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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Other staffs endless cigarette breaks. AIBU?

123 replies

ChrisTrepidation · 19/10/2022 07:27

Quite a number of the small staff team where I work are smokers. In fact we probably have more smokers than none smokers. I don't smoke.

The smokers are in the habit of stepping out for a cigarette break on a very regular basis. I worked a shift with smoker staff yesterday and they were going outside for five minute breaks approximately every half hour!

I don't begrudge anybody taking a break but AIBU to be starting to get annoyed at all the extra off the floor time the smokers are gaining? If I took a break every half hour it would be considered very odd but the smokers just get away with it.

I'm considering raising the issue with my line manager. Would I be in the right to do so?

OP posts:
KangarooKenny · 19/10/2022 07:28

Step out with them.

mumda · 19/10/2022 07:28

Go out every time they have a break.

Useitorloseit · 19/10/2022 07:30

What odd replies. Why would she want to go and stand and breathe in second hand smoke??

Abei · 19/10/2022 07:31

It would be petty to raise it with your line managers.

YellowTreeHouse · 19/10/2022 07:31

Raise it with your manager. They don’t get special permission to fuck off just because they’ve decided to poison themselves.

You are entitled to the same rest breaks as them - so if they get 5 minutes every half an hour you should too.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 19/10/2022 07:32

I’m guessing you’re in retail? I’ve had similar.

Either wait for them to come back, then say you’re going for a fresh air break. They will get the hint.

Or report to management. It’s not fair. But beware as my manager was a smoker and in ‘the clique’.

Original poster
ChrisTrepidation · 19/10/2022 07:32

I don't want to stand outside breathing cigarette smoke as a none smoker! Plus we have to have at least one member of staff on the floor all the time. So if I'm the only none smoker there it's going to fall to me to stay on the floor.

OP posts:
Dinodigger · 19/10/2022 07:33

Smokers are mostly selfish and a slave to their addiction so even though YANBU and they are CFs, reporting them won't go down well as smokers are just the worst aren't they? So entitled and stupid.

Brefugee · 19/10/2022 07:34

What odd replies. Why would she want to go and stand and breathe in second hand smoke??

hard to imagine, eh?

You don't have to actually go with them, as long as you can see when they go back, OP.

Original poster
ChrisTrepidation · 19/10/2022 07:34

@Abei Why would it be petty? The Smokers are gaining loads of extra break time and how is that fair?

I don't object to people taking reasonable cigarette breaks but two an hour? It's ridiculous!

OP posts:
GlassesWearer · 19/10/2022 07:36

My dad had this but, due to where he worked, it was a 5 minute journey to where they could smoke and the smokers were permitted up to five breaks a day - so, they'd be gone for 15-20 minutes up to five times each day. He played an instrument and insisted that for all the time they were allowed to smoke, he was allowed to play his instrument. Absolutely complain - some smokers on here will claim YABU but their hobby isn't more important than yours.

SimonaRazowska · 19/10/2022 07:37

Oh this sounds like such a 90s issue

funny/sad it still happens

I would just accept it, but then take a few more (toilet?) breaks myself too

Original poster
ChrisTrepidation · 19/10/2022 07:38

@Dinodigger I don't think they are stupid or even consciously entitled but I don't get how it could be considered fair that they get all this extra off the floor time?

OP posts:
Sparklybees · 19/10/2022 07:39

Taking a break every time they do (even if you just go off the floor for the same amount of time once they're back) is a petty, unprofessional way to deal with it.

I would speak to your line manager, reasonably and calmly. It may be that smokers have a shorter lunch break to compensate that you aren't aware of. I would also ask to see the company policy on extra breaks for smoking and the impact on non smoking colleagues.

If not, you could suggest a longer break or leaving earlier for you, to keep everything fair and equal.

notdaddycool · 19/10/2022 07:40

Tell them you need a mumsnet break as soon as they get back.

Original poster
ChrisTrepidation · 19/10/2022 07:40

@GlassesWearer I like the sound of your dad!

@SimonaRazowska It is so 90s isn't it? I feel petty even caring but I can't help it.
I've never worked with so many smokers before in my life. Especially ones who go out for a cigarette twice an hour!

OP posts:
MrsLargeEmbodied · 19/10/2022 07:41

they are taking the mickey
who on earth goes out every half an hour!
i have worked with smokers and they do have a set routine to go out at certain points
is the manager a smoker?
you need to take the same amount of breaks

YellowTreeHouse · 19/10/2022 07:41

ChrisTrepidation · 19/10/2022 07:32

I don't want to stand outside breathing cigarette smoke as a none smoker! Plus we have to have at least one member of staff on the floor all the time. So if I'm the only none smoker there it's going to fall to me to stay on the floor.

You don’t need to. Take your five minute break in the staff room or elsewhere.

Darbs76 · 19/10/2022 07:42

Every half hour is not on. I’d say one break in the morning, one in the late afternoon is appropriate for smokers (and one at lunch). I would be saying something if the smokers in my team went out every half hour. That’s ridiculous

SleeplessInEngland · 19/10/2022 07:43

Take up smoking, that way you can join them and have as much time off.

Original poster
ChrisTrepidation · 19/10/2022 07:43

@Sparklybees We don't get official breaks of any kind where I work. Don't want to out myself by explaining too much but it's a sector where you don't get any official time off the floor at all.

I'm going to have a look at the smoking policy today. I'm stuck either way though because even if something got done about it everyone would end up knowing it was me who complained. Its that sort of place.

OP posts:
ChocHotolate · 19/10/2022 07:44

Wow, that's an extra hour break in an 8 hour shift, I bet they take their normal break as well? Totally unreasonable

HappyKoala56 · 19/10/2022 07:44

I totally get why smokers get a break, but every 30 minutes is ridiculous. Once in the morning and once in the afternoon should be ample with their lunch break in the middle. I'm guessing maybe your line manager is a smoker too and this is why it's been allowed to happen? Or have they had their lunch breaks shortened to make up the time? If they aren't making up the time I wouldn't make a formal complaint but would probably ask when your next cig break is in the hope the manager takes the hint

LondonWolf · 19/10/2022 07:45

ChrisTrepidation · 19/10/2022 07:27

Quite a number of the small staff team where I work are smokers. In fact we probably have more smokers than none smokers. I don't smoke.

The smokers are in the habit of stepping out for a cigarette break on a very regular basis. I worked a shift with smoker staff yesterday and they were going outside for five minute breaks approximately every half hour!

I don't begrudge anybody taking a break but AIBU to be starting to get annoyed at all the extra off the floor time the smokers are gaining? If I took a break every half hour it would be considered very odd but the smokers just get away with it.

I'm considering raising the issue with my line manager. Would I be in the right to do so?

A old acquaintance of mine, years ago, was called in to account for lateness due to a medical appointment. He'd told his manager but she forgot. He was so livid he went back to his desk and totted up the time taken on "smoke breaks" by one of his colleagues - daily, weekly, monthly, annually and then presented it to his manager in the form of a memo, telling her he'd give her plenty of notice of when he intended to take his "smoke" days off Grin

Bananaramad · 19/10/2022 07:46

I shared an office with a guy who took regular smoke breaks, every time he took a break when he came back I popped off to get a coffee for the same length of time, didn't always have a coffee ;-)