Does a company have to offer smoking breaks to employees, and can they rightfully not allow non smokers?

Question

equiverlent break time off? If so is this discrimation [paying smokers same money as non smokers, but for less working time. Ordering staff to endanger their lives if they want fresh air, mental/physical rest from working. In that if they disobey the order they can't have these things]?

Answer 1

Where I work smokers are allowed to take the same amount of break time as non smokers. We are allowed to take the 30 minutes in every 6 hours that we're entittle to by law, whether we non smokers take it as one break or the smokers take it as 3 or 4 shorter breaks. If the smokers where you work get more breaks than you stand up and yell about. Keep on at the right peopl unitl something changes, either the smokers stop being allowed the breaks or have the time deducted from their pay or even better non smokers are offered the same additional breaks. Some smokers will claim that not allowing them to smoke infringes their civil liberties but they're talking boll ocks

Answer 2

In Scotland, there is no smoking in any public place, including the workplace, and in council occupations you cannot even smoke at the entrance to the building or within x number of metres (not sure how many). I suspect that the idea of smoking breaks would be met with incredulity but I am not certain of this as I don't work with smokers. If you use your car to transport other council workers or clients you cannot smoke in your own car, either! However, the drawback is that when you go into a pub now, whereas before you were hit with a wall of nicotine, now it is the aroma of cheap perfume and unwashed humans that often greets you.

Answer 3

A company has to allow breaks from work in accordance with the working time directives, what the employee does in that break time is up to them.

They cannot give different breaks to smokers/non smokers.

Some companies even ban smoking on the premises totally.

Answer 4

No employers don't have to offer smoking breaks to workers which are then repaid by extra working time. This practise would not be convenient for many employers. It also would be unfair to non-smokers to allow smoking in the workplace or to allow breaks without penalty. To allow smokers and non-smokers equal time off to either smoke or get fresh air is already catered for - they are called holidays.

Answer 5

No official smoking breaks but most smokers will take an extra 10 minutes ever 1-2 hours. I have heard of some companies cracking down on this but it is few and far between.

Answer 6

Sorry, i can't answer your question regarding companies and breaks, but i do think it is SO unfair that workers i know have say 5-10 breaks a day for a smoke whilst the non smokers carry on without a 'non smoking' break. Totally unfair.

Answer 7

This puzzles me too.

Smokers were I work seem to be allowed to go and light up whenever they feel the need, but if i was an alcoholic would I be able to take five minutes to neck some vodka? Or if i was a sex addict, could i pop out for a quick sh*g?
Er ..don't think so...

Answer 8

No, the company need not provide any time for smokers to waste the time of the company as well as the employee's
health.

Answer 9

It makes me laugh, all the anti smoking brigade having a snipe at the smokers. How many of these non smokers spend hours talking about Coronation Street and Neighbours.

Maybe we can deduct money from their saleries.

Just shut up moaning about other people and live your own lives.

Answer 10

any normal company has standard breaks. ie morning lunch afternoon. but as i have done us smokers have been known to sneak one in every now and again. therefore spend less time workin durin the day. proper skive