I’m a smoker and work from home permanently – is it unprofessional to light up in meetings?
A person who works permanently from home has sparked a furious online debate by asking if he can smoke during office video calls.
Take to Redditasked the worker from the UK if it was acceptable to light up given they were in the privacy of their own home.
But social media users were divided — some saying it was within their rights and others saying it was inappropriate.
In the original post, the user wrote, “If you work from home permanently, is it unprofessional to smoke in a meeting?”
Some pointed out that you could do whatever you wanted when the camera was off.
An anonymous UK employee, who works permanently from home, has sparked a furious online debate by asking if he can smoke during office video calls (stock image)
However, others said that corporate HR departments often still prohibit smoking during work hours, whether you’re in the office or at home.
For starters, some members of the forum said smoking while working from home wasn’t unprofessional at all.
One of them wrote, “I wouldn’t have a problem with it – it’s their home.”
Another added: ‘It wouldn’t bother me. At the end of the day it’s the comfort of their own home and wouldn’t affect me or my job. I don’t think it comes across as unprofessional either.’
They added, “They’re still working and can work, it’s just like they’re taking a drink of water or something.”
However, others said it was completely unprofessional – regardless of the setting.
One wrote, “I vape, but I would never do that in front of clients on a video call. I find it unprofessional.
“If you’re that desperate for a vape, get away from the camera for 10 seconds.”
Taking to Reddit, the employee from the UK asked if it was acceptable to scam since they were in the privacy of their own home
Another added: “I would say it’s unprofessional. You are not allowed to smoke in an office environment, so avoid camera images during a work meeting.
“Anyone who really can’t wait until the end of a meeting to take a puff should probably cut back on smoking.”
Another wrote: ‘Yes. Have some self-control for an hour or two.”
While a fourth said: ‘I would consider it unprofessional. To me it gives the impression that you don’t take the meeting seriously or are fully involved.’
Some admitted to doing this regularly – only lighting up when the camera was off.
One of them explained that they would regularly light up when certain colleagues were on the phone, but wouldn’t think of doing so if they were in front of different people.
And some advised never doing anything at home that you wouldn’t do at the office.
Some said it was fine to smoke in the comfort of your own home and it was like drinking a cup of tea
But others were ambivalent – and wondered what the law would do on the matter.
Someone wrote: ‘I started WFH in 2010 and our existing employment contract was no smoking during working hours.
“Someone checked with HR and they confirmed that it still applies to working from home.”
But one of them replied, “I rather suspect that employers literally don’t have the power to enforce this.”
And someone said it would be interesting to know if there had been a trial legal case on this issue.
Most people said it was completely unprofessional to smoke on a work visit and they wouldn’t advise it
They wrote: ‘My house is my house. But when I work from home, my home is my workplace. There are laws about workplaces, such as a smoking ban.’
Some also told funny stories.
One of them wrote, “I turned off the camera and sneaked out for a cheeky cigarette during a long all-handed meeting.
“Went outside, lit, took a long drag and exhaled to the sky with a sigh of relief. Only to glance at my screen and see that I had accidentally turned my camera back on while heading out. Humiliating.’