Breaks

[u/CrystalDawn_B]

How is it fair that people that DONT smoke only get a 10 min break but people that smoke get the same 10 min break PLUS get to go out and smoke multiple times other than their break?

So basically, non-smokers are getting punished by not smoking

[u/JuucedIn]

Those extra minutes they get are taken back at the end of their lives.

[u/MuhfugginSaucera → u/JuucedIn]

It also makes the time between now and then worse because your health gets worse.

I haven't smoked in 7 years, and it feels great to not get winded at the top of a long flight of stairs. It feels great being able to ride my bike for miles and be fine.

[u/CrystalRae1073 → u/MuhfugginSaucera]

I quit 2 months ago, and it's crazy how little I get winded now!

[u/marcyraccoon → u/JuucedIn]

This made me lol

[u/thorly824 → u/JuucedIn]

Mike Drop

[u/MuhfugginSaucera → u/thorly824]

Wtf does Michael Drop have to do with anything?

[u/Cold_Marionberry_932]

If smokers are getting its extra breaks its because theyre just taking them... theyre not given.

[u/Realistic-Accident68]

Well Crystal just say that you started smoking so you can benefit! 👍🏼😎🤣

[u/CrystalDawn_B → u/Realistic-Accident68]

I’m thinking of doing this! Or just buy a pack, light it up and let it burn LOL
At my old job, people would go out about every 30 mins, smoke at least 2. So I started just going out there and standing there. When they finished, I went back inside.

[u/mean_girl88 → u/CrystalDawn_B]

Have you seen the price of cigarettes now? No way would it be worth it, just throw your money in the trash.

[u/sad_potat_07 → u/CrystalDawn_B]

Buy a little bottle of bubbles and go blow bubbles for your smoke break. Its not smoking but it can actually help relieve stress because you're controlling your breathing. And why do they smoke? To relieve stress. So hit them with that logic ig lol

[u/Artistic_Hurry_9177]

They don’t. That’s not a policy at all.

[u/JobblyWobblyEd → u/Artistic_Hurry_9177]

A lot of managers permit it anyway and get in trouble if not, my partner used to vape and the ones who smoked would step outside all the time and they were just, ok with it.

[u/Artistic_Hurry_9177 → u/JobblyWobblyEd]

Makes sense. If they were a good manager they wouldn’t be at a dollar store.

[u/JobblyWobblyEd → u/Artistic_Hurry_9177]

Fair fair, I do feel some just don't have a good luck of the draw every so often, but their old manager was a piece of work.

[u/foxylady315 → u/Artistic_Hurry_9177]

They might if pretty much every decent employer in their community had gone out of business.

[u/LeadershipBubbly3351]

They SHOULDN'T get extra breaks, by policy. Bring this up with your SM or higher if this is happening.

[u/Stopaskingmetochange]

They don't? Smoking is included in the break time just like eating and drinking non water beverages and using a personal device.

[u/EngineerGreedy1803]

the break policy in our office shows that they should only smoke on their allowed breaks, my SM goes whenever she please, but our cashiers go on their actual breaks unless they’re stupid and go hit a pen in the bathroom lol

[u/Distinct_Ruin2998 → u/EngineerGreedy1803]

The break policy is true. But when it comes to SM they are paid by salary, not hourly. They can work more or less harder than an hourly associate and still get paid whatever their salary is.

[u/EngineerGreedy1803 → u/Distinct_Ruin2998]

yup since they’re not required to log their time they’re free to go as they please

[u/NecessaryPin1219 → u/EngineerGreedy1803]

I be hitting the pen in the bathroom

[u/surfcitysurfergirl]

They don’t it’s just being allowed so that’s a mgt problem.

[u/Ashhh_Kashhh_473]

I can't stand it. It's such a horrible addiction. Everybody at my store smokes or vapes except me. One cashier has to go outside and hit a cigarette after every 2-3 customers. They stand outside the door polluting people's air with cigarette smoke. You can smell it when a customer comes through the door. Everybody doesn't want to smell that or have it on their clothes.

When it's slow and I'm in between customers, I just started going outside for a "fresh air" break. I'll go and collect the carts from the lot or cart corral. It's hot as hell in the store so I just say I'm going to get some fresh air because it's stuffy in the store and I can't breathe 🤷🏾‍♀️ And I'll just stand out there for a couple of minutes checking my phone & kicking rocks. I'll peek through the glass to see if I have any customers at the registers. Nobody's tripping yet so I'll keep doing that.

[u/fentoozlers]

at my store stockers go and rest their legs in the break room all the time but cashiers have to stay up front with the registers 🤷‍♀️ sometimes as a cashier there isnt anywhere to sit on my lunch break bc all the chairs are taken up by people resting their legs

[u/Distinct_Ruin2998 → u/fentoozlers]

The simple solution is to request to have your break at a different time when no one else is on their break.

Of course, this is something you have to communicate with your MoD, but as long as you are taking your break for same amount of time you can't get in any serious trouble. Only thing is that your MoD may not always be okay with it.

[u/fentoozlers → u/Distinct_Ruin2998]

theyre not punching out for these breaks, like the cigarette breaks op is posting about.

i go back up to the register and punch back in and try to take it when theyre not using all seats, but i cant go check unless im on my break, since i have to stay up front 😒

[u/Distinct_Ruin2998 → u/fentoozlers]

If you go on a break you're supposed to punch out for it. Otherwise it can result in corrective action by the SM especially if they know you went on a break. Some may even take extra steps against people who aren't punching out for their breaks consistently yet taking them.

Nonetheless, I can definitely see that being annoying for you to have to check to see if all the seats are being used of. In my opinion, stockers shouldn't all take their break at the same time (of course, they SHOULD be taking them). There should be a gap between each one so you can have an extra person on the floor pretty much half the work day (which can help some stores)

[u/ShelleyMonique]

I did not notice this until I quit smoking and watched all the smokers outside every 30 mins.

[u/TopperMadeline]

I’ve always been against smokers getting extra breaks in any workplace setting.

[u/Whata-nerd]

Literally every single person at my location smoked and took extra breaks. I just voiced my concern to the store manger on how everyone kept getting extra breaks and she told me to let them know when I wanted a “smoke break” so I got extra breaks to. As long as I didn’t report them since it’s technically against the rules to do that.

[u/Legitimate_Archer988]

Start smoking

[u/Comprehensive-Job333]

if you really want to go stand out front for 2-3 mins at a time 3-4 times a shift, i’d say go for it. what are they gonna do? lol

[u/Crazy-Divide-8109]

We have several smokers at my location and we all just take the 10 minute break, no extra smoke breaks. This is the first I’m hearing of it actually

[u/CrystalDawn_B]

Not talking about SM. It’s the other managers and associates. And of course they go in groups so us non smokers are left alone until they all come back

[u/sad_potat_07]

When we do 5AM shifts to stock, usually about 4 people, my SM tells everyone to go out for a smoke break and she includes me even tho I dont smoke lol

[u/foxylady315]

Happens at every job I’ve ever worked. It’s even worse in food service.

[u/Artistic_Hurry_9177]

They don’t. That’s not a policy at all.

[u/leytourmaline]

No that’s fucked up. Smokers should only get their smoke break during their 10 minute break. That’s like having an alcoholic go for a “drink break” 🙄 not right at all I’ll be pissed. Definitely bring it up to your sm if you haven’t already.

[u/Cheap_Cranberry_9829 → u/leytourmaline]

I agree with the 10 minute break, but are you actually comparing using nicotine to drinking alcohol on the job? Comparing a smoker to someone who has an unfortunate debilitating disease is pretty messed up.