Should smokers be deducted pay for smoke breaks?

donfers

Person a, non-smoker works 9-5:30, has an hour for lunch, non-smoker

Person b, smoker, works 9-5:30, an hour for lunch and let's say 4 10 minute breaks during the day for a smoke

You are the boss, do you pay person b less than person a, assuming same job,ability etc.

Penny Tration

Just don't allow smoke breaks

MilesMorales1

Sure what places give smoke breaks anyway? I have to take them in my lunch hour if at all if I want a cigarette.

Kev W

I think it's a better idea just to not allow smoke breaks. It's much simpler.

godtabh

donfers wrote: »

Person a, non-smoker works 9-5:30, has an hour for lunch, non-smoker

Person b, smoker, works 9-5:30, an hour for lunch and let's say 4 10 minute breaks during the day for a smoke

You are the boss, do you pay person b less than person a, assuming same job,ability etc.

What about the going to the jacks?

Person a, non-fapper works 9-5:30, has an hour for lunch, non-fapper

Person b, fapper, works 9-5:30, an hour for lunch and let's say 4 10 minute breaks during the day for a fap
Thats the real issue here

rahmalec

As long as the job is done to the same level as the other person, then why not

The Backwards Man

I pay the better worker more.

ben.schlomo

Never heard of anywhere allowing/giving 'smoke breaks'.

sashafierce

This post has been deleted.

recylingbin

Scrap all breaks and chain them up.

HugsiePie

I dont smoke but a lot of my co workers do, and tbh it kinda pisses me off that they would easily rack up an extra 40 minutes of not working through out the day because theyre smoking...not being deducted any pay....however where I work is a little laxed so theres no major pressure to have things done instantly so they do have the time to smoke.....its not a big deal it just irritates me very slightly sometimes.

My name is URL

Are separate smoke breaks still even a thing? Most places I know only allow people to go for a smoke on their actual lunch and coffee breaks

Dravokivich

If they want, they can smoke during their break, but they shouldn't get extra breaks because they smoke. Who lets someone get away with that nonsense?

brevity

If people are getting the work done then it wouldn't bother me.

Micromanaging people is so counter productive.

MilesMorales1

Time one spends sitting in the office doesn't equal greater productivity anyway.

jimgoose

When I was an engineer on a production line many aeons ago, we'd jump in for a few minutes while a GO popped out for a puff. The brass had no objections to this, and it seemed kind of natural and right. I've been essentially paid to think for a long time, and the matter simply doesn't crop up. But by all means get back to nailing each other to ye're machines in the Dark Satanic Mills - the Government loves that.

My name is URL

brevity wrote: »

If people are getting the work done then it wouldn't bother me.

Micromanaging people is so counter productive.

This is it. Not allowing people to go for a quick smoke would probably cost a bit in terms of productivity

Still, though. I genuinely don't know of anywhere that exclusively allows smokers take 5 min breaks throughout the day. Anywhere that does allow it also allows non-smokers to take quick breaks at various times for bathroom / canteen visits etc.

OldGoat

Smoke breaks are where the real work gets done.

jimgoose

OldGoat wrote: »

Smoke breaks are where the real work gets done.

Quite so. In my experience it's during smoke breaks that you get to meet and network with the People Who Matter.

SEPT 23 1989

Smokers are better workers

biko

Only a bad manager would prohibit smoke breaks.
Look up the "watercooler effect".




or just read it here
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/reality-mining/200911/the-water-cooler-effect

touts

Same breaks for everyone. How they use those breaks (eating or smoking or on the phone etc) is up to them and none of my business as long as they are back at work on time. If someone can't last a couple of hours between cancer sticks that's their problem not mine and I think the last thing they need is a boss accommodating a self destructive habit.

Penn

As others have said, just don't allow smoke breaks. Either use some of the general coffee break time and lunch time, or don't smoke.

Jesus if you can't go the guts of 3 hours without smoking, I don't see why the company has to facilitate you.

valoren

brevity wrote: »

If people are getting the work done then it wouldn't bother me.

Micromanaging people is so counter productive.

Exactly.

As long as deliverables are being met then there's no problem.

Jawgap

OldGoat wrote: »

Smoke breaks are where the real work gets done.

there's an element of truth in that.

In my previous job we had flexi-time and people were allowed a smoke break in the morning and the afternoon (10 minutes) each. It used to annoy the t1ts off me as that pretty much added up to a day off over the course of a month.

Of course, people wouldn't go on their own - there were the various 'groups' and rarely did they confine themselves to 10 minutes.

