Posted on 11/02/2017 6:41:00 AM PDT by Morgana
A Japanese company is granting non-smoking employees an extra six days of paid holidays a year after they complained that they were working more than staff who took time off for cigarette breaks.
Tokyo-based marketing firm Piala Inc. only introduced the non-smokers' perk in September, but employees have been quick to take advantage.
"One of our non-smoking staff put a message in the company suggestion box earlier in the year saying that smoking breaks were causing problems", said Hirotaka Matsushima, a spokesman for the company.
"Our CEO saw the comment and agreed, so we are giving non-smokers some extra time off to compensate", Mr Matsushma told The Telegraph.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
I actually like this policy. It is strange that today society and the workplace will still indulge addiction. (I’m an ex 30 year cigarette smoker. Free for more than a decade.)
Former smoker here also but never took any smoke breaks. OH! - no doubt because in the “old” days, we could smoke at our desks! HA! Even when that changed, we only took one morning coffee break and one afternoon coffee break. They must be allowed a lot of breaks in Japan....
When I was in basic/AIT training in the Army, the Drill Sergeants were telling people to take a smoke break. The guys that weren’t smoking always got grabbed to do something - because it’s just wrong to let somebody stand around doing nothing - so I took up smoking Swisher Sweets.
Something I have seen a lot of.
I used to go outside with the smokers. Not because I smoked, but because I wanted to keep an eye on how much time was spent.
Averaged about an extra 45 minutes a day.
Union got rather angry with me for that one.
That's why they are very decent people, LOL. Then, I've come to realize I have habits which may repel some people. I eat too much and have a love for salty and spicy food. I've got other bad habits which I do not care to list on a public form . . . so have joined the "live and let live" school of life.
BTW, I worked in Japan for 14 years some 15 years ago. Smoking was "in your face" and nasty in those early years. So I applaud this policy, but think it is realistically closer to 1-2 days than six. Maybe the extra four is for what it saves the company in health insurance costs.
“They must be allowed a lot of breaks in Japan....”
LOL! I had an ashtray filled to the rim on my workbench at all times. Now I feel a little bad for my former coworker who had to smell that all day. The Japanese I used to work with (different company) all smoked like fiends. They truly loved it.
Before my Granny died the in-home nurses who cared for her would have to go out on the porch and smoke a lot. So can understand other co-workers feeling like they have to do more work when others are tending to their carcinogenic habit. With some of them it’s several times a hour depending on how addicted they are.
It amazes me how much nurses smoke when they know how bad that is for you and the people they care for.
Yes TYR remember the old days when people smoked at their desk. They did it in hospitals too, in the rooms!
Better to simply fire smokers and not hire any.
I worked in Japan for 3 years and the guy across from me chain smoked like a fiend all day long right at his desk. I’d come home smelling like I’d spent the entire day at a bar. I’d go outside for air breaks.
Really??? You must be perfect.
This is Japan. In Japan, smoking is still very much more common and accepted than it is here. If you dislike being around smokers, Japan is not where you want to be.
Don’t know if Reno89519 is being sarcastic or truthful but when you are hiring an in-home nurse this is very true for a great many reasons.
Not sarcastic. I won’t hire smokers, period. If any worked for me, I find way to get rid of them. The first is perfectly legal, the second is debateable but as I am in a Right to Work state, doubt anyone could complain. Smoking is toxic and I want nothing to do with it. You want to smoke, find work elsewhere. Very simple, very direct. No sarcasm intended or needed.
You get two minimum of 10 minute breaks a day and a lunch. Anyone who can’t control themselves for less time than that is a damned addict and should be in rehab, not the workplace.
Smoked for 20 years, been clean for 21, but damnnit even when I smoked I waited until my break every couple of hours; I would have been fired for simply going out on a unscheduled break and I would fire someone for doing the same (and I know my union rules jot and tittle)
I don’t want a nurse caring for me that has to “pop out” every half out to engage in the habit. My life is in her hands and not really sure if people having serious nicotine fits can be trusted to make rational life saving decisions.
“Smoked for 20 years, been clean for 21, but damnnit even when I smoked I waited until my break every couple of hours;”
Tell me then what is wrong with smokers that have to do one right after another? Have seen this happen. How bad are they addicted?
“Averaged about an extra 45 minutes a day.”
MORE like 60 minutes.
Understand that these same smokers make no effort to make up the time by arriving early, staying late, cutting a lunch break, etc.
I have watched a smoking area out my window for years. The net result is smokers are at their desks less minutes than non-smokers.
Don’t get me started on Facebook and other social media abuses during “work” hours.
HOW all of these “breaks” impact true productivity is the real open question.
Lack of willpower, pure and simple.
Anyone who can’t go a couple of hours without a cigarette needs to be institutionalized.I smoked from 16 to 36; I *NEVER* would have taken an unauthorized, unscheduled break for a cig, and would have had no problem seeing someone who did get fired.
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