Should smokers clock in and clock off?

So long as they are asking everyone to clock out if they leave the building then it's perfectly fair. Smokers leave the building more often than non-smokers, and some of them spend considerable amount of time doing so. Others of course don't, but then they won't get penalised as by clocking in and out an accurate record is kept. People spending too long chatting or making tea are easily spotted and it's not hard to remind them they are there to work. Most people only spend a lot of time in the loo if they have a problem because they aren't terribly nice places to hang out. Internet use is generally monitored and a disciplinary offense.

Most clocking in and out systems are automated, and they are used for lunch breaks etc, as well as flexible working so I doubt that any extra work is being created, and it is quite possible that the smokers have asked for this because they want to prove they work as long hours as anyone else, or that there are individuals who are taking advantage giving them a bad name.

they do this at our council, no-one really moaned, even the smokers

they have been singled out.

How can they assume that the smokers spend more time away fromm their desk than someone that spends an ages gossiping at the coffee machine, or who takes their time going to get the bacon butty's?

MaMoTTaT - they havent been singled out. I think this was in response to animosity towards smokers when they left for breaks because they were seen as having more breaks than others.

Some places banned smoking during work hours (which is perhaps better for the workers health) but this council decided to allow people to continue their smoking breaks, this just ensures that they are 'at work' for the same hours as anyone else. Cant say fairer than that!

lifeinlimbo - I wouldn't have a problem if everyone had to clock in and out for breaks. It's the singling out smokers I don't like.

No. Imo, when I was a smoker, you would rush to smoking area, inhale fag for 6.3 seconds and dash back to work.

Then there are folk who faff around making tea, chatting by the water cooler, gossip in he stationary cupboard etc etc.

I used to work in a place where you had to clock in and out - for breaks (whether coffee/fags) and lunch too. fair enough.

thankfully DS3 doesn't make me clock in and out - and if he did I'd get away with this one as he's fallen asleep

mama,

your post converted me - you are right

You see I'd be ok - as I could say I was going for a wee and go for a fag instead - I would probably only go twice in a working day so no-one would bat an eyelid while I had 2 or 3 more "loo breaks"

So, if you were a bacon-butty eater, would you think it fair to clock out for the breakfast run?

I am a smoker and can't see the problem.

you see as a smoker I'd be put out by people taking their time doing the butty run - as I don't eat breakfast/bacon butty's in the morning.

Well I would be put out if I had to clock in and out for my 5 minute fag break

smokers clock in and out for limited, scheduled cig breaks in my office and have done for at least 10 years

stops the smokers feeling guilty and the non-smokers feeling put out

what's the big deal?

MaMo - i was just typing the exact same post

but then there are going to be some non-smokers in th eoffice who

don't gab
don't take extra for the butty run
don't nip to the shop
don't have a 30 minutes shit etc etc etc

Why should the ones who take less time over their "breaks" sit and watch the ones who do all of the above regularly be happy about that?

When I was working I would never have dreamt of just going for a fag break - I'd have made a coffee, nipped to the loo and gone for a fag.

Frequently being back working again before my colleagues who were still stood talking shit at the coffee machine (well kettle in our case).

There are always going to be workers (smokers and non-smokers) - who take the p*ss when it comes to breaks. Why single out the smokers - some of who may take the piss - others may not.

As Peter said, smokers do all of those things AND take smoking breaks.

i think to be fair, that yes we all gab, maybe take extra for the bacon butty run, nip to shop, have a 30 min shit, talk shit whilst standing at the coffee machine

but smokers - i am one - also get smoke breaks.

i think there should either be a policy that non smokers can also have two 10 min breaks or smokers take the time from their dinner hour ( or in my case 30 mins) then i eat at my desk whilst working

I thought the toilet break stuff was illegal - human rights, or something?

MaMo - i completely agree, no-one thinks twice about people taking half an hour to get breakfast and have a yap. It does seem to be very one-sided.

PMSL Quint

I think they should build a communal toilet block for smokers, so they could combine their fag break with a shit.

edam - I have heard that it's an issue (loo breaks) in some supermarkets too.

but isn't having a coffee, nipping to the loo, having 5 minutes natter about their holiday......

also adding up to quite a lot of time not working???

I bet the non-smokers never sit and count the minutes their nonsmoking colleauges spend not doing work