smoke break unfairness

[erinny1983]

So, about 80% of the people I work with smoke (EWW) and take an average of 4 smoke breaks a day. Their breaks last anywhere from 5-20 minutes. I'm lucky if I get to take 15 min. for lunch. I mentioned this to my boss and was totally brushed off. I probbly should just leave it alone and worry about myself, but it really bothers me that these people are being paid for all this time that they do no work.

Has anyone else been in a situation like this? What did you do?

Thanks

[mikandmari]

Maybe you should go with the smokers, and just stand around outside while they smoke. Tell them you're taking a "fresh air break".

I made several smokers at work angry a few years back. They brought up smoke breaks in a meeting, and I raised my hand and told the bosses that as a non-smoker, I will likely cost the company less in health costs, and that I want equal breaks as the smokers whose health costs I'm subsidizing. If looks could kill! They didn't get their extra breaks. Too bad!

You aren't there to love one another....

[Tamerama]

oh boy!!! That would peave me off too!! I would definately be taking my breaks. Are you working 8 hour shifts? I believe legally they must give you 2 15 minute breaks as well as an "unpaid" lunch on 8 hours??? You might want to check the company handbook on it and then when you need your break..you say "I'm taking my 15 minute paid break per page 15 of the company handbook"..heehee
Good luck! It is no fun when things aren't fair!!!

[FreesiaE]

I feel your pain. I've always felt it was unfair because if you added up say
15 minutes worth of smoke breaks a day 5 days a week
75 min a week
People work 50 hours a year (say 2 off for vacation and sick total)
so 75*50 is 3750 minutes a year which is
3750/60=62.5 hours or assuming you do a 40 hour work week
1.5 weeks or so of "off time" they get.
I'm snarky so I say you can take an equal amount of time for magazine breaks, vending machine breaks, internet surfing breaks, etc. Or heck, tell your boss as a nonsmoker you want that time back in vacation days.

[freyadog]

my dh smokes. He has a cigarette at his 1st break, 1 at lunch and 1 at his
2nd break then doesnt have another one until he gets off work.

[qtkitty]

Every place i have worked at its been the same.. its as if non smoking people do not have a "real reason" to need a break. Course all the managers i have had over the years have smoked other then 2 and of course the smokers have this little commune thing going on amongst themselves since they are always spending time together smoking.


There was a lady i worked with who didn't smoke who started smoking just so she could talk and smoose with the managers. Amazingly she ended up being promoted. Sorry not willing to risk my health to get promoted.

[leezza]

Lets see now I can tell you a story from back in the day when I worked Heavy Construction......a lot of people who didn't smoke but wanted to take the breaks would carry a pack of cigs/lighter and would only light one up if someone came around checking......

I say it's only fair, same employees/same breaks for all.

JMHO,
leezza

[Kbuzz]

I agree this is TOTALLY unfair. I am not a smoker and my co-workers are always running out for a smoke. Look at it this way...You will have many more healthy year in front of you for NOT running out and smoking!! Plus you smell better

[bumplett]

wow - everyone sounds so hostile

just go out with them. it's simple. if you want a break, take one.

[Jskell911]

wow - everyone sounds so hostile

just go out with them. it's simple. if you want a break, take one.

As a smoker (please be gentile), I have actually had managers tell me I spend more time IN the office than the non-smokers do. BUT, I do agree it's an unfair advantage and encourage my 'non-smoking' co-workers to take a "Breather" . Fair is fair!

[KJayEsq]

That happens at our office too. The bosses are totally squawking about it. I agree it's a problem because I see it all the time, but the bosses don't do anything but complain about it so I told them either to shut up or make everybody clock in and out for their breaks (they don't right now), so if you see a smoker out there and check their card, well they had better be off the clock and not getting paid.

I like the idea of stepping outside for a "fresh air break" too - that's good!!

[C@rol]

Maybe you should go with the smokers, and just stand around outside while they smoke. Tell them you're taking a "fresh air break".

I made several smokers at work angry a few years back. They brought up smoke breaks in a meeting, and I raised my hand and told the bosses that as a non-smoker, I will likely cost the company less in health costs, and that I want equal breaks as the smokers whose health costs I'm subsidizing. If looks could kill! They didn't get their extra breaks. Too bad!
You aren't there to love one another....

A few years back this very issue was brought up by
the non-smokers at the hospital I worked at.
We would watch the smokers come down from the
10th and below floor, figure 5-10 minutes, stand
outside and smoke 15-20 minutes, sometimes longer,
then 5-10 minutes to get back to their work stations.
They did this twice during their shift.

Well the non-smokers were not to happy with
this at all. Because while the smokers were out smoking
guess who was covering their stations and calls.
Management was approached and they talked about
changes but soon things went right back to the way
they were.

I think it's truly unfair to non-smokers that the smokers
get this free time. Somehow equal time has to be made
for non-smokers.

[PAVallygrl]

At my job the smokers go a smoke break on their 5 minute morning break, their 1 hour lunch time and their 5 minute afternoon break and that's it. Other than that I have to say that they seem to be extremly concientious out of fear of reprisal from the current Anti-Smoking atmosphere these days. At the same token, the non-smokers go for "snack" in the morning, 1 1/2 hour lunch time, "snack" in the afternoon and then are often found either on Personal calls all day long, playing video games or away from their stations BSing with other co-workers during the rest of the day. How they get away with it is beyond me.

[AmyBoz]

I disagree 100% with smoke breaks. You wouldn't give a drug addict a "heroin break" or an alcoholic a "drink break." When you are at work, you are supposed to be working. If there are scheduled breaks, then you smoke then. Otherwise, you should be on the job. There is no excuse for not doing your work because you need a cigarette.

[erinny1983]

I disagree 100% with smoke breaks. You wouldn't give a drug addict a "heroin break" or an alcoholic a "drink break." When you are at work, you are supposed to be working. If there are scheduled breaks, then you smoke then. Otherwise, you should be on the job. There is no excuse for not doing your work because you need a cigarette.

That's my position too. Sorry to you guys that smoke. I think i might write a letter to the regional HR lady and see what happens. Probably nothing, but oh well.