Smoking

[Hedgemaster]

Keep in mind that even though you may not be aware of it, someone is always watching. Everyone should work as though you are being watched. I picked up several clients because the previous crew was overheard cursing and just generally having a bad attitude. The owner wasn't home, but her neighbor was. Word got back to her and then the neighbor asked for my info to pass along and in the end I got that job and then three other neighbors who had also used said crew of potty mouths. I found out all of this after the fact, but yeah... someone is always watching you work.

[Hedgemaster]

Lawn care business tips

Originally Posted by Apex Lawn & Landscape A little too far Hedge , quite amusing though when you say crappy work..I have the best looking yards in here. Although I'm a smoker, I do not smoke while working because it does look unprofessional....to say "douchebag" is pretty narrow minded, it's like me calling you a fa**ot because you don't have a Professional landscape trailer. Toodles Read this part again... My neighbor's lawn guys smoke while mowing. They look like criminals, do crappy work, and blow grass onto the street. I was speaking specifically about those guys - THEY do crappy work and ARE douchebags. I guess the point I was trying to make is that this ^ is the image that comes to mind when I see someone smoking on the job. Fair or not, it's what society has conditioned us to think. Smoking used to be "normal", acceptable, even "cool" behavior. That has changed. You said it yourself - smoking while working looks "unprofessional". That's really what it boils down to.

My wife smokes, I smoke when I drink. Smoking in itself doesn't make anyone look like a douchebag, but WHERE people smoke does.

When I see a crew smoking while mowing a lawn it's looks unprofessional. Might as well light up in their home if you were a plumber or HVAC tech, etc.

I don't think anyone is saying smokers do a bad job. People are saying it looks pretty bad when smoking ON the job.

Plus it sets you up for failure. A smoker can be careful with every single butt and never drop one. A car drives by a home the smoker mows and they flick the cig out the window. There is a butt in the lawn, the owner saw the smoker smoking while working so it is automatically the smoker's butt.

[CHEESE2009]

Originally Posted by Apex Lawn & Landscape

I apologize if I came off mean and conceited ..... I hadn't had my morning cigarette yet!

LOL!


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I believe it all comes down to respecting those around you. Smoking on a property is silly, because that is disrespectful to the homeowners. If they have windows open, they don't want to smell smoke.

Smoking is a lifestyle choice, everyone has something unhealthy about them. A lot of the times people try to inform me of how bad smoking is, I can usually pick something about them that is just as bad that they refuse to change.

Sure I may smoke, but some people are overweight and don't do anything about it either. Some people are just bad people in general. Smokers are just an easy target, and that's all!

If someone washes their hands after using the washroom every time, stays in shape, doesn't smoke, doesn't beat their wife or children, goes to bed early to wake up early, then this person may seem better than the rest of us, but I'm pretty sure this person may be a serial killer. lol

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The only thing I truly hate in this world, is those who hop on the bandwagon of things just to be apart of a bigger group of people who can't think for themselves.

[Shark1611]

Well, it looks like I need to tell him to stop smoking while working. With all these post I just got to do it. If he quits he quits and I will move on and find someone else. Just upset with myself for not taking care of it from the get go.

I know you guys are not telling me how to run my business but I do have to tell you that my gut feeling was that I never did like it. I just let it go because he makes me money. Ha, and I guess if he quits over something like this he does not want to work for me anyway.

Thanks everyone.

[CHEESE2009]

lunch break;

[PineHillLawn]

I'm not a smoker, but used to be, and I think it does come off very unprofessional to smoke while at someones house. You have to keep in mind, you are on someone elses property, that deserves respect while you are there. If you're smoking on their property and they dispise smoking, as many people now do, you look unprofessional and in this day and age, smoking has become a dirty, nasty habit that more and more people speak out against. When certain towns and cities are putting a stop to smoking inside resturants and even bars now, you know it's being looked down upon a ton more than it used to be. I won't hire someone that smokes while on a property. You can wait to either get back in the truck or wait till you get to a lunch break. Just my two cents!!

[ringahding1]

No smoking while working on YOUR properties......PERIOD...I am a heavy smoker and I wait until the job is complete...

Make it a RULE..it is your company after all

[veteranslawncaresystems]

i dont allow smoking while working, but what is your customer smoked would that change your opion in smoking while working or talking with the customer

[PineHillLawn]

Originally Posted by veteranslawncaresystems

i dont allow smoking while working, but what is your customer smoked would that change your opion in smoking while working or talking with the customer

Not in my opinion it wouldn't. I don't mind a customer smoking in front as we talk but what would bother me is, if a neighbor saw us talking and me or my guys were smoking too, that might be a red flag to a not want me to mow there yard. Business is business! First impressions are a big deal to alot of people. Your always being watched, no matter if you think you are or not while out on a property. I know something like smoking isn't a big deal to some but, to others it can be a huge deal, you have to make sure you are always coming off as professional and I think smoking on someones property looks bad for business.