Why does this happen at work?

[debbiedoo]

Why do some employers allow ppl that smoke have all these extra smoke breaks? Non-msokers do not get this privileges........

I say we all need just as many equal caffiene breaks to theie smoke breaks to equal out how we are paid..........

What does the CB have to say?? any input here??

I know I better get out my flamesuit

 

[Mermaid02]

No flames here..... happens where I work too.

 

[Blondie]

I've said it time and time again, I think I'll take up smoking just so I can get the same breaks!

It doesn't seem fair, does it. But it is what it is. Where I work the entire area is supposed to be non smoking. No smoking is allowed anywhere, not even in the parking lots/garage. So what do the employees have to do if they want to smoke? They have to get in their cars and drive around while they smoke! Now they're gone even longer than before!

I know, I know, it's an addiction, supposed to be harder to kick than heroin. My employer has offered assitance in helping their employees quit; free nicotine patches, support groups, you name it. If a person isn't ready to quit, they're not ready to quit. I know many people who enjoy smoking.

 

[I Love Pluto]

No one gets a break for smoking where I work.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

No flames from me. My psycho coworker takes a 20-minute smoke break every hour. Now, in an 8-hour day (which she doesn't work anyway - she's hardly ever at her desk!), that's 2 hours and 40 minutes, right? And she gets paid for this because she has an addiction. Yep, that's right, management says it's allowed because it's an addiction.

Okay...I'm addicted to food. I'm not punching out for lunch anymore.

 

[Toot Sweet]

I always thought that was lame too. But my DH goes out with the smokers and chats with them while they smoke (he doesn't). He calls that his "smoke break".

 

[debbiedoo]

No flames from me. My psycho coworker takes a 20-minute smoke break every hour. Now, in an 8-hour day (which she doesn't work anyway - she's hardly ever at her desk!), that's 2 hours and 40 minutes, right? And she gets paid for this because she has an addiction. Yep, that's right, management says it's allowed because it's an addiction.

Okay...I'm addicted to food. I'm not punching out for lunch anymore.

you sure we do not work in same building? Several ppl at my place take 15 minutes on the hour

so this week I told me ppl(non-smokers)we were taking extra long lunches and our pretend smoke breaks(soda breaks)---and let me tell you they were not happy!!

 

[VirtuallyMe]

I did use to say I was going to take up smoking too- just so I could take the same breaks- but then I figured out that being a nurse in a psych hospital- if I didn't smoke- then I'd never have to take the patients out for their smoke breaks either- which can be a chore in itself. Sure my coworkers were getting to feed their addiction but they weren't getting the break away from the patients that I was by just staying at work...

I have worked some places that had smoke breaks strictly regulated- and they were only given the two 15 minute breaks per shift. Usually the boss in those were not smokers. And the places with the more lenient smoke breaks the boss was usually out there right along with the others.

I did say I was going for a chocolate break one time- and matched one coworkers smoke breaks- he'd go out and smoke- and I'd note the time- when he'd come back I'd walk off for my chocolate breaks- the next day I was reprimanded for excessive breaks- until I showed them the notes I took for his smoke breaks- and that I Was just doing equal break times... it was sometime after that they started to give the Nonsmokers the privilege of not having to clock out for lunch- so we were not docked our time while eating- but smokers had to clock out. Of course most got around it by taking smoke breaks and eating at the same time- but hey it was a little equality.

 

[MareQ]

In my company you get 3 smoke breaks - morning break which everybody else gets - lunch break which everybody else gets - and afternoon break which everybody else gets. Anybody outside smoking at any other time - even if they didn't take their break before - will be sent home without pay. Nobody is allowed to smoke in the front of the building because we don't like the ashtray greeting our customers - so we make them go out the side - which means they have to go through the warehouse - which they are not allowed to go through unless the warehouse guys are on a break too.

In other words - TFB for the smokers that need to smoke every hour.