Personally, I don't mind people going for smoke breaks but if I'd been the boss I'd have made them clock off while out puffing.

5starpool

Dravokivich wrote: »

If they want, they can smoke during their break, but they shouldn't get extra breaks because they smoke. Who lets someone get away with that nonsense?

In most office based jobs (that I've worked in anyhow) people are generally free to come and go as they want, which would include smokers taking a few breaks during work hours to have a smoke. I'm sure not all of them do but it definitely happens regularly enough, but as long as the persons work gets done no one cares. I've generally worked in IT for large companies and have worked in quite a few offices at this stage and it's been the same in most of them.

It's not officially sanctioned, but it's just what happens.

eviltimeban

I guy I used to work with who didn't smoke used to go with the smokers and stand with them while they were having their smoke break. His argument is that he was entitled to stand there, whether he was smoking or not!

What's worse is the smell when they come back into the office.

Menas

Where I work the risk is that if you start counting peoples smoke breaks then they start counting the hours too and limit themselves to 40 hours.

Generally people work more than that when needed. Flexibility on both sides goes a long way. But if course that does not work in all workplaces.

Haznat

My name is URL wrote: »

Are separate smoke breaks still even a thing? Most places I know only allow people to go for a smoke on their actual lunch and coffee breaks

Are coffee breaks still a thing?

Boom_Bap

Haznat wrote: »

Are coffee breaks still a thing?

Only if you are a smoker.

Knex*

I don't smoke and I have absolutely no issue with people taking breaks to pop out for a cigarette.

It is in no way a representation of their work ethic, or their ability to get their job done.

Sure here we are posting on boards.

wes

As long as there not taking the piss, i see no reason why they people shouldn't take a smoking or coffee break.

Strumms

As a non smoker.. i am entitled to a lunch break of one hour and 15 mins in the morning and afternoon. Smokers take those breaks and probably 4 additional throughout the day. The problem and why it goes without anything being said is that a lot of managment also smoke so it suits them to let it roll. People dont have to clock out either. Some people are unbelievable and will be guaranteed to be out there whenever you pass the door going from one office to the other... one manager i can think of is desperate for it... if you cant make it through the day smoking at your designated break time then you are unfit for work / duty simples...

speedboatchase

Knex. wrote: »

I don't smoke and I have absolutely no issue with people taking breaks to pop out for a cigarette.

It is in no way a representation of their work ethic, or their ability to get their job done.

Sure here we are posting on boards.

Of course it is. They're not getting the job done because they're outside having a smoke.

I'm amazed that smoke breaks are still tolerated in 2015. I worked with a graphic designer who took a 10-minute smoke break every hour. It was an absolute joke.

Posting on Boards is different because you're in front of a laptop. Your employer has no idea what you're doing. Going for a smoke break is a very open way of showing you have downed tools. I can't believe there isn't more of a stigma for people who openly do that in front of their fellow employees and employer.

My name is URL

wes wrote: »

As long as there not taking the piss, i see no reason why they people shouldn't take a smoking or coffee break.

They can take a piss on their own time!

Knex*

speedboatchase wrote: »

Of course it is. They're not getting the job done because they're outside having a smoke.

I'm amazed that smoke breaks are still tolerated in 2015. I worked with a graphic designer who took a 10-minute smoke break every hour. It was an absolute joke.

And I work with one smoker who is probably by far the best worker in our entire office.

Smoking doesn't define your work ethic or capabilities.

SEPT 23 1989

speedboatchase wrote: »

I'm amazed that smoke breaks are still tolerated in 2015. I worked with a graphic designer who took a 10-minute smoke break every hour. It was an absolute joke.

A designer cannot design properly if they are not relaxed

My name is URL

Haznat wrote: »

Are coffee breaks still a thing?

I think so though I'm not sure they're specifically intended as coffee breaks. 5 minute breaks 3-4 times per day generally aren't uncommon, what people do in that time is up to them be it go for a coffee, a shit or a smoke.

The Sidewards Man

No smoking, drip feed food and adult nappies should be compulsory in the work place.

speedboatchase

Knex. wrote: »

And I work with one smoker who is probably by far the best worker in our entire office.

Smoking doesn't define your work ethic or capabilities.

