Around 9 million adults in the UK smoke or vape, leading to frequent trips outside for what many call 'a quick puff'. For non-smokers, this is most visible and most frustrating in the workplace, where Reddit threads are full of debate about the so-called 'smoko'.
On one r/AskUK thread, user dualdee said smoking was 'rewarded with extra breaks', while BarraDonner complained about 'double standards from management' who allow some staff to take constant smoking breaks while others continue working. Another user said smokers 'really p*** [them] off', writing: 'I'm not allowed 5/10 minutes in the morning and afternoon to step away from my desk and get some fresh air. But if someone smokes, they can step away from their desk every hour.'
'I think non-smokers and non-vapers ought to get an extra three days paid leave each year in order to compensate,' added Belle_TainSummer.
Counter-arguments and the legal position
Others argued against the idea that smokers have an unfair advantage. One user, martzgregpaul, wrote: 'My two four-minute fag breaks a day pale into insignificance compared to the people who complain about me getting them, who see no issue with four 15-minute tea breaks, three long toilet trips and multiple chats at peoples' desks about their kids/dogs/weekend plans.'
'Most people, smoker or not, spend around the same times breaking,' added Barca-Dam. 'The only difference is the smoker has to go outside… so I think smoke breaks are just noticed more and people think we break more.'
Despite clear opinions from employees on what bosses should do, there are no official rules governing smoke breaks. 'There's no legal right to a smoke break in the UK,' Claire Hawes, chief people and operations officer at HR software provider Ciphr, told Metro. 'However, if you work more than six hours, you're entitled to one uninterrupted 20-minute rest break, and what you do with that is your business.'
Employer approaches and team dynamics
In her experience, most employers take one of three approaches: smokers use their normal breaks like everyone else, extra breaks are allowed but the time is tracked and made up, or it is left to staff discretion. 'The first two are quite clear cut, although possibly a bit draconian in today's more flexible working world,' Claire explained. 'The third is where it can get a bit messy; one employee takes five trips outside a day, another gets a raised eyebrow. Resentment can build fast. Nothing sours a team quicker than the feeling that someone's getting away with something – or being treated more favourably.'
On the other hand, Christine Schneider, HCPC registered clinical psychologist and BACP senior accredited psychotherapist, noted smokers can be left feeling 'guilty or defensive because they're aware of, or perceive, their colleagues to be judging them.' Likening it to the Friends episode where Rachel is excluded from decisions made in the work smoking area, she told Metro: 'There's also this social element where employees who regularly go outside together might start to develop friendships and have conversations that other colleagues aren't part of.'
Finding a fair balance
While there is no set guideline for what counts as an acceptable smoke break, the general consensus can be summed up by Redditor Morganx27's comment: 'Don't take the p***.' Claire stressed the importance of balance from employers, adding: 'Write a clear policy, apply it to everyone, and judge people on what they deliver rather than how often they're at their desk. If a non-smoker fancies 10 minutes round the block, give them the same flexibility.'
Christine said that although smokers should not need to 'feel as if they should apologise every time they step outside,' consideration is key. 'Make sure you're not leaving someone else to constantly pick up your responsibilities,' she continued. 'It also helps to keep work decisions out of smoking or vaping breaks, or bring any ideas back to the wider team before decisions are made, so nobody misses out.'
Non-smokers also benefit from showing grace to their nicotine-addicted co-workers where possible, but to stop grumbles becoming full-blown grievances, it is worth examining the real issue. Christine explained: 'Is it that your colleagues are taking more breaks, or that you don't feel comfortable stepping away from your own work? Sometimes we become so focused on what someone else is getting that we overlook what we're denying ourselves. If your workplace allows short breaks, there's no reason you shouldn't take a few minutes to get some fresh air or make a drink simply because you don't smoke. However, if you're regularly covering someone else's workload, that's a legitimate concern worth addressing.'
She recommends having a non-accusatory conversation with your team and then your manager if nothing changes, focusing on 'finding an arrangement that everyone considers fair.' In 2017, one workplace in Japan decided to level the playing field by giving non-smoking staff six extra paid days off each year, a policy various other firms later followed. Piala Inc spokesperson Hirotaka Matsushima said the incentive was designed to 'encourage employees to quit smoking through incentives rather than penalties or coercion', with four reportedly giving up their habit shortly after it was introduced. Whether this approach transformed company culture, or merely added another source of friction, remains an open question.
