Why is it non-smokers don't get breaks at work???

yeah, my co-worker often goes outside to smoke, but i have my ways of "breaking" too, it's just that her's is more obvious.

this is, however, an unfair work environment, so something needs to be said.

i recommend that you approach this to your manager and be professional about it. do not whine or complain. just say :

"i was hoping to discuss something with you. do you have a moment?"

if they say "yes" then you say : "well, i have been working here for x-amount of time and i notice that the only people who get breaks are the smokers. personally, i feel that this is unfair to us non-smokers and professionally, i feel that this is a labor issue and a discriminatory action by the company."

then, see what they have to say about it. if they pose a solution and it is acceptable, then move on. if they say "tough luck", then you need to contact human resources ASAP!

if a company allows breaks, then they should allow breaks to EVERYONE!

i have worked for 2 large companies and at both the policy on breaks was cut and dry. one company--everyone got a 15 min. break every 2 hours. the other company--no one got breaks at all b/c they only worked about 5 hours tops at a time.

so, take it to your supervisor, if they don't rectify the situation, then take it to human resources.

take care.

Hi redchili,

You're not being catty. The fact is that in most states your are required by law to be given a ten minute break for every four hours worked, and a half hour lunch if more than six hours are worked.

Of course there are some exceptions, like if your regular job duty absolutely not allow for you to take one after so many hours, for example, some agricultural industries can steer around the rest and meal period requirement, or you are the only one there to perform a time sensitive job.

However in this situation, you would then take your rest periods when you can, which would be documented by your time clock punch-in and punch-out.

You can take the exact same amount of time as the smokers during down time, because if there is a different treatment from management from one group of people to another group of people, it could be considered discrimination. Especially if there is a group of people that are seeing the same thing.

Good Luck,

~Trey

I once worked at a company that told me the same thing. If I smoked I can get a break, otherwise I don't get a break. I worked there for a short time and later there was an article in our local newspaper that this particular company was a scam that hired people (yes, I was a sucker) to get people to think they were winning light bulbs but they ended up purchasing them. I don't know if these two things are related but I wouldn't work for a company that gave me that line of bull again.

Hi. I've just asked a question about breaks - myself and my partner never used to smoke, and now we do just to get a break, how bad is that??!!. We won't get a break at all if we don't smoke - even on a 9 hour shift, it's pretty disgusting, this should be changed !

When l say break, l forgot to mention lunch too, no lunch breaks, no break breaks...l need a new job !

Yes for 7 years this has happened to me as I have worked in retail grocery. I have gotten used to it, but from time to time when I hear someone say "I'm taking a smoke break." I simply retort, "Well ok, when you get back I'm taking an alcohol break."

you are correct in assuming it isn't fair though

oh yeah, and try calling human resources with your problem if you are in a larger corporation. that usually gets things done

Its the same way at my work. In theory we should all get 2 10min breaks, but only the smokers can actually take them. Then they come back and answer the phones at the desk and everything reeks...

Hey there, if you work for 8 hours a day, by law, you are supposed to get 2-10 minute breaks. Here at my company we can take one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Look at the employment laws in your state and bring this up to your employer. =) Good luck!

sure!!!! I used to get so aggravated as quickly as I labored at a eating place and the human beings who smoke could be like "im going out for a smoke smash" and that they could be long previous for 10-quarter-hour. i became into the only non smoker and so while all of them might circulate out on the comparable time i could be overlaying the full floor via myself. in case you get better breaks to artwork on your lung maximum cancers and emphysema, then I could get better breaks to get some clean air.

it definately does not happen to me. the quickest fix w/out getting the law involved is tell them u took up smoking and ur going on a smoke break also.

Smokers generally are supposed to punch-out where i work, no one complains about the non-smokers not getting paid.