I am going to throw this question out for any and all to weigh in

[rounds]

Wash your fingers(hands) and mouth and use a breath mint before returning to work after smoking, period. Some asthmatic people are sent to the ER by exposure of this nature.(allergic, I guess)
Also, some are so nicotine depraved they smoke 4 cigarettes on a 10 minute break!

[CHFG8R]

Originally Posted by g8orbill

well maybe 7732- but maybe they just found the smell offensive an unappetizing- I am totally conflicted-one one pt-I agree with the customer and on another point this is a good employee who needs her job- I am trying to figure out a happy medium

in the end I am there to serve our customers and they should not have to be offended or feel like her food is now unappetizing because my employee stinks with cigarette odor.

Ive been a server in a past life. At our resturaunt, most of us smoked. My personal policy was to always wash my hands (and arms - doctor style) and face, use breath spray (Listerine) and we also kept a can of spray cologne (Axe) in the back. I do this because I was paid for MY service of which MY presentation is a big part.

[cocodrilo]

Originally Posted by g8orbill

and coco- I assure you everyone one of my employees has a cell phone and all who smoke always have cigarettes

How do they do it? Seriously.

One of the reasons I quit smoking over 30 years ago was because I could no longer afford it. (The other reason was that it was killing me.) And you know what cigs cost back then? I don't remember exactly, but I think it was like 50 cents a pack. (I would smoke up to 4 packs a day.) Don't they cost like 5 bucks a pack nowadays?

Let's see, 4 packs a day at 5 bucks a pack, that's 20 bucks a day, or 140 bucks a week. And then there's the rent etc.

[Lawdog88]

Amazing how times have changed. After WWII, if you didn't smoke from age 16 on, you were simply not a man (guys, I'm talking about here). Smoking was so prevalent and accepted as adult behavior, children were not expected to complain about being confined to the back seat and subjected to two smoking parents on a long trip in the winter time. Actually, it was a form of torture.

So, it was horrible for kids who did not want to grow up and smoke, and who didn't. Like me.

Now the flip side is the norm, and from a health standpoint, it should be.

I don't know if I would have complained, but I certainly would have noticed. I also don't know that cigarette smoking necessarily means one is not hygienic, but reeking certainly registers with non-smokers and it can be an irritant for the especially sensitive.

[corpgator]

Hey Bill, do you own any franchises in Tampa? Like the one near USF?

Anyway, my wife has esophageal spasms and lots of things can set her off. She hates the smell of cigarettes and someone smoking near her can set her to coughing, so the smell of smoke while she is eating would off her spasms. It wasn't us who complained by the way.

Just a perspective. I'm not the type who would ask for a refund, though. We just wouldn't come back. I like firehouse subs.

[g8orbill]

I am not in the Tampa area corp

dog-probably one of the reasons I never smoked was what you mentioned-both my parents smoked and I hated being in the car with them when they smoked- the only good thing was we had 4-60 ac in those days

[fredsanford]

I hate smoking. I was subjected to it by both parents as a kid and I have watched cancer kill more family members than you can count on one hand. As I said in another thread, I would ban it completely by executive order on my first day as US president.

That having been said, unless the employee REAAAAAAAALLY reeked above and beyond, I don't think he should have faced any consequences. It is not his fault if the customer was overly sensitive.

I would imagine he could serve customers at the table for the next 2 years smelling the same and you would never get a similar complaint.

[108]

i don't think you should have suggested the employee to quit smoking, as it isn't a requirement to do a job, but to each their own

[g8orbill]

your right it is a choice 108- but in some situations it is a requirement to do your job-lot's of businesses have gone non smoking-just about the entire health care industry will fire you if you smoke-in fact most of the big hospitals drug test their employees on a regular basis

I have managed to build a relationship with most of my employees-for a fast food restaurant it is unusual to have more than half your staff with over a years service-but I have that situation, so I feel pretty comfortable in telling them that it is in there best interest health wise to not smoke-I did not tell them they would lose their job if they don't quit as it is a personal choice by them- however, smoking does lower ones immune system and smokers do tend to get more URI's than non smokers

[wgbgator]

I'm just wondering how the smell of cigarette odor was that noticeable over the smell of smoked meat which seems to permeate the Firehouses I've been to.

[g8orbill]

wgb- this person had just come off her 30 minute break where she had obviously smoked more than 1 cigarette while she sat in her car and listened to music- she actually reeked of cigarette smell-on her clothes in her hair-smokers rarely notice it on themselves

[cocodrilo]

Originally Posted by g8orbill

she sat in her car and listened to music

I'll bet she's half-deaf too. When you tell her something, does she often ask you to repeat it?

[jmoliver]

I dont blame the customer at all. I dont think I would have raised the issue with you Bill but I may not have come back either. You handled it like a true professional.

[GatorFanCF]

Bill - you did the right thing in handling the customer. The food cost of a few bucks pales in comparison with the good-will you will have from the customer. If I could go one further, you might offer to "super size" (add drink + chips) to his next foot long order which will entice him to return where you can confirm you've handled the situation.

Employee grooming (as some have mentioned) can be bothersome to customers (smoking, poor bathing habits, even excessive cologne) and can cause strong reactions. Your sense of smell is your most powerful and memorable scent; so, establishing a clean, healthy environment is paramount to any hospitality related concern.

FYI: Florida is a right to work state - you can fire the employee just because it's Tuesday or for no reason at all. You would probably have to pay unemployment if you have not gone through progressive (non-political usage) discipline steps; but, you as the employer have a right to terminate their employment just as they have the legal right not to show up for work...because it's Tuesday. You cannot terminate their employment for Federally protected classes (I'm firing you because you are XXXXXXX skin color = bad news).

[cocodrilo]

I don't care too much what a woman smells like if she brings me what I ordered and tells me what time she gets off work.

[GatorAbe7]

To answer OP, I would impersonally agoligize on behalf of the employee, and offer money back if it happens next time.

[fairfaxgator]

John Boehner works for you?

[AzCatFan]

I have a very sensitive nose and asthma. I've been known to go into a coughing fit being too close to someone who reeked of cigarette smoke. And on a rare occasion I've had a server give me food smelling like a cheap whore, I've had to get up and get some fresh air. It's not something I enjoy doing, and it's very embarrassing. Usually ends up with my wife complaining to the management and either the meal being comped or something else free. Which makes it even more embarassing.

Hand washing and some febreeze or other sort of freshener for the clothes can help. Hair is often an issue, as the smell lingers in hair a lot. Keeping hair short or tied back can help a little.

You did the right thing, Bill, and it is a concern, especially if your employee is in a confined area (her car), and smoking. It's only going to make the smell that much more intense. And although people like me are rare, we do exist.

[Gatormb]

Buy her some dip.

[co_gator89]

I guess I'm just different. My parents never smoked, growing up I was seldom ever around cigarette smoke, and I've never been even remotely interested in picking up the habit. But I've never been bothered by cigarette smoke in my life. I can hang out with smokers and not have a single issue and I often hang out in smoking sections at bars since that's where my friends are.