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Smoke Breaks, Health, Smokers' Rights and Festering Resentment

Try being accountable...

HR Specialist
Small agency
Wed Dec 24, 2008 9:06 AM

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I get really tired of people complaining about how much time smokers take for their breaks and how smokers are lazy and poor performers. If that is the case, as identified by "supervisor with the Navy in Silverdale, WA," than take a personnel action against them! If they aren't performing, put them on a PIP and get them to perform. If they are taking unsanctioned breaks, then charge them with AWOL. My experience has been that some of my BEST performers have been smokers.

And let me warn you nonsmokers who complain about these breaks---as an ex-smoker, if I didn't get a cigarette when I needed one, everyone around me paid for it. So, be careful what you wish for!

Re: Try being accountable...

USDA
HR Specialist
Wed Dec 24, 2008 9:25 AM
I get really tired of "smokers" complaining about their rights. Non-smokers have rights, too, to include not being subjected to second hand smoke. It's really pathetic when I have to walk through a cloud of nasty cigarette smoke to get into the building every morning because the inconsiderate smokers hover around the building trying to stay warm. Take your nasty habit somewhere else.

Re: Try being accountable...

Paralegal
USAF
Wed Dec 24, 2008 9:41 AM
Its not about being accountable - its about running a business. You want to smoke - go ahead and smoke, get your fix, so you can be "personable", so you can "concentrate" but why should you get paid for all the time your away smoking. So smoke all you want - but do it off the clock! If your there for 8 hours you should only get paid for 6.

Re: Try being accountable...

Specialist
Federal Agency
Wed Dec 24, 2008 11:40 AM
Paralegal, and you get paid 8 hours for sitting at your desk? You never go to the bathroom? To the soda machine? To your co-workers cubies? Before casting stones, think about your day and if you ever take breaks.

USDA, HR Specialist, take your pathetic self to a different door! Oh, and if you took a bath in your perfume or cologne today, stay away from people - they don't want to smell it. And, if you crack your gum when you chew, you annoy me. Maybe gum chewing should be banned next...

Re: Try being accountable...

Analyst
COE
Fri Dec 26, 2008 5:47 AM
Specialist from Federal Agency says to go to another door. Where I work there is only one door in, due to security, so it would be pretty difficult to go to another door to get in.

Re: Try being accountable...

Me
The one I work for
Mon Dec 29, 2008 7:09 AM
Oh, now I like the ban on gum chewing thing. GUHHH, the sound of people smacking their gum is WORSE to me than nails to a chalk board. And since we're banning things, how about popcorn chomping? I have a co-worker that spends the better part of an hour loudly chewing her popcorn every morning. If not for headphones, I'd get absolutely NO work done that hour I'd be so distracted and irritated!

Next ban up for bid...mouth breathers.

Making the world tolerable through intolerance. One annoying habit at a time. HA!

SMOKE BREAKS -- BOOZE BREAKS?

Technical Analyst
DCMA
Wed Dec 24, 2008 9:20 AM

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Well, if smokers need a "break" because they are stressed, how about those who like a visit with "Doctor Jack" when they are stressed? Can they go out and get a shot, too? Also, among annoying habits, how about those windbags that come up in a nearby cubicle and hold a loud, distracting, and extended gab-fest just when I'm trying to compose a complicated report? I was once hooked on smoking, but I realized it was killing me and opted to continue breathing instead of smoking in late 2005.

Ban all of it

Appraiser
HUD
Wed Dec 24, 2008 9:31 AM

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If a functional alcoholic wanted to take 5 minutes to run down the street and have a shot, he would be put on administrative leave and sent to rehab.

Regardless of whether or not it has any impact on performance, why should one addiction be given preferential treatment over another, or over those who have no addiction whatsoever?

Smoking Ban

Mister
DCMA
Wed Dec 24, 2008 9:31 AM

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I work in a facility where smoking is banned. I have read numereous complaints from others that a smoker gets more breaks than non-smokers. This issue is easily solved by restricting smoking to authorized break times and at lunch. Management places controls on the employees when smoke breaks are authorized and not the employees. Non smokers life isn't fair and smokers you have the right to destroy your health when at home not during duty time. Managers wake up and take control. This is an easy situation to control.

Smokers - Bad for Business

Paralegal
USAF
Wed Dec 24, 2008 9:33 AM

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All the comments about smoker rights, is B.S., so is giving them there own little special place to smoke. Here is what it comes down to. Smokers spend more time on breaks then employees that do not smoke. So if you smoke - you should get paid for a 6 hour day instead of an 8 hour day and you should lose your lunch break. No matter what agency you work for - it is still a business, if you are not working, you should not get paid. Its that simple.

Re: Smokers - Bad for Business

Specialist
Federal Agency
Wed Dec 24, 2008 11:42 AM
Where are the statistics to back this statement up? I highly doubt that smokers spend anymore time on breaks than non-smokers do chit chatting with their friends at work on government phones or on their personal cell phones.

Re: Smokers - Bad for Business

Rural Development Specialist
USDA
Mon Dec 29, 2008 8:23 AM
I just don't get it, smokers take smoke break and non smokers take chat breaks? Last time I looked the smokers also spent time chit chatting and on the phone too so add that to the 15 or 20 minutes to smoke breaks 5 times a day. There is no comparison. Now, I don't care if someone wants to smoke and goes out but let me have a break too. Yes, smokers go to the bathroom, eat snacks, take lunch breaks too so don't hand me the issue that non smokers use as much time as smokers during the paid work day. It just does not wash. However, smokers should have a place to go, just move away from vents and doors, that's all I ask.

Secondhand Smoke

IT Specialist
HHS
Wed Dec 24, 2008 9:35 AM

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Most people don't know that there is no Constitutional right to smoke. The government should not spend any taxpayer funds to enable smoking. Workers and the public should be protected from secondhand smoke at all entrances. Smokers should also pay a higher fee for their health insurance. Currently, their unhealthful habits are being subsidized by non-smoking employees and all taxpayers. Their secondhand smoke causes non-smokers to incur diseases, illness, and lost workdays.

Smoking ban at the workplace

Analyst
USGS
Wed Dec 24, 2008 9:36 AM

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It should be banned completely. I see many employees who are smokers constantly converging outside taking long 'smoking breaks' and many breaks throughout a workday. They spend more time smoking (more like endorsed socializing) than they do working and the supervisors turn a blind eye to it. It's unfair to have the taxpayers pay for lack of productivity.

Total Comments: 126
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