Most of us who work for the government have official work hours, mine are 7-3:30. Hubby is a Government Employee as well. He goes in at 6 to 3. When they aren't busy, they go outside for a break. The non-smokers go with them to "stretch their legs." It's a "if not busy, break allowed" policy. Most of the time, they are just too busy to take a break.
I'm paid to give eight hours of work... That means I should be at my workstation and available to the public in order to do that...
Its stealing from taxpayers to take extended breaks due to lack of work... If there's that much lack of work they should give thought to abolishing a position that is not needed because that too is stealing from taxpayers...