Banning Smoke Breaks

[gerardy]

all of these withdrawal of breaks, even the grace breaks are just amunition for RM to try and achieve 100BSI.
if all breaks are removed easier to manipulate figures for the unrealistic IWT
paving the wayback for bullying and harassment

[fishtank]

all of these withdrawal of breaks, even the grace breaks are just amunition for RM to try and achieve 100BSI.
if all breaks are removed easier to manipulate figures for the unrealistic IWT
paving the wayback for bullying and harassment

Very true.
It's a very dangerous game moving into the area of actually banning particular activities.
Should we ban eating and drinking outside of designated meal breaks?
Should we ban the use of mobile phones entirely?
Should we ban talking?
Should we ban toilet breaks outside of designated meal breaks? or like some companies already do...actually allocate a specific amount of time for toilet breaks?...i think Sky give you 3mins.
Should this not be a management thread.

[Stampy]

Speaking of Mobile Phones...

Seems amazing after having workmen in over the past few weekends - hardly ANYBODY in our MC can get a signal on their phone IN work, step outside in the car park - Signal comes back...

Methinks they've done something to stop the signal.......

[noggin1969]

Seems amazing after having workmen in over the past few weekends - hardly ANYBODY in our MC can get a signal on their phone IN work, step outside in the car park - Signal comes back...

[Judgee]

The non-smokers go out for a break with the smokers in my office... so what's the problem?

[Throbnob]

The non-smokers go out for a break with the smokers in my office... so what's the problem?

A few years ago I had a line manager who invited the non-smokers in her section to disappear for the odd few minutes when they felt like it, as did smokers. "Just don't take the piss" she said. Spot on, and she remains the only manager I've known who confronted the problem head-on. 95% of posties (right figure? Discuss) can be trusted on this. It's the scrag end of 5% that are the problem.

I know and work with several smokers; they take breaks, but as they are serious grafters I have no problem. If they quit smoking, didn't take these breaks, and only met the "performance standard", they'd do less work. So let them have a fag now and then.

Then we have the piss-takers. We have one guy on lates here who spends *at least* an hour each shift sat in his car smoking. Work it out:

- shift is 8 hours; allowing for official breaks, 7 hours
- so 1 hour smoking is 1/7th of his working day
- working year is 52 weeks less 6 (holiday) less 2 (sick: they're all the same) so 44 weeks
- 1/7th of this is a bit more than 6 weeks

SIX WEEKS

This guy is effectively getting six weeks paid leave more than the rest of us. It's wrong.

Isn't it?

[hubbahubba]

The non-smokers go out for a break with the smokers in my office... so what's the problem?

A few years ago I had a line manager who invited the non-smokers in her section to disappear for the odd few minutes when they felt like it, as did smokers. "Just don't take the piss" she said. Spot on, and she remains the only manager I've known who confronted the problem head-on. 95% of posties (right figure? Discuss) can be trusted on this. It's the scrag end of 5% that are the problem.

I know and work with several smokers; they take breaks, but as they are serious grafters I have no problem. If they quit smoking, didn't take these breaks, and only met the "performance standard", they'd do less work. So let them have a fag now and then.

Then we have the piss-takers. We have one guy on lates here who spends *at least* an hour each shift sat in his car smoking. Work it out:

- shift is 8 hours; allowing for official breaks, 7 hours
- so 1 hour smoking is 1/7th of his working day
- working year is 52 weeks less 6 (holiday) less 2 (sick: they're all the same) so 44 weeks
- 1/7th of this is a bit more than 6 weeks

SIX WEEKS

This guy is effectively getting six weeks paid leave more than the rest of us. It's wrong.

Isn't it?

yes

[fishtank]

That's playground logic
You could apply that to anyone who isn't 100% "head down" getting on with their work for 100% of the day.
Can anyone hold their hand up and say they do that?
Is this a direction we want to go?
I thought we hated all that 100BSI s**t?
I'm not condoning piss-takers,smokers or otherwise but be careful what you wish for.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I have to say that even though I have contributed to this thread I still think this is a side issue and not really worth getting upset or angry about. Ok some do take the piss when going for a fag break, comfort break or just to refill their coffee/tea or talk to their mate. But there are many more important issues, daily, in every Delivery Office, Mail Centre and other Units that are not being addressed.

I think we have to repair the foundations of this job, business, union before we worry about what others are doing. If we did then Managers could really manage, instead of slavishly following instructions and watching their backs as they do now, and niggly little things like this would be dealt with swiftly and fairly.

[dvbuk55]

what about the ones that adore a female member of staff?

I adore all female members of staff............of course that's usually in my head while I'm prepping so that's ok then

I didn't know that females had members..............now you do learn something every day

[DGP1]

what about the ones that adore a female member of staff?

I adore all female members of staff............of course that's usually in my head while I'm prepping so that's ok then

I didn't know that females had members..............now you do learn something every day

They do in the videos I watch

[wandle]

I have to say that even though I have contributed to this thread I still think this is a side issue and not really worth getting upset or angry about. Ok some do take the piss when going for a fag break, comfort break or just to refill their coffee/tea or talk to their mate. But there are many more important issues, daily, in every Delivery Office, Mail Centre and other Units that are not being addressed.

I think we have to repair the foundations of this job, business, union before we worry about what others are doing. If we did then Managers could really manage

You made me choke on my beer TBT. Most of the managers I've ever known can't even find a brewery, never mind manage a p!ss-up in one

[Swinder]

Wolves mail centre is heaven for smokers. On the late shift there are more managers in the smoking sheds than there are workers.

Used to smoke myself and occasionally took the piss with cigarette breaks. Since I have quit smoking I no longer have any small breaks, not even to grab a drink.
I have no issue with cigarette breaks as I understand the dependency people suffer from, what I do have an issue with is someone that can not go out on there own and must be accompanied by someone else and those whom appear to have scheduled in fixed times which conveniently coincide with certain tasks which need to be completed by certain times.