Work breaks

34 replies

MobilityCat · 17/02/2023 16:21

At my place of work we get a 10 minute tea break and a half hour lunch break. In addition, smokers get 10 minutes every hour for a smoke break. I started to join them during their sociable smoke breaks, but when my manager saw me doing it he pointed out that I wasn't a smoker, so I said that I was a passive smoker which is a recognised medical condition. Was that being unreasonable?

OP posts:

plumduck · 17/02/2023 18:01

10 minutes an hour is ridiculous

Blablablablaba · 17/02/2023 18:07

This sounds so very like somewhere I worked years ago! It was actually 7minute smoke break. It wasn't every hour but maybe every 90mins or so. So everyone started taking these breaks and we all went for a tea or coffee. It was always usually more 10-15mins too 😂👍 and we all got away with it as mgmt never said anything.

The can't say it's only for the smoker is everyone else wants a 10min break then they get one too.

Diverging · 17/02/2023 18:25

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 17/02/2023 16:26

Your manager is not going to give you extra breaks, they will take away the smokers breaks. And then you will be the person who lost the smokers their breaks.

and possibly saved their lives.

vodkaredbullgirl · 17/02/2023 19:01

Glad I work nights and can go out for a smoke when I like.

clairelouwho · 17/02/2023 19:04

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 17/02/2023 16:26

Your manager is not going to give you extra breaks, they will take away the smokers breaks. And then you will be the person who lost the smokers their breaks.

extra breaks they shouldn’t have anyway unless it comes out of their other break entitlements.

Biscuits1011 · 17/02/2023 19:06

Where I work smokers are allowed a 5 min break in the morning for it, but non smokers can have a toast break. Works for us. Not fair if non smokers don’t get the break too

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 17/02/2023 19:07

chipsandpeas · 17/02/2023 16:47

complain about it but make sure it doesnt backfire
i am/was a smoker, in my workplace we took unofficial smoke breaks and someone had a moan and it was pointed out some people took longer going to get a cup of tea than it took me for going for a quick smoke, result was no smoke breaks for us and others no longer could go and get cups of tea unless they were on an offical break

But surely some smokers drank tea or coffee too. So they could also make use of breaks where they brew up. On top of their ciggy breaks.

Original poster

MobilityCat · 17/02/2023 20:37

Thanks for the comments so far, to update the manager and a large number of staff are smokers so no one lost their smoke breaks. Those who don't believe me are probably facing hostility from non smokers in their workplace. They don't all take the break at the same time, it's optional.

I'm sorry that some of you feel I'm being unreasonable, I do agree people have the right to smoke if they want to. It's just that it didn't seem fair that they had extra time for relaxation. In the end I was told that it wasn't a privilege, it was an addiction. Since I don't want to smoke I gave up.

OP posts:

vodkaredbullgirl · 17/02/2023 20:42

I do agree that you work colleagues and boss are taking the piss. I smoke during my night shift but don't take a whole hour off.

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