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Japanese firm gives six days off to resentful, non-smoking employees

Julian Ryall
The Telegraph
Mon, 30 Oct 2017 17:05 UTC
smoke break
A Japanese company is granting non-smoking employees an extra six days of paid holidays a year after they complained that they were working more than staff who took time off for cigarette breaks.

Tokyo-based marketing firm Piala Inc. only introduced the non-smokers' perk in September, but employees have been quick to take advantage.

"One of our non-smoking staff put a message in the company suggestion box earlier in the year saying that smoking breaks were causing problems", said Hirotaka Matsushima, a spokesman for the company.

"Our CEO saw the comment and agreed, so we are giving non-smokers some extra time off to compensate", Mr Matsushma told The Telegraph.

Comment: The joke is on them. Smoking actually increases brain function and work productivity. Also see: The totalitarian crusade against second-hand smoke

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Smoking

More Japanese firms introducing anti-smoking measures


Kyodo News
Sun, 29 Oct 2017 15:16 UTC
Japan firms anti-smoking measures
© Kyodo
Employees of Sompo Japan Nippon Kowa Himawari Life Insurance Inc. chat Oct. 19 in a lounge that was converted from a smoking room in line with the company's smoking ban at all of its business outlets.
An increasing number of Japanese companies are stepping up efforts to protect employees from the health hazard of smoking at a time when the central and local governments are studying measures to curb the public's exposure to secondhand smoke.

Convenience store chain Lawson Inc. introduced an all-day ban on smoking at its head office and all regional offices in June, with an eye toward lowering the ratio of smokers to its entire workforce by around 10 percentage points in fiscal 2018 from 33 percent in fiscal 2016.

The ban applies to some 4,500 employees during work hours including when they are out of the office. Sales clerks of Lawson convenience stores, operating under franchising contracts with the retail chain, and workers of Lawson subsidiaries are not subject to the step.
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Smoking

New York governor to approve e-cigarette ban in bars, restaurants, workplaces

Glenn Bain
New York Daily News
Mon, 23 Oct 2017 05:00 UTC
E-cigarettes in NY bar
© Julia Xanthos/New York Daily News
Gov. Cuomo on Monday plans to sign into law new restrictions on electronic cigarettes that effectively ban their use in most restaurants, bars and workplaces, the Daily News has learned.

The measure, adopted by the Legislature in June, extends the provisions of New York's Clean Indoor Air Act to include e-cigarettes and has been a top priority of anti-smoking advocates.

"These products are marketed as a healthier alternative to cigarettes, but the reality is they also carry long-term risks to the health of users and those around them," Cuomo said.

"This measure closes another dangerous loophole in the law, creating a stronger, healthier New York for all."

Comment: Indeed. Nicotine can be highly beneficial for some people. See:

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Smoking

Borneo to enforce smoking ban at 76 public parks


The Borneo Post
Tue, 17 Oct 2017 18:41 UTC
No smoking sign in Borneo
© The Borneo Post
‘No Smoking’ signboard at Sibu Town Square Phase I.
Seventy-six public parks across the state have been gazetted as 'No Smoking' zones, following the enforcement on June 1 this year by the state Health Department.

According to state Health Department director Dr Jamilah Hashim, her side ran a three-month public awareness prior to the enforcement.

"Public parks should be used for healthy recreational activities. Smokers are, therefore, urged to respect other visitors who wish to utilise these public facilities without the dangerous side effects of secondary smoking," she said when asked about the number of compounds issued for those caught smoking at public parks across the state, under Regulation 11(1)(w) of Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004.
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Smoking

More anti-smoking fascism: Honolulu passes bill banning smoking in a car with children inside


Hawaii Tribune Herald
Sat, 14 Oct 2017 20:03 UTC
smoking in car

Now illegal in Oahu.
The Honolulu City Council unanimously passed a bill making it illegal on Oahu to smoke in vehicles while children are inside.

The bill was approved Wednesday and Mayor Kirk Caldwell said he plans to sign it into law.

Those in opposition say the bill intrudes on people's private lives, while backers say those younger than 18 years old have no choice but to stay in a vehicle if an adult is smoking.

