Smoking breaks

[angeldraws]

Hi guys - i have just started my new job with the local council and have noticed that as a 'caring' organisation smokers are allowed to go for additional smoking breaks, throughout the day providing they dont abuse this. My question is -Apart from normal tea breaks, why should i accept this when i am not given the equivalent of the additional ciggy breaks that the smokers get??
Do Abers think this is fair???

[Sammy Snake]

No I don't think its fair but unfortunately its happened at every place I've ever worked!

[Loosehead]

No, not fair but it seems to be a standard that most employers seem to tolerate. I suppose they'd rather that than have the sad addicts climbing the walls doing no work. I did work at one place though where there was almighty row because a manager decided to dock all the smokers an hour a day, how we laughed !

[angeldraws]

Excellent idea Loosehead, although i may have to wait till ive been there a while before i suggest that to my line manager!!!! Another week or so maybe...wot dya reckon?

I do have SOME sympathy for people having an addiction - but it IS one they have brought on themselves in the first place....and i'm guessing the council wouldnt really wanna stand the cost, spending thousands on courses to get these people free of their addiction, - besides, i'd complain about that too!!!

[compman]

No it's not fair.

Why not tell your manager you've been fighting a smoking problem, but have had to admit defeat and say that you will now need smoking breaks.

As a 'caring' organisation surely they will OK your application!!

But perhaps they asked if you were a smoker at your job interview.

I know it's not fair but I suppose there are ten of thousands of us in the same boat. Good luck with your new job anyway.

[cascarelli]

On the application form for employment at our company we ask if the applicant is a smoker and, if they are, whether they can work without smoking breaks during the working hours.

If they cant work without a smoking break we wouldnt employ them as it would put too much pressure on the other workers who can work without a break every hour to smoke fags.

We're always amazed when we see workers (and I use the term loosely) standing outside offices smoking cigarettes. So, yes, if I was an employee it would annoy me

[Hapus]

You all seem to find it easy to assume that smokers will work less than non-smokers simply because they have to leave their desk during the day. I have worked with many non-smokers who managed to do nothing whilst not leaving their desk and therefore not drawing attention to themselves. I smoke and I leave my desk once in the morning, and once in the afternoon. I still have a higher work turnover than anyone else in the group and manage to effectively complete all my work on or before time. Perhaps you should start counting people's toilet breaks.

[elpea]

We have a smoking ban in Scotland, which has changed everything. I smoke, but even tho I work in a 'caring' organisation I'm not permitted breaks except my lunch break - during which I can smoke as much as I like provided I'm not on the grounds - including the car park, and am not allowed to stand at the gate either, I have to cross the road and be completely away from the premesis. On one or two very stressful days I have snuck out for a sly puff, but that's on very, very rare occasions. I think that if you are allowed a teabreak in the morning and afternoon you should be permitted to smoke then, but inbetween that you are taking extra time off, which isn't acceptable. I agree with Hapus about non-smokers managing to waste time which goes unnoticed as they don't leave the building... in fact many of them are incredibly unhealthy in that they don't exercise or get outside for at least 8 hours a day! Whereas even tho I smoke, in some ways I feel quite healthy - I cycle to and from work, I'm walking at lunchtime, as opposed to the majority at my office who drive to work and are indoors all day long.

[naz_nomad]

You should be deducted money for the hours you spend smoking and not working....

If I was a crack addict, would the company pay me to 'shoot-up' every 15 minutes ... I doubt it.

[angeldraws]

@ Hapus - Fair comment but Its not necessarily a discussion about how much work people do, its more the fact that smokers are 'allowed' to go for smoke breaks whereas non smokers don't have the equivalent allowance during their working day. :o)

[Hapus]

Angeldraws - I can imagine that would grate on people in certain industries,but I'm glad to say that I work in an office environment where people can get up from their desks and "take a breather" when they need to. Naturally all things are open to abuse but on the whole it works.

[Hapus]

Angeldraws - I can imagine that would grate on people in certain industries,but I'm glad to say that I work in an office environment where people can get up from their desks and "take a breather" (toilet make tea, stretch their legs etc) when they need to. Naturally all things are open to abuse but on the whole it works.