cigarette breaks
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6441351.stm


think i might start smoking,

Re: cigarette breaks
 

More than that at our place. The smokers' breaks invariably overlap (IE they don't all go at the same time) and people strike up conversations whilst puffing away. They then continue to talk with the other smokers who have arrived long after their ciggarette is finished. It's not uncommon for some of them to spend 20 minutes per cigarette. People might argue that non-smokers waste time too (coming here for example), but I doubt having ciggie breaks precludes them from other wastes of time such as personal internet use, nattering with colleagues at their desks, etc.

Edit: Just thought I'd clarify that this doesn't really bother me (no smokers in my dept anyway, least not ones who smoke in work), just that it was an observation.

Re: cigarette breaks
 

Hell, some of my best work has come about as a result of ciggy breaks. You're stuck on a problem, you go out for some "fresh" air and the solution comes to you; or you meet with someone else who takes a completely different angle on the problem and the solution comes to you.

No different to "water cooler chat" to be honest. Plus, to all the non-smokers, consider this - the smokers will die earlier, therefore putting far less of a strain on your creaking corporate pension fund. We're smoking, so you don't have to :D

Re: cigarette breaks
 

Don't worry Hovis ...all those 30 minutes are added up and removed off the end of a smokers life ;-) so you'll get to live (and work) even longer than most of them ;-)

Re: cigarette breaks
 

You know that things have got to peachy in your life when the worst thing you've got to complain about are people being away from their desks for a few mins.

Re: cigarette breaks
 

and you get your forum breaks.

everybody's happy.

Re: cigarette breaks
 

not officaily i dont;)

Re: cigarette breaks
 

i agree with hovis, it's almost worth taking up, especially in the summer, so you can go out and stand in the sun for a bit!!

Re: cigarette breaks
 

Oh no you don't, no part time smokers here thank you very much :D You either stand out here in the rain and howling gales with us all winter or you don't :D Smoking takes dedication and commitment, we're not having you "fair weather smokers" round here thank you :D

Re: cigarette breaks
 

... and ... smoking ages the skin ... so does over-exposure to harmful AV rays (from the sun), so if you want a double dose of "turn me into a shrivelled prune", be my guest ;-)