smoking at work
Discussion
Had a good catch up with an old mate today. Aside from the usual stuff he was telling me about their new boss at his workplace.
Apparently the new boss is keen on efficiency etc and one of his bugbears was the time wasted by the smokers in the workforce. The time to get up from behind their desk, walk downstairs and then outside to have a burn at the designated smoking spot.
He wants to limit smoking time to the individuals own time - ie outside working hours or on one of the designated break times. Apparently the office staff used to have a smoke whenever they wanted when the last gaffer was in charge (she was a smoker)
I run my own business and don't have any smokers employed (only have two employees) so I have never really thought about it much.
What is the opinion of the PH lounge lizards on this matter? I
Apparently the new boss is keen on efficiency etc and one of his bugbears was the time wasted by the smokers in the workforce. The time to get up from behind their desk, walk downstairs and then outside to have a burn at the designated smoking spot.
He wants to limit smoking time to the individuals own time - ie outside working hours or on one of the designated break times. Apparently the office staff used to have a smoke whenever they wanted when the last gaffer was in charge (she was a smoker)
I run my own business and don't have any smokers employed (only have two employees) so I have never really thought about it much.
What is the opinion of the PH lounge lizards on this matter? I
It will add up, the bigger the organisation the more time lost. At my place you have to go to the designated smoking shelter which is about 75M from the main entrance. It's not policed but at a guess a minimum of 5-7 mins per fag.
I don't smoke at work, don't really smoke at all just the odd one here and there when having a few drinks. But if these add up to 20-30 on top of a lunch break I can see why some would try to stamp it out.
I don't smoke at work, don't really smoke at all just the odd one here and there when having a few drinks. But if these add up to 20-30 on top of a lunch break I can see why some would try to stamp it out.
benjj said:
In one scandinavian country, can't remember which, the non-smokers get an additional 5 days paid holiday per year. That's apparently what a half decent smoker spunks per year in fag breaks.
Seems reasonable to me and I'm a dyed in the wool 20 a day man.
Do the non smokers get additional holiday time or do the smokers get less holiday time?Seems reasonable to me and I'm a dyed in the wool 20 a day man.
I worked at a hotel recently where the smokers had to register in order to be able to use the shelters used, they also had to work an extra half an hour (I think) to compensate for the time wasted.
On the other hand, working on building sites and in particular a new house being constructed, the smokers just light up inside the bare shell and continue to work. Most contractors seem to have a large number of tea and lunch breaks throughout the day however.
On the other hand, working on building sites and in particular a new house being constructed, the smokers just light up inside the bare shell and continue to work. Most contractors seem to have a large number of tea and lunch breaks throughout the day however.
In my limited observations when I was a smoker I spent less time smoking than the women did in the toilet.
Also, some of my most creative ideas came when I went to smoke. It is an opportunity to take a break and change your thought process. When I was smoking this saved the company many times the value of my wage.
Now I do not smoke and I am a bit useless.
Also, some of my most creative ideas came when I went to smoke. It is an opportunity to take a break and change your thought process. When I was smoking this saved the company many times the value of my wage.
Now I do not smoke and I am a bit useless.
Ran a factory years ago making light fittings new design created huge interest and the workforce soared to 90+ women assembling in three shifts with supervisors all day every day for many months. We had allowed smoking all well outside the factory (fire risk!) and I got so fed up with the mess and fags everywhere I threatened to stop all smoking on the premises. Smoking was only allowed by agreement with shift supervisors ad limited to two breaks twice a shift already by agreement.
Had a deputation with the shop steward (isn't there always one!) in charge suggesting that twenty girls would leave if we stopped the practice. Since we were negotiating a sale of the factory (which we did in the end and we did extremely well out of it ) at the time I backed down but suggested I would change that agreement unless all the dog ends were properly placed in the fire safe bins we had bought in for that purpose. The girls saw that as reasonable and I never saw a fag end on the floor from that point on which suited me.
Having been a smoker myself on 60 a day I gave up (successfully) after i was diagnosed as Diabetic, Twenty Six years ago. I have never had one since. I fully understand the desire for a fag. Even now I miss them particularly after dinner or being engaged in rumpty rumpty. However had I not given smoking up it would undoubtedly have killed me decades ago. Smoking at work is an oddity really which would never be allowed were cigarettes not already ingratiated into UK life. I think it will die away as the perils loom ever larger and insurance companies etc make the financial penalties (Daft life insurance premiums etc), unaffordable. It is bad news I am glad that I gave it up but with some smokers as I found their intransigence and insistent on smoking whenever they want to is so strong they will leave rather than face not smoking at work.
Real oddity because of common practice whereby an unreasonable and seriously unhealthy lifestyle decision takes precedent over common sense and health. And is more important than earning a living. Funny old world.
Had a deputation with the shop steward (isn't there always one!) in charge suggesting that twenty girls would leave if we stopped the practice. Since we were negotiating a sale of the factory (which we did in the end and we did extremely well out of it ) at the time I backed down but suggested I would change that agreement unless all the dog ends were properly placed in the fire safe bins we had bought in for that purpose. The girls saw that as reasonable and I never saw a fag end on the floor from that point on which suited me.
Having been a smoker myself on 60 a day I gave up (successfully) after i was diagnosed as Diabetic, Twenty Six years ago. I have never had one since. I fully understand the desire for a fag. Even now I miss them particularly after dinner or being engaged in rumpty rumpty. However had I not given smoking up it would undoubtedly have killed me decades ago. Smoking at work is an oddity really which would never be allowed were cigarettes not already ingratiated into UK life. I think it will die away as the perils loom ever larger and insurance companies etc make the financial penalties (Daft life insurance premiums etc), unaffordable. It is bad news I am glad that I gave it up but with some smokers as I found their intransigence and insistent on smoking whenever they want to is so strong they will leave rather than face not smoking at work.
Real oddity because of common practice whereby an unreasonable and seriously unhealthy lifestyle decision takes precedent over common sense and health. And is more important than earning a living. Funny old world.
Even if you don't have one cig every hour it soon adds up.
I used to smoke, I loved it - I was one cig EVERY hour at work. Over the course of an eight hour shift that's at least 6 cigs in work time - at 5 minutes per ciggie.
30 minutes every day.
2.5 hours a week (5 day week)
10 hours per month.
120 hours per year.
That's THREE WEEKS off EVERY YEAR over a non-smoker. Sound fair? Nope.
I used to smoke, I loved it - I was one cig EVERY hour at work. Over the course of an eight hour shift that's at least 6 cigs in work time - at 5 minutes per ciggie.
30 minutes every day.
2.5 hours a week (5 day week)
10 hours per month.
120 hours per year.
That's THREE WEEKS off EVERY YEAR over a non-smoker. Sound fair? Nope.
t really but it depends a lot on the company and how the staff abuse it.Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff