Old Smoke: Charles Renford - Case Study Example

?Running Head: OLD SMOKE Old smoke Old smoke Explain how you would handle this situation if you were Charles Renford. This situation presented Charles Renford with a dilemma. When he was expecting the report to be compiled as fast as possible because it was late, he discovered that Darlene could not do it because of the smell in the files room. Most likely the top management would be on his neck within no time and yet the job cannot be done immediately. Mr. Renford could not convince Darlene to do the job by enduring the smell of the cigarette smoke in the files room. He needed to find a solution very quickly. The solution to this problem at that moment lied in the decision of the supervisor Mr. Renford, Stortz (2007). Personally if I was in the shoes of Mr. Renford I could have decided to use either Frank or Alice to accomplish the task at hand. However before coming to any of these two I would try the other person that Darlene works with in the personnel department office. Probably this would be the one suited to take the position of Darlene for this particular assignment since they work together and he/she could handle her assignments. This would work if this person does not mind the cigarette smoke since she is anon smoker. Since this person is not under the weather like Darlene I would then bank on her/him to do the report. If this person is not able then Darlene would have to coach Alice and Frank so that either of them does the report for her in the files office Stortz (2007). Darlene would however be expected to resume working in the main files office when she gets better because in her normal health she has no problem with old cigarette smoke, odors or other smells. Describe the policy on smoking that you would recommend to Redwood Associates. For the case of Redwood Associates, I would definitely recommend the state work place smoking law. The law on smoking at the place of work is against people smoking at their work places. The reason for this is that smokers expose the non smokers to health risks resulting for tobacco smoke. Work place is defined in the law as an enclosed space in which employees do their services. This is not inclusive of any residential portion. The law does not allow smoking in all work place areas. Employers have to post the 100% smoke free poster. An employee has a right to file a complaint with the Health department incase his/her rights are violated. The health department can then notify the employer through writing about the violation and also remind them of the prohibition of smoking indoors. A $100 penalty can be imposed if the law is not adhered to. An employer is prohibited by law from retaliating to employees who assist by enforcing or supervising the requirements of workplace smoking. Incase an employee knows that his/her employer has taken action against her because of this they are allowed to file a complaint with the department of health in 30 days of the violation. The commissioner inspects this complaint and if he/she finds that there was retaliation then a court action must be brought against the employer. The court can then determine relief appropriately including back pay and reinstatement, Stortz (2007). Explain how this case would change if what bothers Darlene is not old smoke but the smell of Alice’s perfume or Frank’s body odor. As Mr. Renford puts it the law is silent on smells that people don’t like and which cannot harm them. The law is only concerned with cigarette smoke in confined places. The smell of Alice’s perfume or the body odor of Frank do not cause ay health problem and therefore are not covered by the law. The company, represented by Mr. Renford would require Darlene to work in the main files room even if she dislikes it. She would be expected to endure the conditions there or quit employment if she finds it hard. Failure to attend to her duties would make her face the sack or have some disciplinary measures carried out against her Darlene, Stortz (2007).However the company could decide the case in a more humane way without consulting the law. If Darlene can present a case where she has a genuine health issue or an allergy to particular odors and smells then she should be allowed to work without these odors around her. In this case Frank and Alice will need to be relocated from the main files room or be asked to do something to control the odor and perfume that may be affecting. Explain whether it is fair or reasonable for companies to ban employees from smoking in their cars in the company parking lot. There is no fairness or reason in the employer banning people from smoking while in the car in the parking lot of the company. This is so because the law applies only to areas within enclosed structures such as office buildings. The law does not prohibit smoking in the parking lot or inside the car. However the employer might choose to do so for purposes known to him/her or according to the requirements of the company. If the employer finds it reasonable under certain unique conditions he/she can ban smoking in the car within the parking lot or anywhere on the compound of the company, Stortz (2007).The law is not prohibitive of smoking outdoors and it does not say whether it is right or wrong for the employer to allow or disallow smoking at a given distance from the place of work. The law prohibits outdoor smoking close to door ways, intakes of air supply on buildings and windows through which cigarette smoke can enter a building. If the parking lot of a company is close to the places described above through which smoke can get its way inside a building then it would be reasonable and fair for the company to ban smoking in such a parking lot. Although the smoker could be smoking in the car there is no guarantee that he/she will obey the rule of closing all car windows. Somehow the smoke can get into the building. Nevertheless the company’s decisions on such issues should be based on consultation with the employees. If they think they have no problem with smokers smoking in the parking lot then it can be allowed. If they feel otherwise then the smokers should be asked to abstain from smoking while in the parking lot and the inside of any building Stortz (2007). References Stortz R. C (2007), "City Council passes smoking ban", Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune, May 15, 2007 Read More