Update 10.55pm 14 Jan: Hamburger Morgenpost, which reported that a computer company owner had fired three disruptive non-smokers, today said it had been hoaxed by a pro-smoking activist. Reuters has more here. Our story, based on the original Morgenpost report, is below.

The boss of a small German IT outfit is being sued for unfair dismissal after sacking three of his 10 staff when they "requested a non-smoking area to work in", the Hamburger Morgenpost reports.

The Germans slapped a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants on 1 Jan, but the legislation doesn't apply to the workplace. The nicotine-charged owner, named only as "J", explained: "Our non-smoking employees were of the opinion they had a right to smoke-free areas. My answer was to immediately hand them their walking papers. Smokers make for more even-headed, better employees at our company."

J added that he "couldn't be bothered with non-smokers anymore and that he was sick of always being picked on for lighting up". He concluded: "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." ®

Bootnote

Cheers to Colin Millar for the heads-up.

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