Posted on May 8, 2015
Excessive Smoke Breaks: Are there any guidelines?
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Is there any guidlines regarding the amount of smoke breaks a Soldier can take or how often the Soldier mak take them? I am the Quality Control Supervisor in an Attack Helicopter Battalion and I have a shop full of NCOs. I am faced with the situation where I have certain NCOs that take smoke breaks quite often to the point where it seems a bit excessive. Some of the non-smokers have even counted 3 times in less than 2 hours. I have tried browsing around and can't find anything on smoke breaks. I know some civilian contractors have as part of their contract that they only get two 15 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch everyday. It would be nice to know if there was something like that for me to referance. One of the other NCOs in the Production Control Section actually suggested that I designate certain times for them to smoke and if they miss their opportunity to smoke, then they have to weight for the next opportunity. I try not to manage every little bit of my Platoon's time, but when smoke breaks seem a bit too excessive and other NCOs that don't even smoke complain what is there to do?
Tobacco
Standards
Leadership
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 18
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Lets say your start work at 0900 and brake at lunch at 1130. Give everyone a 15 minute brake halfway between 0900 and 1130. Come back from lunch at 1300 and work until 1700. Give them everyone a 15 minute halfway between 1300 and 1700. This has been a standard at many worksites in the civilian sector but they get 30 minutes for lunch. This way, you are treating everyone the same. Its just any idea.
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
SSG (ret) William Martin sorry about that. I wasn't aware that I even hit anything. My phone is severely busted up and it goes crazy on me.
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SSG (ret) William Martin
SSG(P) (Join to see) I have done it too. I only wanted to engage you on an issue. I hope you are having splendid day.
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
Honestly, I think smoke breaks are okay, as long as they don't go out every chance they get. And work should be done, or at least the guys should rotate out, including non-smokers.
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
SSG (ret) William Martin I am having an alright day, minus packing for the field tomorrow. I hope you are having a nice day as well.
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I think there's an easy answer to this. Put out a timeline with allocated breaks. Timelines are a lawful order, so they wouldn't have any way to dispute your guidance. Make it very clear that Soldiers are only authorized additional breaks by exception and counsel those who do not adhere to the published timeline. It may be a "hardass" approach but it sounds like they're abusing the current situation.
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SSG (ret) William Martin
MAJ (Join to see), Time limits are great. I know someone who take 15 minutes to smoke a cigarette and its a 100.
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I just hate how on every post there is a covered smoking area but for non-smokers you can't get a break and sit anywhere. I wanted a "Lazy POG" Sitting Area so when they take there 30-45 minute breaks I can stop working and sit outside away from them. I mean why was I not allowed to be lazy and poison my body in a different way...like Donuts.
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