Smokers

[Interstellar]

Where I work, I get one 15 minute break per each 4 hour shift that I work. My boss is very strict about this and threatens to write me up if I take extra time. People who smoke on the other hand (including my boss!!!!) are allowed to go outside and take smoke breaks whenever they want to though. I see some people out there at least 3 times an hour! Now I've never smoked cigarettes and don't ever plan on it, but it frustrates me that these people get special treatment because of their lifestyle. Do people consider this fair? Is there a law saying that smokers have to be able to smoke while they're at work?

[Gwen]

Companies/Businesses can have smoke breaks as a policy and are quite common around here. In strict cases there have been many complaints about the fairness of allowing only smokers to have these extended breaks. I am not sure where you live but I do not think smoke breaks are a mandatory part of the law in most places. Most competent places if they allow smoke breaks will allow non-smokers access to these breaks as well though. Just an unfair workplace I guess.

[Croconaw]

I'd consider this unfair. That's all I have to say. They should not get the opportunity to get breaks if others don't get the same opportunity.

[phuckphace]

I'm the kind of guy who would start smoking just for this reason (yeah I know)

smoke breaks aren't protected by law, in fact the laws tend to discriminate against smokers if anything (I smoked and was frequently othered by smoke-free environments. check your non-nicotine addicted privilege). in my state, employers aren't even required to give 15 minute breaks at all. although in your case the boss is likely bending/breaking company policy from the sound of it, mein business, mein rules & you can't do shit about it.

[Babs]

Eh, I'm unemployed but I don't think I'd care if smokers get extra breaks. Some people act like dicks when thy can't smoke, so fuck it, I don't care if they go out for a smoke. Maybe I'll feel differently when I do get a job though.

[xXl0sth0peXx]

If they do their job and get what they need to done on time, fine. The head cook at the restaurant where I work though has this habit of taking like 20 minute breaks just out of nowhere, which is kinda annoying, but his call I guess. Other cooks (like myself) where I am literally take <5 minutes, though multiple times. It is what it is really. As long as you/we aren't behind because of your smoke breaks, all the power to you. We don't ever have time for scheduled 15 or 30 minute breaks because of timing/staffing, so here little 5 minute runaways aren't a huge deal. Just those 30 minute ones multiple times randomly annoy me.

[Interstellar]

Thanks for all of the replies! I guess I'll just have to suck it up and deal with it...

[Human]

Deal with it, it's not your business although it may be unfair, this happens a lot in the UK and at least you can feel happy about not having black lungs

[SethfromMI]

Yes it is unfair. I guess really the only thing you can do is live with it, make a case to your boss, or quit and find a new job

[Baconator]

I find it unfair. Every job is required to give employees a 15 minute break every 6 hours, and a 30 minute every 8 here in Ontario. But the fact that due to people's poor choices in life and their addiction to a deadly narcotic such as nicotine requires a job to give them smoke breaks whenever they please. It's like hiring a heroin abuser then giving them injection breaks. It's just not fair for people with a healthier lifestyle.

Honestly though, if I wanted to I could abuse this privilege too since I smoke marijuana. I could just say I am going out for a smoke break but not tell them what I am smoking ;). But yeah, no one should be allowed to go out at any time to feed their addiction.

[ImCoolBeans]

It's basically the same situation where I work. Unfortunately you gotta do what the boss man says. Yeah it's unfair, but there isn't much, or anything, that you can really do about it.

[phuckphace]

But the fact that due to people's poor choices in life and their addiction to a deadly narcotic such as nicotine

nicotine isn't a narcotic, it's a stimulant. it's toxic in higher amounts, and habit-forming, but in reasonable dosages it's not "deadly."

It's like hiring a heroin abuser then giving them injection breaks.

except that it's not even close to being the same thing.

if you want to talk deadly drugs, heroin is your shit. it is insanely more addictive than nicotine, impairs your awareness and senses (unlike nicotine, which actually helps focus and short-term memory) and fatal overdoses are common. you'll notice that cigarette smokers don't tend to suddenly pass the fuck out cold after dragging on one. also note that heroin will send you to turboprison but you can buy smokes with your bread, milk and eggs at the grocery store and even smoke them while driving, think there might be a logical reason behind that?

It's just not fair for people with a healthier lifestyle.

tis another of life's many great injustices

Honestly though, if I wanted to I could abuse this privilege too since I smoke marijuana. I could just say I am going out for a smoke break but not tell them what I am smoking ;). But yeah, no one should be allowed to go out at any time to feed their addiction.

I was about to say you're hard as fuck but then realized you're in Canada where no fucks are given, so blaze away bro. that or you could just deal with it.

[Cognizant]

The Jamba Juice I worked at had 3 (out of 5) supervisors who smoked whenever they felt like it. Another supervisor would sometimes just leave me in the store alone (while I was still a TRAINEE, mind you), while he went on an unauthorized break to get Mexican food (he got fired for that though lol). It was kind of annoying, especially when we were trying to get closing tasks done and they couldn't bother to lift a finger while I'm busting my ass cleaning everything.
However, they were definitely more 'lax when it came to their favorite team members. My supervisors wouldn't really say anything when I would quite-obviously "sneak" into the walk-in to eat food or check my phone when it was slow, but for this other guy (who everyone in the store loathed), he got written up for coming in 5 minutes late from his break.

So I dunno. Maybe become your GM's best friend and you'll get to take a few minutes more on your breaks, haha

[leskas]

wow
dude, that's impressing.
smoking is bad. you have to quit it
really

[THJKIGB]

It seems pretty unfair to me as it seems like the smokers are getting special privileges being about to take breaks whenever they want to smoke while you only get 2 breaks in an 8 hour day. Do you have to clock out at the job when you take breaks? If so it maybe at little better if they have to clock out each time they go out for a smoke break losing time and pay from there paycheck.

[Horte]

I don't want to smoke!