Does anyone know about fag breaks?

[Lovemyshoes]

Does anyone know the protocol for cigarette breaks?

ie,

If staff have them, how long should they be?
Should members of staff go together?
Should they pay back the time, or take it off their lunch?

[hf128219]

Well a lot of smokers don't spend 20 mins gossiping away at the tea point - several times a day.

[AMumInScotland]

I don't think there are any standard rules about it. At my work, we are allowed one "tea-break" in the morning and one in the afternoon without clocking off, and we can go outside for a smoke during that break if we want.

If anyone wants more tea and/or smoking breaks than that, then they would be expected to clock off for the duration.

There's no specific time limit for our breaks, though I imagine your manager would have a word if it was regularly going over about 20 minutes or so.

We don't have a problem if people want to take their break at the same time, but in some roles they have to have their break at a set time to make sure there is enough cover in public-facing positions.

[ruddynorah]

eh? there are no rules about fag breaks, same as there are no rules for piss breaks. upto the employer and employee to work it out. where i am everyone has set breaks, if you choose that time to have a fag then that's up to you. if you need a piss you can go but your manager will have words if you're off every 2 mins or whatever.

[LovelyTinOfSpam]

Depends on the company and the manager etc.

Agree with those who say that smokers don't spend all their time hanging around the coffee machine, and use that time for their cigarettes (ex smoker here )