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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think going out for three cigarettes within a hour is seriously taking the piss

46 replies

Greenbluestar · 15/02/2022 22:42

Just back from maternity leave and in need of a moan. It was quiet today but it’s a caring job so physical presence is important. Plus she leaves the sodding door open so smoke drifts into the home.. so annoying

OP posts:

CyberNan · 15/02/2022 22:45

are you pissed?

Original poster

Greenbluestar · 15/02/2022 22:47

Pissed off. Sadly not pissed.

OP posts:

ImNotDancing · 15/02/2022 22:50

@CyberNan

are you pissed?

Don’t be ridiculous. OPs post is perfectly clear

lovelilies · 15/02/2022 22:53

Be grateful you're not a nicotine addict?
Dunno, if there's nowt else to do?
I'm am ex smoker who's probably had 3 cigs in an hour before.
She IBU leaving the door open though not envy

DiddyHeck · 15/02/2022 22:54

Have you told whoever she is to shut the door? I agree 3 per hour is taking the piss but is she your colleague or manager?

Original poster

Greenbluestar · 15/02/2022 22:56

Colleague. Yes.. probably about a hundred times. Company policy says they need to be ten feet away from the door or whatever but nobody takes notice. I hate passive smoking.

OP posts:

TigerLilyTail · 15/02/2022 22:58

It would annoy me too. Smokers stink!!

cuno · 15/02/2022 23:01

I've worked in care for years and I've found there's a lot of smokers in this industry, and some of them do take the piss with smoking breaks. I think if it's a slow day sounds like she's just trying to kill the time. But she should close the door and do it in the proper smoking area.

DiddyHeck · 15/02/2022 23:03

@Greenbluestar

Colleague. Yes.. probably about a hundred times. Company policy says they need to be ten feet away from the door or whatever but nobody takes notice. I hate passive smoking.

Ok so you've had a word with your colleague, obviously nothing has changed so it's time for a word with your manager.

Flickflak · 15/02/2022 23:03

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

Ikeptgoing · 15/02/2022 23:05

Really don't know the context of this

Are you a carer in same place? Is it one client or multiple? Is it a residential setting?

Regardless , as she or he is your colleague and you say a care environment, yes absolutely 3 cig breaks within one hour is utterly outrageous

Just report him or her if it is a registered setting

DiddyHeck · 15/02/2022 23:08

@Flickflak

Most smokers take the piss. They still take their full lunch break. Thank god in Australia smoking is pretty rare these days, at least in the companies I’ve worked/work for.

It's pretty rare here in the UK too for the companies I've worked for. The tiny handful of smokers I know are all over the age of about 45.

Original poster

Greenbluestar · 15/02/2022 23:09

@Ikeptgoing
Care home

OP posts:

Original poster

Greenbluestar · 15/02/2022 23:11

@DiddyHeck
Been there, done that. Changes for afew days then back to how it was. Or she’ll change her behaviour but only when manager is on. She even smokes when out in the garden with elderly residents.

OP posts:

caranations · 15/02/2022 23:12

As an employer I'd be cheesed off if someone had three separate fag breaks in the space of an hour. I wouldn't stand for it. What's that - five minutes each time?

So she gets paid for an hour and only works for three quarters. That's just taking the piss.

Thoosa · 15/02/2022 23:14

It's pretty rare here in the UK too for the companies I've worked for. The tiny handful of smokers I know are all over the age of about 45.

You make over 45s sound rare.

Florenz · 15/02/2022 23:16

I used to work with someone who probably smoked 10 cigarettes in an hour. This was in the days when you could smoke at your workstation. She admitted to smoking 60 a day but it was a lot more than that unless she didn't smoke when not at work.

Queeniepies · 15/02/2022 23:22

Smokers are mostly completely selfish people who are happy to leave others to pick up the slack just as long as they get their fag! All of the smokers I know put smoking as their top priority in life over and above anything or anyone else.

FatOaf · 15/02/2022 23:24

So she gets paid for an hour and only works for three quarters.
And spends an hour's worth of her gross minimum wage on cigarettes every day (an hour and a quarter of her net minimum wage).

TigerLilyTail · 16/02/2022 02:06

I don't know how anyone can afford to smoke that much. It's like 10 pounds a pack!

It might be boredom or stress more than actually needing a smoke.

BABAHOTEL · 16/02/2022 02:39

@CyberNan

are you pissed?

Are you?

DropYourSword · 16/02/2022 03:31

@Greenbluestar

Colleague. Yes.. probably about a hundred times. Company policy says they need to be ten feet away from the door or whatever but nobody takes notice. I hate passive smoking.

The passive aggressive side of me would really be tempted to get a spray air freshener (a really noisy one!!) and give it a continuous blast in her direction for the entire length of her cigarette.

Whydidimarryhim · 16/02/2022 06:02

Yes I experienced this at work. It was only after I thought I should have gone out myself for 5 mins here and there during the shift. Match her breaks.

SomeOwlsCoo · 16/02/2022 06:06

@Flickflak

Most smokers take the piss. They still take their full lunch break. Thank god in Australia smoking is pretty rare these days, at least in the companies I’ve worked/work for.

This is my experience too, especially working in care. Heaven forbid us non smokers came back 2mins late from lunch though.

SarahJessicaPorker · 16/02/2022 06:11

I don't think the odd cigarette on top of a normal lunch break is taking the piss. I don't smoke and I'm pretty grateful I'm not addicted to an antisocial habit which will kill me slowly tbh. Cannot get worked up about the odd one during work hours. A lot of my colleagues smoke and they take their smoke breaks the same as other people stop for a chat. Honestly do not think they are piss takers or getting significantly more time off than I am.

But three breaks in an hour is a piss take, clearly. Does she hate her job? People pull this sort of stunt (smoker or not) when they aren't happy at work ime. Not that it's an excuse. I'm not happy at work either and am changing jobs but I still don't slip off for a skive

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