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It is a shame that the GM smokers will now have to work a full shift like their non-smoking co-workers. I just hate that the smokers will not be able to spend 40% of the work day smoking outside on a loading dock in the alley while discussing Nascar, Mullets, Ho Ho's and Britney Spears.

That's not fair! When an employee is busy at work, there is no time for smoke breaks. Too many smoke breaks, that means there is not enough work.

I worked with a big fat man at one time. I smoke. He was just obese. I could run circles around him. When I was busy, I never thought about taking a smoke break. But when work slowed down, I was able to run outside for a quick break.

I'm certainly glad that no one smokes in offices anymore. Some of the younger workers (early 20's) look at me incredulously when I tell them that back in the mid 1970's, smoking was everywhere in the office environment. Whether or not it kills the non-smoker (I believe it does some physical harm, but I'm entitled to my "delusions" as the smokers would put it), it is a direct annoyance to many people. While I didn't mind it too much, unless directly downwind, I realize that it is quite irritating to many people. Obesity is a cultural like or dislike, there is no physical component to finding a fat person annoying, just because of their size (I guess this doesn't apply to airline seating, but most folks have a bit more room than that at the office or the factory floor.)

I agree that this company should have phased out the smoking more gradually, the suddenness of it invites the comparisons to totalitarianism, but smokers have had about 20 years to see the trend. It was not unforseeable that what happened in the supermarket, the baseball stadium, and the downtown office building would not also come to the local manufacturing plant.

It is a shame that the GM smokers will now have to work a full shift like their non-smoking co-workers. I just hate that the smokers will not be able to spend 40% of the work day smoking outside on a loading dock in the alley while discussing Nascar, Mullets, Ho Ho's and Britney Spears.

Bull hockey!
If you have to stop in the middle of a job to go take a smoke you better be worried because you ARE addicted.
I work a full day just like any of my coworkers. If I have time to take my allotted 15 minute break why are you going to bitch because I go outside and have a smoke? I take no more than my 15 minutes.