Comment: Despite the fact that the second-hand smoke/disease link is junk science, the ridiculousness continues:

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Smoking

UK hospital to ban smokers from receiving treatment if caught smoking on grounds and refuse to stop

Jacob Dirnhuber
The Sun, UK
Fri, 06 Oct 2017 10:42 UTC
Darent Valley hospital
© The Sun
A hospital has said it could ban people from receiving non-emergency medical care if they are caught smoking or vaping on its grounds and refuse to stop.

Bosses at Kent's Darent Valley Hospital extended a smoking crackdown to patients and visitors after banning staff from lighting up in early August.

Designated smoking areas have been abolished, while specialist anti-smoking wardens have started patrolling the grounds during the first week. Anyone who refuses to stop smoking when asked by a warden will be issued with a yellow card.

If they continue to smoke after that, the hospital revealed it could block them from receiving any non-emergency treatment.
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Stop

California governor vetoes bans on smoking at beaches and parks, calling them too coercive

Patric McGreevy
Los Angeles Times
Fri, 06 Oct 2017 16:06 UTC
California beach
© Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times
Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday vetoed two bills that would have banned smoking at California parks and beaches, calling them too coercive and saying potential fines are too high.

The measures, which also would have banned smoking marijuana and the use of electronic cigarettes, were proposed by legislators to protect public health from second-hand smoking and to prevent wildfires and reduce litter.

Brown, who vetoed a similar bill last year, said the $100 fine proposed could reach $485 when court assessments are added, an amount he called excessive.

"If people can't smoke even on a deserted beach, where can they?" Brown asked in his veto message. "There must be some limit to the coercive power of government."
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Smoking

Australia's capitol city bans smoking at bus stops, taxi ranks, train & bus stations

Glynis Quinlan
The Riotact
Fri, 06 Oct 2017 07:46 UTC
No smoking sign
© Zest Magazine
Canberrans can no longer smoke in public transport waiting areas in the ACT with a new ban in place that covers bus stops, taxi ranks and bus and train stations.

The ban includes the Jolimont Bus Station and Canberra Train Station but does not apply to the Civic Bus Interchange between 11 pm and 6 am in keeping with the regulations applying to the city's night traders.

"The smoking ban includes seating areas where people might wait for public transport such as a bus shelter, bench or any seating at a transport stop and our future light rail stops," ACT Health and Transport Minister Meegan Fitzharris said.

Ms Fitzharris said that, other than at the Civic Bus Interchange, the smoking ban applies at all times even if public transport is not in operation.

Comment: More anti-smoking hysteria based on junk science.

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Smoking

Convicted murderer wins order forcing State of Missouri to ban smoking in prisons


The Washington Post
Wed, 27 Sep 2017 20:49 UTC
Smoking in prison
© MGN Online
Missouri prisons have been ordered to eliminate smoking after an asthmatic inmate serving a life sentence for two murders won a court judgment.

The Kansas City Star reports Missouri has been ordered to go smoke-free by April 1 because of the lawsuit Ecclesiastical Denzel Washington filed.

Missouri already bans smoking inside prison buildings, but it allowed it in designated areas outside. The evidence at trial showed that inmates are commonly written up for smoking in their cells.

State officials haven't announced details of their plan to eliminate smoking at 21 correctional facilities.

Comment: See also: Tobacco - Smokin' the propaganda peddlers

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Smoking

University of Rhode Island receives grant to ban smoking on campus


The News & Observer
Sat, 23 Sep 2017 15:20 UTC
University of Rhode Island
© University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island has received a grant to help it become a smoke and tobacco-free campus.

The university received a $20,000 grant from the American Cancer Society and CVS Health Foundation to develop policies to prohibit smoking and tobacco use.

The American Cancer Society's "Tobacco-Free Generation Campus Initiative" is funded by the foundation to accelerate and expand the number of smoke and tobacco-free campuses nationwide.

URI plans to survey students, faculty and staff to see if they're ready to adopt the change.

School officials say they want a campus policy that reflects shared values and creates a healthier and greener university.

Comment: See also: John D. Rockefeller's American Cancer Society never meant to 'CURE' cancer

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