German IT company fires 3 employees for not smoking

The owner of a small German IT company is being sued for unfair dismissal after he fired three of this ten staff for not smoking.

While Germany introduced a smoking ban in pubs and restaurants, effective on January 1st, smoking in small offices remains legal.

Thomas J (who refused to release his full name to the press) fired three of his staff after they requested on non-smoking area to work in.

"Our non-smoking employees were of the opinion they had a right to smoke-free areas," he the daily Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper.

"My answer was to immediately hand them their walking papers. Smokers make for more even-headed, better employees at our company."

Mr J said he couldn’t be bothered with non-smokers anymore and that he was sick of always being picked on for lighting up.

“We’re on the phone all the time and it’s just easier to work while smoking. Everyone picks on smokers these days. It’s time for revenge. I’m only going to hire smokers from now on.”

All we can say to that is, good luck in your endeavours, Thomas.