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[TxdoHawk]

I don't plan to work this job as a career. It's just a part time job while I go to school. My concern extends to any career job I may have. Should I expect a more corporate job to allow smokers constant breaks while I pick up their slack?

Life is rarely fair in workplace environments, and this extends way, way beyond smoke breaks.

Since this is just a part-time retail job, my advice is basically going to be to suck it up...but when you set out on your real career path, you're going to discover bias and unfairness that will make this seem laughable in comparison. (Just wait until you are passed up on your first deserved promotion.)

Two pieces of advice:

1. Don't get angry about it. It's a waste of time and only leads to stress.
2. If you can't beat the system, join it. Strive to develop personal and professional relationships in your jobs, the people you connect with will often be the key to getting yourself the kind of "unfair advantages" you'll often see in the corporate world.

 

[theechrisfox]

Just do you man, don't worry about anyone else's breaks. The top management usually knows who they see hanging around outside the building, and images of someone constantly not working tend to stick around. Also, if you come back in stinking, non-smokers won't like you. So if you smell good, those cig-breakers are just making you look like more of an ideal worker.

 

[entremet]

You sound like you're new to the workforce and have some biases on how the working work is. It's not this fair, rainbow and sunshine world.

Let them be and focus on your shit, OP.

They're going to die earlier anyway statistically speaking.

 

[jimbor]

You don't. You shut the fuck up unless you want to be hated.

 

[Randolph Freelander]

Where do you work, what do you do, as that clearly makes a difference.

If you're working retail or food, then being short-handed frequently due to smokers can be trouble. If you're working a white collar desk job, learn to get over it. If their work begins to impact yours, focus on that effect, let management deal with the cause.

(The lesson here, of course, is clearly not to work retail or food.)

 

[HOMEBOY OVER HERE]

always be managers that play favorites and have cliques. just ignore it, focus on your work and make friends with others not in the cliques.

 

[The Albatross]

I don't complain... But when I worked in restaurants I found it annoying when a smoker, which was probably 50% of the staff, would ask someone to "watch my section for 5 minutes..." because they were going for a smoke. If I took a chair and sat down for 5 minutes and said "hey, watch my section for 5 minutes I'm going to relax," I'm sure it'd get a different reaction.

 

[Shin Kojima]

You can enjoy your break when you reach 120 with baby pink lungs. Us smokers will have less time for retirement than you.

 

[HOMEBOY OVER HERE]

You don't. You shut the fuck up unless you want to be hated.

this. although I've managed to piss cliques off at work before and it's not pleasant. I can be real bullheaded too. I'm also resilient so I can't say them acting lazy around me and talking trash behind my back really bothers me at all.

I wouldn't recommenced making enemies just because your shift will feel slower.

 

[Zen_Arcade]

As long as people get their work done and it doesn't screw up what I need for my job then they can take as many smoke breaks as they want.

 

[commedieu]

Have you tried telling the principal?


I'd complain to HR that your manager seems to be straight smoking in the office. E-Cig Tobacoo flavored stuff doesn't really smell like tobacco/cigarettes. He might just be vaporizing weed/tobacco..? Now that is something to be irritated with. Cant smoke stuff that smells like cigarettes inside. Defeats the purpose of Ecigs.

 

[Herr K]

Masturbate in the stall.

 

[Liferebooted]

I work at a grocery store and got sick of the smokers taking extra breaks. Complaining to the union fixed that shit.

 

[BPoole]

The time they get off smoking you'll get back when they're dead 15 years before you

 

[Khaos_Knight]

Next time just bring a joint and join them.

 

[HOMEBOY OVER HERE]

restaurant work drama is always the funniest.

I work front of house and when I'm working my last few hours as the night shift clique is clocking in things get silly. I'm on good terms with some of the coworkers that get special privileges from the clique manager so I don't feel bullied or anything. I move real slow serving customers forcing the clique to get bitchy and having to start taking customers as well. I'm super polite to the customers and make conversation with them so really nothing they can write me up for.

I feel like that gif of that untouchable guy dancing.

I'm pretty sure there was a guy at my work who was FOH and there for two years who would stand in the back for half his shift folding boxes and doing nothing while we were slammed up front.

 

[commedieu]

The time they get off smoking you'll get back when they're dead 15 years before you

damn.

But yea op! See, murkey grey tar laced lining!

 

[Liberty4all]

Like others have said,

When it comes to work:

1. Worry about yourself first and foremost and ignore other people's shitty behaviours
2. Don't get involved in workplace politics
3. Make friends in the office


That's it man. It's not hard to do, but so many people get it wrong. Whining about other people's smoke breaks is not going to do you any favours.

Again, go to work, do your work, and go home. Let karma/fate/your boss sort out who is taking their "fair" breaks/doing their proper share of work and who is not. Bottom line as long as YOU are pulling your weight, who cares what other people do. In the end they will hang themselves, and if they don't, honestly who cares as long as you have a job.

