Is it illegal to discriminate against smokers in the workplace?
I don’t think it is on the books as illegal although you could try to take it up with the Human RIghts commission as smoking itself is not an illegal act . If you told a potential employer that you do drugs that would definitely be grounds for not hiring. Employers prefer non-smokers because smokers take more breaks and smell bad which is not good for client relations. If they ask you if you smoke you can tell them you are making efforts to quit (some companies have stop smoking programs), but really focus on telling them what you can do for them as an employee and WOW them and the smoking will become a non-issue. Good luck!
I actually agree with you, the principles here are very confused the government say and endorse the legal right of purchase and use of the product i.e tobacco by them now restricting the use of that legal product in such a way which to me does discriminate against those that use a product which the government says is legal should be challenged in law. I would go so far as to challenge the government in its use of the government “health warning” on each packet if they except the product is a threat to the health of the consumer then i challenge their reasons for not totally banning and withdrawing that product from sale.
