Is it harmful to others though, you have to ask yourself that. I know there are usuallly designated areas, but you still get second hand smoke, regardless.
well...there are two things here....
#1...technically....second hand smoke (or at least...the majority of it) is filtered twice..once by the cigarette...and once by the best filter...the smoker's lungs...unless you're in a closed room with a bunch of burning cigarettes...the actuall smoke from the cigarette...is not a problem....and...if you're in a room full of smokers...and you don't smoke....why are you in that room complaining about the smoke? any company that i've ever worked for that allowed smoking....has designated smoking areas...if you don't smoke...why go there?
#2....the stress put on someone due to another individual is detrimental to your health...should they fire you if you're a known stress causer? my old boss was a certifide jackarse ( i think he actually had a union membership with a card and everything). should i be able to sue him for any stress induced health issues i have? should he have had to pay more for my health insurance because he caused my stress?
there are alot of areas in society...where you have to make a sacrifice for the good of the group...but...when you start interfering with stuff like smoking...you get into a fuzzy area...i mean...why hurt the smokers who..choose to smoke..and generally are smoking in a designated area just for smokers...? i can sort of understand increasing health insurance prices..but...at the same time...why not do that for all health risks...like the guy who buys the donuts...or what not..