The act of smoking doesn't, but the act of regularly leaving your desk for whatever reason has an effect. I don't distinguish between someone who smokes or someone who doesn't but leaves constantly to make tea or coffee. If you have two designers on the same wage and fairly equal capabilities - for example, a smoker and non-smoker - is it fair that they leave at the same time when one has left their post for maybe 30-40 mins each day, and the other hasn't?

duffman3833

i would be up for stopping smoke breaks. But my way around it is to take tea breaks instead and take just as long so 10 min to make a cuppa, makes it fair

brevity

speedboatchase wrote: »

The act of smoking doesn't, but the act of regularly leaving your desk for whatever reason has an effect. I don't distinguish between someone who smokes or someone who doesn't but leaves constantly to make tea or coffee. If you have two designers on the same wage and fairly equal capabilities - for example, a smoker and non-smoker - is it fair that they leave at the same time when one has left their post for maybe 30-40 mins each day, and the other hasn't?

Well it can depend on the role-getting up to think out a problem away from the computer can help people, so in that instance it allows the person to be more productive.

Barely There

I manage teams of people.

I'm only worried about them delivering the appropriate quality to the deadlines required.

How long they spend doing it is up to them. I don't really care if someone spends half the day smoking or fapping off in the jacks, - as long as they deliver that's fine.

speedboatchase

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

A designer cannot design properly if they are not relaxed

Just a nonsensical excuse for someone to be openly indulged by their employer. Has nothing to do with smoking and nothing to do with the field they work in.

A sub-editor could tell an employer that they regularly need coffee to keep their imagination flowing or their mind sharp. They'd still be chancing their arm.

rubadub

CosmicSmash wrote: »

Nothing I hate more than a non decisive non smoker.

I am a smoker and would think along the same lines as him. He did not say if he smoked or not. You also deleted the end of his quote and added a full stop which now makes it appear like he is contradiciting himself.

I know a girl who said she took smoking back up as she was missing the breaks and gossip.

If smoking only became popular in the last few years it would be utterly ludicrous to request to be able to stroll out to use/abuse highly addicitive recreational psychoactive drugs during worktime -which is what it would be described as.

OU812

Place I used to work allowed non smokers to go early on a friday... Very people took advantage of their smoke breaks...

speedboatchase

Barely There wrote: »

I manage teams of people.

I'm only worried about them delivering the appropriate quality to the deadlines required.

How long they spend doing it is up to them. I don't really care if someone spends half the day smoking or fapping off in the jacks, - as long as they deliver that's fine.

If your team met a deadline from working 50% of the time and fapping off the other 50%, I'd suggest that was a pretty weak deadline and/or your team is far too big for the task and being used inefficiently.

2Mad2BeMad

I have about 3 smoke breaks in my job through out the day. Does not include my break or lunch.
But it does not take me 10 minutes to smoke. 2 to 3 minutes is plenty. 10 minute ones is taking the piss.

But I dont find me taking a smoke break slows down my work. If anything I'm a better worker then all them non smokers who hang around on Facebook all day haha.

It's funny cause non smokers cry over people who go on smoke breaks yet their just as bad surfing the Internet.

Put it this way. I couldn't give a ****e if my fellow non smoker colleagues complained about my smoke breaks. If management is happy with my work then why would I care? You think it's not fair then complain about it.
But fact is life ain't fair.

dundalkfc10

speedboatchase wrote: »

Of course it is. They're not getting the job done because they're outside having a smoke.

I'm amazed that smoke breaks are still tolerated in 2015. I worked with a graphic designer who took a 10-minute smoke break every hour. It was an absolute joke.

Posting on Boards is different because you're in front of a laptop. Your employer has no idea what you're doing. Going for a smoke break is a very open way of showing you have downed tools. I can't believe there isn't more of a stigma for people who openly do that in front of their fellow employees and employer.

So if i sneak out for a fag (pretnding im going toilet etc..., its ok as my employer will have no idea what im doing?

J Mysterio

Some ammount of fcking straight edge killjoys in here.

Ive never worked somewhere where 'smoke breaks' are a thing. You just get up, go out, and have a smoke.

People actually resenting others for going out to have a smoke are beneath contempt. Counting the minutes ffs. Little fascists. How about the 10 mins you spent on hello.com or whatever.

speedboatchase

dundalkfc10 wrote: »

So if i sneak out for a fag (pretnding im going toilet etc..., its ok as my employer will have no idea what im doing?

No, I'm talking exclusively about workplaces that allow smoke breaks, where there would be no need for anyone to make an excuse. I'm saying that I find it baffling that in 2015 there are places (such as my own workplace) where you can openly down tools and walk past your colleagues to go for a smoke whenever you like. The key word is 'openly' - I have no idea when my colleagues are typing on Facebook or if they're doing a work-related task while they're behind a computer.