Why Do Smokers Get so Many Breaks at Work?

Is it just me, or does it seem like my co-worker just got back from lunch and is already stepping out to take a 5 to 10 -minute smoke break? What do I have to do? Maybe I should take up smoking to get several breaks throughout my long eight-hour workday.

I'm sure you have seen them. Several smokers huddled around each other smoking and socializing on company time. They act as if a (smoke) break is owed to them because they have a "habit" others do not have. What would happen if a non-smoker decided to take several breaks in addition to taking an hour lunch. If a non-smoker took a break about 8 times a day for 5 minutes each and started to walk around socializing with other co-workers, or got into their car to listen to some tunes, or just laid on the floor in their cubicle to take a snooze, that would not go over well! That would mean that in addition to an hour or so lunch, they are using 40 (8x5) extra minutes to take a non-lunch break that their employer is paying for. I don't remember reading that in any employee handbook. However, that's exactly what smokers do.

It just does not seem fair! It is as if smokers are taking paid breaks while the rest of us are answering their phones. I thought of several ideas that could be implemented in order to bring awareness to this often over looked problem.

· Suggestion Box at work

· Talk to Supervisor

1. Suggestion Box at Work - Your company may offer a suggestion box that allows employees to drop in suggestions on how to improve the work environment. This would be a great opportunity to give your thoughts on what could be done to arrange proper coverage when you smoking co-worker is away from their desk. You could also gather several alliances with others who share your same views and would not mind dropping in their thoughts and suggestions on the matter. A large group of people who share the same views on matters could illicit change.