Should Smoking Breaks be Banned in the Workplace?

starbelgrade · 15-03-2012 12:17AM #1

I just half caught the end of a news item about banning smoke breaks in the workplace.

Seems like an odd thing to try to do... I encourage people to take breaks in my office & if they choose to just take a walk around the block to get some fresh air to get some fresh air, or to have a smoke, then it's their business.

So what's your take on it?

The King of Moo · 15-03-2012 12:18AM

Allow them, maybe a set number per day, but also allow anyone, smoker or not to pop out for a few minutes an equal number of times. Like you do, basically.

You should also allow regular breaks for Boardsies who've posted something they think is funny and want to check how many thanks they got.

Local-womanizer · 15-03-2012 12:19AM

starbelgrade wrote: »

I just half caught the end of a news item about banning smoke breaks in the workplace.

Seems like an odd thing to try to do... I encourage people to take breaks in my office & if they choose to just take a walk around the block to get some fresh air to get some fresh air, or to have a smoke, then it's their business.

So what's your take on it?

I don't smoke and any place I worked in the past I never got a 5 minute walk around have a think to myself break.

I was expected to work on as my co-workers slowly killed themselves, the mental trauma was awful!

Also have you any jobs going?!

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 15-03-2012 12:19AM

smokers shouldn't get breaks other workers aren't entitled to

either everyone gets a few minutes of the day to nip off for a recharge or no one does

Hande hoche! · 15-03-2012 12:20AM

Some people take smoke breaks, others tea breaks. Once it's not excessive.

WoollyRedHat · 15-03-2012 12:20AM

Smoking breaks should defintely be allowed but sex breaks are a bit too much

P.s can I have a job? I'll clean your shoes for money

starbelgrade · 15-03-2012 12:22AM

Local-womanizer wrote: »

I don't smoke and any place I worked in the past I never got a 5 minute walk around have a think to myself break.

I find that attitude really odd from employers. Surely it's better that someone works hard for an hour, takes a break & comes back fresh, than slowly melt for 5 hours in front of a computer?!

Local-womanizer wrote: »

Also have you any jobs going?!

I hope that's not a steak related question.

MickySticks · 15-03-2012 12:23AM

WoollyRedHat wrote: »

Smoking breaks should defintely be allowed but sex breaks are a bit too much

P.s can I have a job? I'll clean your shoes for money

Starbelgrade uses free labour i.e jobbridge.

jam_mac_jam · 15-03-2012 12:24AM

Can we not just shoot smokers? How about people who go for long ****es while at work? can we time people going to the toilet or who talk to much or stare off to space.

FFS

WoollyRedHat · 15-03-2012 12:25AM

MickySticks wrote: »

Starbelgrade uses free labour i.e jobbridge.

I'm offering to clean his shoes, my standards aren't high.

Lumbo · 15-03-2012 12:25AM

****s sake. Do they not have enough control over us as it is?

I take one smoke break in work during the day. They can pass what ever law they want, I'll break it (and I'm usually such a good citizen).

Local-womanizer · 15-03-2012 12:27AM

starbelgrade wrote: »

I find that attitude really odd from employers. Surely it's better that someone works hard for an hour, takes a break & comes back fresh, than slowly melt for 5 hours in front of a computer?!

I hope that's not a steak related question.

I know, if the staff taking the break are covered then what odds is it. It actually really annoyed me. Annoyed with the employer not the smoker. I used to take 5 minutes extra for my lunch after a awhile, once they complained I pointed out the fact the smokers were going out for a smoke either side of their lunch hour.

And no, unless you work in the beef industry!

jam_mac_jam · 15-03-2012 12:29AM

Local-womanizer wrote: »

I know, if the staff taking the break are covered then what odds is it. It actually really annoyed me. Annoyed with the employer not the smoker. I used to take 5 minutes extra for my lunch after a awhile, once they complained I pointed out the fact the smokers were going out for a smoke either side of their lunch hour.

And no, unless you work in the beef industry!

Well that's not fair, they should be taking it as part of the hour. That would annoy me also

squod · 15-03-2012 12:30AM

It's an opportunity to chat chicks up. Anyone involved in inventing this law is a quear.

Local-womanizer · 15-03-2012 12:30AM

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

Well that's not fair, they should be taking it as part of the hour. That would annoy me also

Exactly but anywhere I worked they got the hour and an extra 2 smoke breaks. Yet I was required to work on as I don't smoke! I'll tell them next time I am away for my 5 minute pint break!

jam_mac_jam · 15-03-2012 12:32AM

Local-womanizer wrote: »

Exactly but anywhere I worked they got the hour and an extra 2 smoke breaks. Yet I was required to work on as I don't smoke! I'll tell them next time I am away for my 5 minute pint break!

You should have gone and made tea while they were smoking. I waste lots of time in work with tea making much more than smoking..

Pottler · 15-03-2012 12:39AM

I take breaks from smoking every so often to so some work, but I try to keep it to a minimum. It's very aggravating, the whole, "but we are paying you to work, not stand around smoking all day" whingey shyte.

hondasam · 15-03-2012 12:40AM

Yes banned during work but you can smoke on your break, no going out for 5mins every hour.

MyPeopleDrankTheSoup · 15-03-2012 12:41AM

starbelgrade wrote: »

I encourage people to take breaks in my office

Not trolling here, genuinely curious, but what kind of company do you run where you hire and manage employees and *still* have time for close to 20k posts on boards.ie in 4 years?

Bullseye1 · 15-03-2012 12:42AM

Are these additional breaks to normal coffee and lunch breaks? If so they should be banned. If they are simply people using their normal breaks to have a smoke then no they shouldn't be banned.

grindle · 15-03-2012 12:42AM

hondasam wrote: »

Yes banned during work but you can smoke on your break, no going out for 5mins every hour.

This happens?!?

jsd1004 · 15-03-2012 12:49AM

Local-womanizer wrote: »

Exactly but anywhere I worked they got the hour and an extra 2 smoke breaks. Yet I was required to work on as I don't smoke! I'll tell them next time I am away for my 5 minute pint break!

Surely you just go and buy those esmoking things or go and chew gum and pretend you smoke..cant see the issue

Pottler · 15-03-2012 12:50AM

Bullseye1 wrote: »

Are these additional breaks to normal coffee and lunch breaks? If so they should be banned. If they are simply people using their normal breaks to have a smoke then no they shouldn't be banned.

Any job that has "defined breaks" is crap. I take a break whenever a break seems apt and funnily enough, "apt time for a break" seems to occur rather a lot. Not gone bust yet, nobody's complaining and we get a lot done, far more than most with their"defined breaks". If theres nothing to do, have a break, if it's busy, don't. Simples. I smoke, most of my staff smoke, many smoke when working. This is LIFE, that thing we all get to do once. People love rules but funnily enough, the best life is usually when you ignore them all and just do your own thing. As long as you do it well, who cares how many breaks you take?

jsd1004 · 15-03-2012 12:52AM

jsd1004 wrote: »

Surely you just go and buy those esmoking things or go and chew gum and pretend you smoke..cant see the issue

Its like women who dont have kids..stick a pillow to your gut and take loads of time off..the other nymphos are..so why not you

stupidusername · 15-03-2012 12:53AM

I voted no and i'm a non smoker. I don't think they need to be banned exactly, but non smokers should get the same break time. the fact that they don't already is complete and utter bollocks.

And I don't drink tea or coffee either so it's not like I'd get a significant break time in that way.

Bullseye1 · 15-03-2012 12:56AM

Pottler wrote: »

Any job that has "defined breaks" is crap. I take a break whenever a break seems apt and funnily enough, "apt time for a break" seems to occur rather a lot. Not gone bust yet, nobody's complaining and we get a lot done, far more than most with their"defined breaks". If theres nothing to do, have a break, if it's busy, don't. Simples. I smoke, most of my staff smoke, many smoke when working. This is LIFE, that thing we all get to do once. People love rules but funnily enough, the best life is usually when you ignore them all and just do your own thing. As long as you do it well, who cares how many breaks you take?

Ive no problem with flexible breaktimes but as long as there is sufficent staff still available to do the work.

Mushy · 15-03-2012 12:57AM

I voted yes, and non-smoker. When I worked in a pub, the amount of smoke breaks people got when I had to continue working. Took it upon myself to take my own breaks, explained it straight-faced to the boss....nothing much could be done. Only fair way.

mackg · 15-03-2012 12:58AM

As a smoker who smokes a cigarette about once an hour roughly I never had a problem just having a cigarette on my lunch break in work, usually would smoke two. If you want to give smoking breaks just give everyone the same regardless of if they smoke or not, can't really see there being too much debate on this one.

Pottler · 15-03-2012 01:00AM

Even the American army believe that people get more done with regular, short breaks - I try my best to get a short break from doing nothing every hour to get at least 10 minutes work done. It breaks up the day and keeps me fresh - all play and no work makes jack a poor boy.

Dudess · 15-03-2012 01:01AM

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

Can we not just shoot smokers? How about people who go for long ****es while at work? can we time people going to the toilet or who talk to much or stare off to space.

FFS

That looks kinda disingenuous IMO.

What's being referred to here is the way in some workplaces, smokers nip out for a fag say every 90 minutes and it can take nearly 10 minutes at a time, sometimes they'll make a cuppa with it too, whereas non smokers just don't spend as much time away from their desks, even if they go out to make a cuppa now and again.
That's not an anti smokers thing - just something that needs to be addressed for the sake of fairness. Limit the number of fag breaks and ensure non smokers are allowed the same amount of time to walk around, get some air, make a cuppa etc - IMO.

Logical Fallacy · 15-03-2012 01:03AM

hondasam wrote: »

Yes banned during work but you can smoke on your break, no going out for 5mins every hour.

I'm pretty sure than everyone is entitled to 5 minutes away from their computer under Health Laws. Something about VDU's and eye tiredness.

Should Smoking Breaks be Banned in the Workplace?

Should Smoking Breaks be Banned in the Workplace? 380 votes

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