 

[Two Words]

Then quit. Youve already been posting your vendetta against 'smokers' when it's just about you not having a spine and calling out your lazy workers. I smoke. No one is ENTITLED to smoking breaks.

Your answer is to quit because people aren't entitled to smoke breaks.....Do you think I smoke and am not given breaks????

 

[Two Words]

You sound like you're new to the workforce and have some biases on how the working work is. It's not this fair, rainbow and sunshine world.

Let them be and focus on your shit, OP.

They're going to die earlier anyway statistically speaking.

I've been working for 8 years.

 

[Liberty4all]

Your answer is to quit because people aren't entitled to smoke breaks.....Do you think I smoke and am not given breaks????

Who gives a shit if they are entitled or not? Let your boss figure it out. The only person you need to worry about at work is you. You gotta pick and choose your battles, and crying about other people taking extra breaks to have a smoke, is not a battle worth fighting. All it does is put the spotlight on you.

At best manager says something to your colleagues and you end up with a bunch of colleagues that think you are super petty -- or if you are really lucky they don't know who ratted them out.

At worst the manager ends up thinking you are petty and you become marked (no promotions,etc).


I'm telling you man the smoke break thing isn't worth fighting over.

 

[Einbroch]

Take a jo'ing break.

 

[number47]

Your answer is to quit because people aren't entitled to smoke breaks.....Do you think I smoke and am not given breaks????

Quit because you arent taking your complaint to your manager. No one is entitled to smoking breaks. You're just going to be passive agrressive about this. This isn't a smoking thing. It's a lazy thing. They don't have to smoke. They could push more work on you around while getting 'coffee breaks'

 

[commedieu]

I've been working for 8 years.

 

[Two Words]

Who gives a shit if they are entitled or not? Let your boss figure it out. The only person you need to worry about at work is you. You gotta pick and choose your battles, and crying about other people taking extra breaks to have a smoke, is not a battle worth fighting. All it does is put the spotlight on you.

At best manager says something to your colleagues and you end up with a bunch of colleagues that think you are super petty -- or if you are really lucky they don't know who ratted them out.

At worst the manager ends up thinking you are petty and you become marked (no promotions,etc).


I'm telling you man the smoke break thing isn't worth fighting over.

It makes more work for me and the boss himself partakes in it as well. I really don't care what some other employees think of me. I'm tired of doing their work. I don't see how "shut up and take it" is manning up.

 

[Two Words]

I'm not saying that makes me any know-it-all. Just responding to the statement that I am new to work.

 

[SmokyDave]

It makes more work for me and the boss himself partakes in it as well. I really don't care what some other employees think of me. I'm tired of doing their work. I don't see how "shut up and take it" is manning up.

That's that then. Just accept that smokers get certain social benefits (the smoking area at the club is always the best area), whereas you get healthy lungs.

 

[commedieu]

That's that then. Just accept that smokers get certain social benefits (the smoking area at the club is always the best area), whereas you get healthy lungs.

+1

SmokyDave, out of the park..as usual.

Or, leave that job.

 

[deltatheta]

I don't plan to work this job as a career. It's just a part time job while I go to school. My concern extends to any career job I may have. Should I expect a more corporate job to allow smokers constant breaks while I pick up their slack?

This is the crux of the issue, in my opinion. If you're doing more work than your co-workers, you should be getting paid more. If you're getting paid the same amount and you're not looking to make more, do the same amount of work. Otherwise you're just donating labor to your employer.

 

[Two Words]

That's that then. Just accept that smokers get certain social benefits (the smoking area at the club is always the best area), whereas you get healthy lungs.

There are positions above the store manager to complain to. I don't really have a fear of him cutting hours since I like low hours since I'm in school.

 

[sestrugen]

You need a jo'ing break

 

[Paskil]

In most jobs I have worked, including my current, people are allotted a specific amount of break time, depending on length of shift. Most of these smokers would use their time (or break it up) to enable them to smoke.

In most cases, it was a non-issue. Address it as necessary.

 

[StopMakingSense]

It makes more work for me.

How does it make more work for you?

edit: oh, it's a store.

 

[Servbot24]

Just pretend to start smoking and go out for the same breaks. Or deal with it and work hard. Don't whine about it to management though, you sound like a miserly old lady.

 

[Two Words]

How does it make more work for you?

It is a retail job. If person A is off smoking, I have to do whatever they were doing and still take care of my stuff. I don't get why the concept of one worker taking a break can transfer more labor to another employee is so alien.

 

[commedieu]

1. Complain to higher ups.
2. Accept it.
3. Leave the job.

I think are your 3 options. Choose wisely.

 

[Liberty4all]

I don't plan to work this job as a career. It's just a part time job while I go to school. My concern extends to any career job I may have. Should I expect a more corporate job to allow smokers constant breaks while I pick up their slack?

Yes you should. Just like you should expect them to pick up your slack if you need to run down to grab a coffee/coming in late/gonna be sick/whatever.

