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A Japanese Company Is Giving Nonsmokers Longer Vacations (fastcompany.com)

An anonymous reader shares a report: Marketing firm Piala introduced the new policy in September after nonsmokers complained that they were working more than their colleagues who smoked. The company's offices are reportedly on the 29th floor, meaning that popping out for a smoke break meant a solid 15 minutes away from work. Multiply that by several smoke breaks a day, and the hours start to add up, which began to tick off nonsmoking coworkers. A spokesman for the company told The Telegraph that one of those nonsmokers slipped a note in the company's suggestion box and the CEO agreed. Now nonsmokers are entitled to more vacation time, which the company hopes will encourage smokers to quit their filthy habit.

19 of 226 comments (clear)

  1. Re:If I worked at a Japanese company by Captain+Splendid · · Score: 4, Funny

    What a coincidence! I, too, like completing puzzles during my lunch hour. Maybe we can be friends?

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  2. Re:Now how about healthcare? by Captain+Splendid · · Score: 5, Informative

    If this idea offends you

    LOL, charging smokers more for health/life insurance has been SOP in the industry for decades, and this guy's getting all aggro over his misconception of it.

    --
    Linux, you magnificent bastard, I read the fucking manual!
  3. "Quit their filthy habit"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I, for one, am sick of this propaganda.

    If you want to illegalize it, fine. But I'm tired of the constant ads for "TRUTH" (now going all the way to claim that smoking is racist) all the while I'm counter propagandized (by some of the same companies) about how pot smoking is good for you and should be legalized.

    And I say this as a non-smoker!

    Are we going to give similar breaks to single employees without children and how great that is?
    Are we going to count those who take 5 coffee breaks a day?!
    How about those gym nuts that disappear for an hour a day (not including lunch) to go for a run and promise they'll make the time up later?!
    Spare me your sanctimonious bs.

    1. Re: "Quit their filthy habit"? by wisnoskij · · Score: 3, Informative

      Lazy people exist everywhere. And often managers notice. But only smokers are across the board taking many more breaks than everyone else.

      --
      Troll is not a replacement for I disagree.
    2. Re: "Quit their filthy habit"? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 3, Informative

      The only issue here is fairness. If one group gets to take hours a year extra time off to smoke, non smokers should be able to have the same hours available to them.

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  4. Re:Now how about healthcare? by HornWumpus · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Smokers die young. Their lifetime healthcare costs are _lower_. Sense health care after age 65 is highly subsidised, we want _more_ smokers.

    --
    John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  5. That's great and all ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Well, good for the Japanese, bully for them.

    But honestly, when I step out for a smoke I step out with one or two of my co-workers, we actively discuss what we're working on and solve some problems, and then go back at it.

    Going out for a smoke doesn't necessarily mean you aren't working. Sometimes, you are actually working the whole time. I can't tell you how many times I've helped a co-worker sort out how to do something (or he helped me) while having a smoke.

    Just because I'm not typing doesn't mean I'm not working.

    It simply may not be true that you're doing less work -- in fact, I regularly see co-workers spend more time on Facebook or texting or what have you than I spend smoking every day. The difference being is I'm more likely to still be working while I'm smoking.

    Where I'm actively thinking doesn't change that I am actually doing it.

    1. Re:That's great and all ... by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 3, Funny

      Smoking and social media... you guys are disgusting. Some of us are civilized and watch porn during work.

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  6. how much vacation? by jarkus4 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Somehow I doubt the math works out anyway.
    For simplicity lets assume there are 200 working days in a year. If you take a single break every day for 15 minutes, you have spent 50h on those breaks, which would make it over a week of work time. Multiple breaks will increase this even further. Somehow I doubt the company will offer that much vacation time to non smokers.

    1. Re:how much vacation? by HornWumpus · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Only if you assume the non-smokers don't goof off separately but equally.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    2. Re:how much vacation? by Nethemas+the+Great · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It's not much more than a placebo fix since Japanese workers are very hesitant to take a holiday anyway.

      --
      Two of my imaginary friends reproduced once ... with negative results.
  7. Re:Wait.... what? by Captain+Splendid · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Last time I checked, smoke breaks are unpaid

    Really? Where? I've been paid for every single smoke break I've taken during the last 30 years.

