Can I take a "NON-Smoking" break please?

Published

Specializes in Med/Surg.

I am wondering if your work will allow smoking staff to take frequent smoke break and not letting non-smoking staff to take frequent "normal" breaks?

Don't you think that is an unfair treatment to the "non-smokers"?

I am wondering if your work will allow smoking staff to take frequent smoke break and not letting non-smoking staff to take frequent "normal" breaks?

Don't you think that is an unfair treatment to the "non-smokers"?

then say you smoke and take a break too.

if anyone stops you then it *IS* prejudice.

Legally, we are ALL intitled to a break. Check the ruling with your Labor Board. Now, whether you GET IT is another matter! :trout:

then say you smoke and take a break too.

if anyone stops you then it *IS* prejudice.

That is what I did. I don't smoke but I go out with smokers on their break. I take my 2 10min. break. They take more but I don't. A break is a break.

In our hospital everyone has 2 ten minute breaks and then a 30 minute lunch. The smokers are suppose to use this time for smoking. But to my experience it doesn't happen that way. Use to work with two RN's who would leave the floor at least every hour together, and I swear sometimes would stay gone for 30 minutes leaving me on the floor by myself. I got to when it came to my lunch break instead of coming back and eating on my unit I stayed down stairs in the break room.

The smoking has gotten a tad better since the hospital has gone smoke free and the State passed a law that there is no smoking on hospital property. The smokers now have to go stand in the street to smoke, and since they are off hospital property they are suppose to clock out, but that doesn't happen either.

I am wondering if your work will allow smoking staff to take frequent smoke break and not letting non-smoking staff to take frequent "normal" breaks?

Don't you think that is an unfair treatment to the "non-smokers"?

This is why my Dad started smoking ! Of course this was back in the 60s, before we knew all the evils of smoking.............but still. He noticed that the smokers got frequent breaks, and he never did, so he took up smoking. He smoked for about 10 years, then quit and became a vehement anti-smoker. Which was interesting since my Mom continued to smoke, until she died of CA when she was 45.:o

Whats the problem? Just say you are going for a "smoke break" and leave. Don't make it into a war between you and the smokers, it isn't worth it believe me! If anyone challenges you ignore them or challenge them right back. They won't care really as long as they get their dose of nicotene.

Your entited to a break, so take one. My question is...are the smokers taking a full break or just a quick smoke break? I usually take a quick smoke breaik, breaking up my regular break into 2 smoke breaks. But if thats not the case, just say you are going on break too and take as long as the smokers. If they tell you no, then file a complaint.

Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

My problem w/smokers isn't the time, it's the smell. And since I've been having a big asthma problem in the past couple of weeks, it would be even worse if we had more than one or 2 smokers, which, thankfully, we don't. And they work nights, so I don't have to be around them very long. :)

Specializes in Everything but L&D and OR.

my work is the same as Penny's. We went smoke free in Nov 2004. It was really hard at first for pt's and employees, but I really like it. I always wondered how you could give advice to a pt to quit smoking when you smelled like an ashtray yourself.:smokin: :confused: :eek:

Christine

Specializes in ER/Trauma.
My problem w/smokers isn't the time, it's the smell. And since I've been having a big asthma problem in the past couple of weeks, it would be even worse if we had more than one or 2 smokers, which, thankfully, we don't. And they work nights, so I don't have to be around them very long. :)
I always carried plenty of gum - and stopped to double-wash my hands before I stepped back into the floor proper.

I know I smell after I smoke - guess all those years of hiding it from my parents helped :eek: :imbar :imbar :imbar So I try and reduce it as much as I can with washing hands and chewing gum.

'course now I don't smoke so it's a moot point.

I just love how Roy always takes up for the smokers. I also try to respect the people who don't smoke. I carry a travel bottle in my pocket that is filled with Febreeze and always spray my uniform when I finish smoking. I also always use gum and wash my hands after smoking. I think that it's just a matter of everyone having respect for everyone else, whether they're smokers or nonsmokers.

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