your name because you don't want to lose your job, and could they come by to investigate. they will.
posted by thinkingwoman at 1:36 PM on April 17, 2008
posted by thinkingwoman at 1:36 PM on April 17, 2008
I think the tactic that a patron complained and pointed out that smoking in business places is now illegal in your state is the better way to go.
posted by DarlingBri at 1:38 PM on April 17, 2008
posted by DarlingBri at 1:38 PM on April 17, 2008
I can't imagine that likeapen would be fired for complaining about the smoke, either to the owners or to some public authority. Not unless the owners are fools. I expect it would be much more likely that likeapen would be fired in a month or two for being 5 minutes late on Tuesday, making a error on a customer receipt last Wednesday, and not being able to handle a few extra duties that economic conditions forced them to add to his/her duties. And that the owners "wouldn't feel comfortable giving any reference" beyond dates of employment.
posted by tyllwin at 1:45 PM on April 17, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by tyllwin at 1:45 PM on April 17, 2008 [1 favorite]
Seconding anonymous tips to the enforcing agency.
posted by toomuchpete at 3:01 PM on April 17, 2008
posted by toomuchpete at 3:01 PM on April 17, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
Is your gallery not a public space?
posted by meerkatty at 10:07 AM on April 17, 2008