    --
    Linux, you magnificent bastard, I read the fucking manual!
  8. Re:Just create a death room by David_Hart · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Wait what? There's still backwards countries where you're allowed to smoke indoors in a company building?

    *mind blown*

    Yes, it's called Las Vegas...

    We were in Vegas this fall for touristy stuff (grand canyon, hoover dam, etc.) and to enjoy the warm weather. Living in the Boston area where smoking isn't allowed in bars, I'd forgotten just how horrible the smell of smoke was. It just hits you like a wave when you walk into any of the Casinos. I would have thought that they would have, at least, upgraded their air ex-changers and filters to handle it a lot better.

  9. Re:Now how about healthcare? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Smokers die young. Their lifetime healthcare costs are _lower_. Sense health care after age 65 is highly subsidised, we want _more_ smokers.

    Not actually the case.

    Yes it is.

  10. Re:Now how about healthcare? by CanHasDIY · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Not where I work. We don't hire smokers. We ask about tobacco use at the very beginning of the interview process, and reject all users.

    Well, that's just stupid - you would really pass up a chance to hire the next Tesla or Hawkings, because they smoke? I bet your competition loves such counterproductive thinking.

    This is perfectly legal. Smokers have no rights.

    Not true - smokers have the exact same civil liberties as non-smokers. The key term here is "private company."

    since there are few smokers in California, and they tend to not be super bright.

    I cannot disagree that Californians do not seem to be all that bright.

    --
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  11. Re:Now how about healthcare? by ClickOnThis · · Score: 3, Informative

    Are non-smokers going to have to pay for smokers' healthcare too

    Not where I work. We don't hire smokers. We ask about tobacco use at the very beginning of the interview process, and reject all users.

    This is perfectly legal. Smokers have no rights.

    You indicate later in your post that you are in California. What you are doing is not legal.

    In most states smokers are protected against hiring discrimination. In particular, the majority of states cannot discriminate against you based on legal activity conducted outside of work hours. However, smokers may be required to pay more for health insurance. Or in some states, they may be denied employment if their smoking is incompatible with the job requirements (e.g., the American Lung Association may be able to decline to employ a smoker.)

    https://www.workplacefairness....
    https://www.workplacefairness....

    I'm no fan of smoking or smokers, but smokers do indeed have rights.

    --
    If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
  12. Re:Just create a death room by slew · · Score: 3, Informative

    Was it just the casinos or everywhere? Many states like my own Florida have laws where there is only no smoking in restaurants, or bar/restaurants where the the percentage of food sales goes over a certain ratio. So yes in Florida you will find smoky casinos, bars, and even some bars that serve food. You also will find bars that do not allow smoking by management discretion.

    As you might expect (if not being too cynical), Nevada (like most states) has similar Clean-air laws...

    FWIW, some states (like Colorado) have gone further to protect the workers in Bars Restaurants and Casinos and prohibited smoking there as well (although there is a loophole in the law for establishments that sell more than $50K/year in tobacco allowing them to be considered cigar bars where smoking is allowed). Unfortunately, this doesn't apply to Casinos owned by Indian interests as they are considered part of tribes and are sovereign entities which for better or worse are allowed to make their own laws.

  13. Re:Now how about healthcare? by Oceanplexian · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Where I work, we hire people on the basis of merit-based qualifications. I honestly don't care if you smoke crack, marijuana, cigarettes, whatever. Show up to meetings on time, play nice with co-workers. If you can create value, you're hired.

    I'd just like to throw this out there because unfortunately a lot of backwards thinking companies think they have the high ground, and they don't. If a company wants to pass up an employee because they have a stick up their ass, there are thousands of competitors who will hire instead. The only loser will be the idiot that passed up a smoker and has a vacant position for 6-12 months because they have no understanding of the market.

  14. Re:Now how about healthcare? by techno-vampire · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You ever met a smoker that smokes ONLY outside work hours and identifies as a smoker?

    Yes: me. I've been a pipe smoker (never cigarettes) for over forty years, and I've never had the slightest desire to slip out for a smoke. As I drive my own car to work, I can smoke then, or at home and have no need to smoke at work.

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