 

[becjlek]

We have a new coworker that really stinks up the dept. after each smoke break. We went to our supervisor who then went to our HR person. We were told there is nothing we can do because smokers have rights and the rest of us just have to live with it. There is asprin and tylenol in the dept. if we get head aches from it. We can't even say anything to her because of the whole smokers have rights and non smokers don't thing.

 

[PeterPanette]

I used to work in an office full of smokers. I would just get up and walk outside with them on their many, many smoke breaks per day. Although I've never smoked, I've never minded hanging out with smokers - they know all the best jokes.

 

[lowie]

all of the smokers in my office take complete advantage. they normally go out to 'smoke' but bring along their cell phones and make personal calls, or walk to the drug store next door for a soda.

for the ones who hang around, well, they stand right outside of the back door. problem is the back door is IN my office. they leave the door slightly open so they don't get locked out, so i get smoked out!

i complain but nobody cares... funny enough though, that someones ciggy lit the side of the building on fire the other day. it was put out before it did any real damage.

 

[brittsmum1998]

Just goes to show...be careful what you wish for. I'm sorry but you guys all complained and got your way, EVERYTHING is non smoking now. Wouldn't it be nice if EVERYONE could be happy at the same time....jeesh. Oh yeah, I smoke but "stink" at the jokes

 

[Luv'sTink]

It used to make me angry also. Then when all the non smokers started taking breaks it wasn't OK anymore.

 

[Keli]

The top boss in our facility used to smoke and the managers that smoked also used to get 'networking' time with him several times a day during smoke brakes. I don't know if it helped them or not but I know that some of the non smoking managers started going out on the smoke breaks just to chit chat, lol.

 

[CEDmom]

What's stopping you from taking a break ? I'm not on a clock and no one's watching my comings or goings so when I want a break I take one. As long as my deadlines are met no one cares.

 

[Missy1961]

I'm not a smoker. When I first worked in an office 23 years ago, the smokers could smoke at their desks. Luckily, in those days we were in a building were we could open the windows. Then NYC passed anti-smoking rules, and the smokers had to go into smoking rooms. And now, they must smoke outside. So what else are the smokers to do? Most of my co-workers don't smoke, but the ones who do don't abuse it. They take a break or 2 all day (and lately we've been working 10 hour days). I'd rather have them smoke outside then next to me or behind me. And if I want a cup of coffee or a soda, I put on my coat & go to the deli across the street--no one cares if I do that. Sometimes when I go out to grab some breakfast, I take more time than the smokers, but they don't complain.

 

[rie'smom]

We have a new coworker that really stinks up the dept. after each smoke break. We went to our supervisor who then went to our HR person. We were told there is nothing we can do because smokers have rights and the rest of us just have to live with it. There is asprin and tylenol in the dept. if we get head aches from it. We can't even say anything to her because of the whole smokers have rights and non smokers don't thing.

I don't smoke but I'm glad you HR person feels this way.Smokers should have rights. people feel sorrier for terrorists than they do for smokers. Because the pendulum has swung so far in one direction,you can bet that it will swing the other way.
Have y'all noticed how many young smokers there are out there these days? Before you know it,these "kids" will be the 'movers and shakers'. Enjoy your smoke-free places because I'll bet dollars to donuts it won't be this way forever.

 

[Aidensmom]

I occasionally take a short break to go outside and talk to DH (he works in the same building), or I may take a break to pay a bill on the internet or something. I figure it kinda evens out that way.

At my last job, my boss was one of the ones you would see taking a smoke break a lot. One time she came to my desk and I was pulling up my bank account on the web to see if my direct deposit had been posted yet. She asked me what I was doing, I said "Taking a smoke break." That ended the conversation fast.

 

[sweet angel]

When I smoked, I would take a quick (maybe 5 minute) break every hour or two. In the year since I've quit, my boss hounds me every second I'm not actively working. God forbid I stop to chat for a second or go online for something. God forbid I make a personal call. He's on my butt about everything. Mind you, he INCREASED my day so that I could take a lunch (which I never wanted to do in the first place) and I STILL DON'T TAKE IT.

Hmmm...maybe I should start smoking again.