Smoking Breaks At Work

[AliFlump]

Hi. As far as I can tell there is no legal requirement for an employer to allow smoking breaks. As a non smoker in an office of non smokers it's not an issue. However a new employee who smokes has started and goes for one every hour. We feel this is unfair as we have our one hour lunch with no other breaks while the smoker gets their one hour lunch and 5-10 mins every hour to go outside and smoke. We are going to raise this to HR. Anyone else had experience of this? Thanks

[craft1948]

Do his smoke breaks impact on your own work?

[aelmpvw]

i'm a retired non smoker who loves a drink, when working i wish i'd asked the boss if i could nip to the pub every hour for a quick scotch

[AliFlump]

Not especially. Only if a phone call comes in for them and they aren't available to take it.

[ummmm]

I suppose it depends on if the work gets done.

[MargoTester]

Aliflump- What time is your lunch break?

[AliFlump]

My thoughts precisely aelmpvw

[AliFlump]

12 - 1

[janbee]

Yes. I used to work in an office with some very heavy smokers One in particular was a real addict and was going out every 15 minutes for about 10 minutes. It was ridiculous. We all carried him and his work which just piled high. It was reported to HR but NOTHING was done. The person then "worked" on Sats and Suns and claimed time and half/double time for overtime but come Monday, the work was still piled high. He had done nothing and NOTHING was ever done about it. It caused REAL problems and bad feelings in the work place. Good luck with your HR dept I find them to be spineless and useless when there's a REAL problem. Let me know what happens.

[Old_Geezer]

I don't see why anyone should have specific smoke breaks. It is right workers have breaks, and if someone wants to go outside and smoke during some of them that's their option. But they ought not be extra time off, nor should the habit be used as an excuse to underperforming. In the end though, it's an issue for the employer and individual worker. If they go on a smoke break, you go on a coffee/tea/soda/water break. Fair's fair.

[Prudie]

I'm a smoker and I work. My employer brought out a new policy this summer - all smokers have to clock out for smoke breaks although they can go as often as they like. personally it irritates me and is discriminatory - the non-smokers who spend hours drinking coffee and talking about football don't get penalised.

[silliemillie]

Aliflump - weather this person smokes or not why should they get more breaks than you? Ask your boss if you can pop out once an hour for some fresh air and see how that goes down.

[craft1948]

I was a smoker who took breaks for a fag during work time, but only one in the morning and one in the afternoon....I adjusted my lunch hours accordingly.

[AliFlump]

Doesn't really work like having a tea break at our place. We are a small office and take it in turns to make tea then drink it at our desk while working (prob have 3 cups a day)

Our boss is always near by so knows where we are most of the time so we can't and don't just wonder off for chats. We are most of the day Sat at our desk except for toilet breaks. I don't have an issue with that. I'm there to work and I do but it's unfair that another person can vacate their desk for what can add up to another hour.

[AliFlump]

Thanks for your answers. Good to get other views. Back to work now but eager to hear other opinions.

[woofgang]

well in he interests of fairness, you could all start taking fresh air breaks and see how the boss likes that.

[craft1948]

So really his fag breaks don't have an adverse effect on your own work, you're just annoyed he's working less time than you...

[Old_Geezer]

If one person doesn't pull their weight others are needed to cover. I think whether it affects others' work directly is less relevant than ensuring a fair deal for all; not a better deal for some to goof off.

[hc4361]

Prudie, you don't drink coffee or chat with your colleagues at work?

[craft1948]

But OG if all his work gets done why should management have a problem with the fag breaks?

[gingejbee]

craft: people in offices are not usually paid for the amount of work they do...they are paid for the time they put in. this person is being paid the same as the others...but is there for less time! I wouldn't be pleased at all.