That's life in the rat race. I've worked in different offices, some are super strict about smoking (15 minute breaks only that come out of your lunch), other offices I worked at don't care. Thankfully I'm currently in an office that doesn't care if I run down for 5 minutes.

In my particular office it's about attitude. We all will go the extra mile to help each other out, so nobody is going to give me a hard time about my cigs. Likewise I watch my colleagues backs.

 

[King Gilga]

Just join them, you don't have to smoke.

I don't smoke and I do it just to chill and talk with them and take a break.

 

[Masaki_]

All I see here is a ton of defensive smokers. You have all the right to be pissed, OP.

 

[highrider]

That's that then. Just accept that smokers get certain social benefits (the smoking area at the club is always the best area), whereas you get healthy lungs.

Yep, and as a part time guy they aren't trying to hear it op. It's a battle you will lose.

 

[MWS Natural]

It is kind of BS, I don't why we can't have "nap breaks" the same way throughout the day.

 

[XT Vengeance]

At my job, everyone gets the same number of breaks. Doesn't matter if you smoke or not.

 

[Two Words]

Yes you should. Just like you should expect them to pick up your slack if you need to run down to grab a coffee/coming in late/gonna be sick/whatever.

That's life in the rat race. I've worked in different offices, some are super strict about smoking (15 minute breaks only that come out of your lunch), other offices I worked at don't care. Thankfully I'm currently in an office that doesn't care if I run down for 5 minutes.

In my particular office it's about attitude. We all will go the extra mile to help each other out, so nobody is going to give me a hard time about my cigs. Likewise I watch my colleagues backs.

I don't see how electing to partake in an addictive habit is comparable to mistakenly running late. I'm sure management would have a big problem if you simply elected to come in late constantly.

 

[Kano on the Phone]

There are positions above the store manager to complain to. I don't really have a fear of him cutting hours since I like low hours since I'm in school.

Why didn't you just call the thread "I Really Want to Complain About This, Help Me Justify It Complaint-GAF"?

I don't see how electing to partake in an addictive habit is comparable to mistakenly running late. I'm sure management would have a big problem if you simply elected to come in late constantly.

Not everyone is treated completely equally in every situation. Sometimes you just need to get over things.

 

[Two Words]

Why didn't you just call the thread "I Really Want to Complain About This, Help Me Justify It Complaint-GAF"?



Not everyone is treated completely equally in every situation. Sometimes you just need to get over things.

I asked for input. I didn't ask people to decide for me. If the input is simply "Just shut up and take it. Yes, it's unfair. Shut up and take it", well then it has failed to convince me to feel differently.

 

[Fracas]

I worked retail my senior year of high school and everyone there smoked. Like 3 or 4 5-minute breaks each hour. So annoying.

 

[commedieu]

I don't see how electing to partake in an addictive habit is comparable to mistakenly running late. I'm sure management would have a big problem if you simply elected to come in late constantly.

The HR documentation at your job doesn't deem smoking an addictive habit though, and they haven't banished it from break time. Thats your personal view, which isn't shared by anyone significant at your job. If they are allowed to smoke at work, that is where it ends until you run your own company. In 8 years you haven't understood this concept? That people smoke and take breaks while doing so at work? Or was this year the first year it really resonated with you? What do you want this thread to say to you..? That silent passive aggressive rage is the best route, and keep fighting that fight..?

If this is really bothering you, you could sue and probably make a shit ton of money. Some how, if its really bothering you. I'm sure some lawyer would take this up. Unless you've never spoken to anyone about it?

Have you complained to anyone about this.?



No one on the internet is going to give you any input besides common sense in this situation. You already know every option, but you just make excuses why you aren't doing anything actively to stop this situation. So this is sort of just you saying that you don't like doing smokers work.

I'm right with you, I hate when I have to do other persons work, too?

 

[Two Words]

The HR documentation at your job doesn't deem smoking an addictive habit though, and they haven't banished it from break time. Thats your personal view, which isn't shared by anyone significant at your job. If they are allowed to smoke at work, that is where it ends until you run your own company. In 8 years you haven't understood this concept? That people smoke and take breaks while doing so at work? Or was this year the first year it really resonated with you? What do you want this thread to say to you..? That silent passive aggressive rage is the best route, and keep fighting that fight..?

If this is really bothering you, you could sue and probably make a shit ton of money. Some how, if its really bothering you. I'm sure some lawyer would take this up. Unless you've never spoken to anyone about it?

Have you complained to anyone about this.?

Not true. These smoke breaks are not a part of the job. According to the rules, they should not be given. You're entitled to a 15 minute break if you work 4 hours, a 30 minute lunch for 6 hours and an hour lunch for 8 hour shifts. So I don't get why you are claiming these hourly smoke breaks are a part of the job. They're not.

 

[terrisus]

I just don't worry about what other people are doing, and do my own thing.

 

[StopMakingSense]

It is a retail job. If person A is off smoking, I have to do whatever they were doing and still take care of my stuff. I don't get why the concept of one worker taking a break can transfer more labor to another employee is so alien.

Oh I didn't understand it was retail from reading the OP.