Excessive Smoke Breaks: Are there any guidelines?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 May 2015 00:00:52 -0400

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?

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made May 8 at 2015 12:45 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Fri, 08 May 2015 00:45:33 -0400

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.

Response by SPC Nate Lamphier made May 8 at 2015 12:56 AM

SPC Nate Lamphier — Fri, 08 May 2015 00:56:46 -0400

I applaud you SFC Private RallyPoint Member for looking for a solution in terms of solving this as I'm sure the non-smokers that are lower in rank are tired of the smokers being rewarded with a break.

Where I was, us non-smokers kept working while the smokers took their extended breaks with no consequences. Then one day when I was having one of "those days" I told my squad leader I was taking a smoke break. He informed me that I did not smoke. I countered by saying that he is correct but I filed a grievance and my union rep advised me to take my breaks along with the smokers. To this day I don't think my sergeant understood what that meant.

Seriously though, make sure you got your bases covered because someone will challenge you. Good luck and keep fighting the good fight!

Response by PO1 John Miller made May 8 at 2015 2:36 AM

PO1 John Miller — Fri, 08 May 2015 02:36:50 -0400

I don't know how many times something would come up only to find there was nobody to task it to because "they were smoking." I'd have to go to the smoke pit and grab all my smokers, making myself (a non-smoker) reek of smoke.

I myself tried to implement a smoke-break policy only to be met with resistance from my upper chain, even the non-smokers. The reason? "It's always been that way..."

There were times myself as a junior Sailor I'd tell my supervisor "I'm going to take a non-smoke break and if you have a problem with it I'm going to file a CMEO complaint."

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2015 7:35 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 May 2015 07:35:09 -0400

If you are the QC NCOIC and you feel that the smoke breaks are excessive, take charge and let everyone else know what the limits are. You don't need an SOP or document to tell your Soldiers what the shop standards are, tell them yourself.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made May 8 at 2015 9:21 AM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Fri, 08 May 2015 09:21:43 -0400

I am not aware of any reg that AUTHORIZES smoke breaks.

CSM Private RallyPoint Member, CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member

Response by SSG Richard Reilly made May 8 at 2015 9:24 AM

SSG Richard Reilly — Fri, 08 May 2015 09:24:21 -0400

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.

Response by LT Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2015 10:19 AM

LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 May 2015 10:19:22 -0400

In our POD (Plan of the Day) on my last ship we implemented a morning and afternoon "coffee break" for 15 minutes each and encouraged all hands (not on watch) to take them. It kept the smoke pits cleaner, increased overall productivity and did not turn into a smokers vs. non-smokers issue. Outside of meal times, they were also the only times during the work day that cell phone use was allowed.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2015 10:34 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 May 2015 22:34:45 -0400

Nothing you can do. They're TI's they do what they want and sign off PMS's as they please

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2015 9:38 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 09 May 2015 21:38:45 -0400

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.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2015 12:48 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 May 2015 12:48:59 -0400

In my opinion its a shop personnel issue. As a smoker myself i guess i'm more "lienent" as long as all work gets done in the time frame. But then again i've never really had a problem with my personnel taking excessive "breaks" smokers and non-smokers alike.

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Jun 7 at 2015 9:56 PM

TSgt Kenneth Ellis — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 21:56:01 -0400

When I entered basic in 1972. If you wanted a break you had to smoke.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2015 10:32 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 22:32:04 -0400

I would suggest telling them what they can do NOT what they can't. firm and fair will go a long way to keep morale. it's always best to focus on the mission, and as long as it's not impacted then who really cares about the breaks?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2015 10:49 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 22:49:14 -0400

I follow the example set for work break patterns done at NCOES. I advise my team that they can do 50/10 each hour, as long as they don't abuse it. Anyone who can't go 50 minutes without smoking has a real problem with the addiction, in my opinion. So far the schedule works for me.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2015 10:50 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 22:50:30 -0400

How about we talk about the fact that smokers get breaks at all and non smokers don't?

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jun 8 at 2015 12:50 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 00:50:28 -0400

SSG James Young, "Quality Control Supervisor"? Does that really mean NCOIC? If so, take charge and issue a smoking edict!

Response by SGT Anthony Bussing made Jun 8 at 2015 12:53 AM

SGT Anthony Bussing — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 00:53:59 -0400

Id give a 10-15 minute break in the AM.....and a 10-15 min break in the PM...in between there is a lunch break...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2015 10:35 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 22:35:32 -0400

As a former QCNCOIC on more than one occasion I have had this issue with my soldiers. I had to come up with guidelines to limit this behavior of taking excessive smoke breaks and taking an excessive amount of time. Basically I limited them to 3 smoke breaks a day one before lunch and two after lunch. As far as guid lines for smoke breks there really are none but honestly you are not required to give them any. The army is going away from smoking and as such smoke breaks are a luxury not a right.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2016 4:02 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 15 May 2016 16:02:34 -0400

SECNAVINST 5100.13E amended on 31 july 2008
specifically states that smoke breaks shall occur only during approved break periods that will be designated by supervisors and per federal law, personnel policy and union contracts. if you give a smoke breaks and non smokers shall have the same amount of breaks.