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 >1 y ago
Posted >1 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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I applaud you SFC (Join to see) 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!
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!
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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.
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.
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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.
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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...
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SSG James Young, "Quality Control Supervisor"? Does that really mean NCOIC? If so, take charge and issue a smoking edict!
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How about we talk about the fact that smokers get breaks at all and non smokers don't?
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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.
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