I don't smoke, have never tried smoking, and never will.  However, some of the hardest workers I know are smokers.  Do I think they should quit, yes.  Is it any of my business, no.  Again - However, as long as they smoke only on their standard breaks/lunch and cover whatever percentage necessary on insurance for the increased costs and needs...   Yes, hire them.

Jiffy Said:
Not sure why anybody would want to do that to their body but have at it I guess. 

Would I hire one?  Depends on the job and the person, not on their black charred lungs and stinky "perfume".  

However, I absolutely dispise smoke, makes me ill thinking about it.   

doesn't matter with ND being a right to work state hire who you want...fire who you want...

...can this person perform his/her duties at or above expectations – that would be the answer to your question

There are so many angles to take on this one.  I was raised in a non-smoking home, but had many relatives and close family friends that smoked and honestly I hated being around it. Yet, as a 21 year old I picked up the habit. Smoked for over 15 years, quit for nearly three and then started again about 10 years ago.  I have been in a supervisory, or managerial role almost my entire 30 year work history. Smoking has never been a considered factor when making a hiring decision for me. That could partly have to do with me being one, but, the end decision has always been made on a calculated decision on who(m) I thought  would be the best fit for the position.  You will find examples on both ends of the spectrum as to whether, or not, smoking has a noticable effect on a person's job performance. I have always been very careful NOT to let my habit effect mine. As far as health issues, I may be abnormal but I've missed a total of about 6 or 7 days due to illness in 30 years. Personally I've witnessed an awful lot more sick days by employees from the "bottle flu" than anything else. 
  My two cents is; evaluate the individual on capabilities, not habits.  Is the person capable of meeting, or exceeding the expectations of the position?  Since smoking in public is becoming more and more restricted, how can you regulate (or eliminate) the opportunity for the employee to smoke?  If the person really wants the job and knows on the front end that smoking will not be allowed in/at the workplace, the property, company owned vehicles, etc. they will have to either learn to deal with the addiction differently, or seek employment elsewhere. With the extremely low unemployment we are experiencing in North Dakota, don't automatically eliminate a potential hire because the person smokes.  You don't know when the next person that you might consider for hire might walk through the door.

Well, since I've wasted a good half hour of "work" time now. I think I'll go to lunch and maybe have a smoke and try to make my afternoon more productive when I return.

Enslow Said:
To even care if someone smokes is quite judgemental.  yuck

marksman Said:

should a person hire a smoker?