To think smoking in the workplace and during working hours should be banned?

[Floogal]

Am I alone in thinking that smoking in the workplace and during work time should be outlawed totally in the UK?

1. The health aspect. People may be smoking outside but it still seeps in and we're still inhaling it.
2. The fact smokers get extra breaks. (Beautifully illustrated by that episode of Family Guy).
3. The social and professional cliques that smokers seem to form. Worse when managers or supervisors smoke (beautifully illustrated by that episode of Friends)
4. Doesn't look good on the company if employees are smoking outside. Looks very bad on NHS or council etc when their staff are doing it

The extra breaks don't happen in the private sector as much as the public.
I couldn't believe the amount of time wasted drinking tea when I was temping in the hospital, start at 9am, tea breaks at 10am to the cafeteria so 30 mins, an hour lunch, afternoon tea break 30 minutes, finish 5pm.
I've worked in jobs when a 10 min break means 9 minutes taking clocking out into consideration.

I dont think it should be banned. Im a non smoker and I hate the smell of fags, but if someone wants to smoke outside then thats up to them and has very little impact on me. I think my hatred of the smell is psychological and thats probably true for most people. Theres lots of smells i hate but i dont think thats reason to start encroaching on other peoples freedoms

Personally I don't care if the company I work for looks bad because of something I do. I go there to earn money to live, why would I care if they 'look bad'?

Wow, what an attitude!!! Unbelievable. I also only go to work only to earn money to live, but I believe I owe some form of loyalty to my employers while they are paying my wage.

second hand smoke makes my eyes run, and my nose blocked, and I gag and choke.
mumsnet is so dramatic 😂 if it's not shaking and crying it's gagging and choking!

If you don't get paid for your break then it's absolutely no-one's business what you do with that time. It sounds like there are people at work leaving you out when they go for a smoke and it's bothering you. If that's the case, just go with them and stop complaining about it. What kind of adult work place needs someone to intervene to stop cliques from forming?!

I think you’re being daft.

The whole ‘picking up the slack’ thing depends on what kind of job you do. I can see your point if you’re working in hospitality or have to answer phones etc but in my role, it’s only me who picks the slack up if I don’t do my job. I work excessive hours when busy and take my phone with me (all calls I receive are internal so fine to answer whilst having a smoke)

Yabvu and I’m a non smoker

Starting a new job tomorrow local shop very small store only place to go for a smoke if get a chance is on the front but I would close shop door to try prevent smell going into store as I know it’s not very pleasant for non smokers however I will not give up an addiction because you think it’s unfair so should be a banned to the OP the message is just mind baffling can’t get over it

Smoking shouldn’t be banned, extra breaks should.

People at my workplace clock out for cigarette breaks, they don't get extra breaks. I don't like the smell of people's food or cheap aftershave, but I don't think they should be banned. You're being ridiculous

As long as smokers don't take excessive extra breaks, I don't care.

I am a non smoker.

Yanbu. Smokers are the worst. Mostly because the smell terrible...

Wow how would you feel if someone said you smelt bad you might have bad bodily odours that your not aware of or stinky perfume etc or smell of your laundry products or stale smelling clothes do we just ban you from going to work also lol

YAB completely ridiculous. I do not smoke but have no problem with those that do and you are not considering the fact that some of us are unable to leave the immediate vicinity of our workplace when on shift.

I go out for four cig breaks a day. That said I’m at my desk half an hour early and work through my lunch most days. However, I wish they would ban it, it would help me try harder to quit.

No one on my team smokes, thankfully, the smell is really vile.

@Slippy78

1. It's a personal choice, it doesn't affect anyone else where I work.

1. We don't get extra breaks, we're given the choice of either a 30 min lunch break or being able to pop out a few times a shift for a cigarette.
2. Every single person where I work smokes. It's not a problem.
3. Customers can't see us smoking, it's in an enclosed outdoor area.

Really? Wow, that’s unusual these days. What do you do?

I’m a non-smoker and technically speaking I agree with all of them. However 2-4 are completely un-enforceable so I’ve voted YABU (grudgingly)