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Non-smokers get six days extra paid leave to make up for smokers' cigarette breaks at Japanese firm
telegraph ^ | October 30 2017 | Julian Ryall

Posted on 11/02/2017 6:41:00 AM PDT by Morgana

A Japanese company is granting non-smoking employees an extra six days of paid holidays a year after they complained that they were working more than staff who took time off for cigarette breaks.

Tokyo-based marketing firm Piala Inc. only introduced the non-smokers' perk in September, but employees have been quick to take advantage.

"One of our non-smoking staff put a message in the company suggestion box earlier in the year saying that smoking breaks were causing problems", said Hirotaka Matsushima, a spokesman for the company.

"Our CEO saw the comment and agreed, so we are giving non-smokers some extra time off to compensate", Mr Matsushma told The Telegraph.

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: japan; japanese; job; nonsmokers; smokers; smoking; timeoff
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1 posted on 11/02/2017 6:41:00 AM PDT by Morgana
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To: Morgana

I actually like this policy. It is strange that today society and the workplace will still indulge addiction. (I’m an ex 30 year cigarette smoker. Free for more than a decade.)


2 posted on 11/02/2017 6:45:01 AM PDT by bk1000 (I stand with Trump.)
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To: bk1000

Former smoker here also but never took any smoke breaks. OH! - no doubt because in the “old” days, we could smoke at our desks! HA! Even when that changed, we only took one morning coffee break and one afternoon coffee break. They must be allowed a lot of breaks in Japan....


3 posted on 11/02/2017 6:49:30 AM PDT by Thank You Rush
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To: Morgana

When I was in basic/AIT training in the Army, the Drill Sergeants were telling people to take a smoke break. The guys that weren’t smoking always got grabbed to do something - because it’s just wrong to let somebody stand around doing nothing - so I took up smoking Swisher Sweets.


4 posted on 11/02/2017 6:52:58 AM PDT by glorgau
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To: Morgana

Something I have seen a lot of.

I used to go outside with the smokers. Not because I smoked, but because I wanted to keep an eye on how much time was spent.

Averaged about an extra 45 minutes a day.

Union got rather angry with me for that one.


5 posted on 11/02/2017 6:55:19 AM PDT by redgolum
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To: bk1000
Never smoked except for once when I was a stupid teenager and it sent me into a coughing fit. After that, I vowed never again. The habit disgusts me, but as I've grown older, I've come to know some very decent people who have the bad habit. Just about all of them are very discreet and not "in your face" about it.

That's why they are very decent people, LOL. Then, I've come to realize I have habits which may repel some people. I eat too much and have a love for salty and spicy food. I've got other bad habits which I do not care to list on a public form . . . so have joined the "live and let live" school of life.

BTW, I worked in Japan for 14 years some 15 years ago. Smoking was "in your face" and nasty in those early years. So I applaud this policy, but think it is realistically closer to 1-2 days than six. Maybe the extra four is for what it saves the company in health insurance costs.

6 posted on 11/02/2017 6:58:56 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (ObaMao: Fake America, Fake Messiah, Fake Black man. How many fakes can you fit into one Zer0?)
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To: Thank You Rush

“They must be allowed a lot of breaks in Japan....”

LOL! I had an ashtray filled to the rim on my workbench at all times. Now I feel a little bad for my former coworker who had to smell that all day. The Japanese I used to work with (different company) all smoked like fiends. They truly loved it.


7 posted on 11/02/2017 7:00:02 AM PDT by bk1000 (I stand with Trump.)
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To: redgolum; Thank You Rush

Before my Granny died the in-home nurses who cared for her would have to go out on the porch and smoke a lot. So can understand other co-workers feeling like they have to do more work when others are tending to their carcinogenic habit. With some of them it’s several times a hour depending on how addicted they are.

It amazes me how much nurses smoke when they know how bad that is for you and the people they care for.

Yes TYR remember the old days when people smoked at their desk. They did it in hospitals too, in the rooms!


8 posted on 11/02/2017 7:02:48 AM PDT by Morgana ( Always a bit of truth in dark humor.)
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To: Morgana

Better to simply fire smokers and not hire any.


9 posted on 11/02/2017 7:15:06 AM PDT by Reno89519 (PRESIDENT TRUMP, KEEP YOUR PROMISES! NO AMNESTY AND BUILD THAT WALL.)
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To: Vigilanteman

I worked in Japan for 3 years and the guy across from me chain smoked like a fiend all day long right at his desk. I’d come home smelling like I’d spent the entire day at a bar. I’d go outside for air breaks.


10 posted on 11/02/2017 7:17:31 AM PDT by BBQToadRibs
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To: Reno89519

Really??? You must be perfect.


11 posted on 11/02/2017 7:23:09 AM PDT by small business owner
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To: Morgana
I worked in supermarkets for years as a meat cutter. Every hour I would look around for my help and they would be in the break area smoking. Taking a smoke break. I got feed up and when they disappeared to smoke I went with them. The store manager was looking for me. Why was I taking a break? I didn't smoke. I told him I was taking a second hand smoke break. I told him it was bullsh!t that these folks got breaks on the clock because they smoked.
12 posted on 11/02/2017 7:24:02 AM PDT by 4yearlurker (We live in deeds, not years, in thoughts, not breaths.)
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To: bk1000
It is strange that today society and the workplace will still indulge addiction.

This is Japan. In Japan, smoking is still very much more common and accepted than it is here. If you dislike being around smokers, Japan is not where you want to be.

13 posted on 11/02/2017 7:25:29 AM PDT by Fresh Wind (Hillary: Go to jail. Go directly to jail. Do not pass GO. Do not collect 2 billion dollars.)
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To: small business owner; Reno89519

Don’t know if Reno89519 is being sarcastic or truthful but when you are hiring an in-home nurse this is very true for a great many reasons.


14 posted on 11/02/2017 7:37:35 AM PDT by Morgana ( Always a bit of truth in dark humor.)
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To: Morgana; small business owner; Reno89519

Not sarcastic. I won’t hire smokers, period. If any worked for me, I find way to get rid of them. The first is perfectly legal, the second is debateable but as I am in a Right to Work state, doubt anyone could complain. Smoking is toxic and I want nothing to do with it. You want to smoke, find work elsewhere. Very simple, very direct. No sarcasm intended or needed.


15 posted on 11/02/2017 7:53:31 AM PDT by Reno89519 (PRESIDENT TRUMP, KEEP YOUR PROMISES! NO AMNESTY AND BUILD THAT WALL.)
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To: Morgana

You get two minimum of 10 minute breaks a day and a lunch. Anyone who can’t control themselves for less time than that is a damned addict and should be in rehab, not the workplace.

Smoked for 20 years, been clean for 21, but damnnit even when I smoked I waited until my break every couple of hours; I would have been fired for simply going out on a unscheduled break and I would fire someone for doing the same (and I know my union rules jot and tittle)


16 posted on 11/02/2017 8:04:15 AM PDT by RedStateRocker (Nuke Mecca, deport all illegal aliens, abolish the IRS, DEA and ATF.)
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To: Reno89519; small business owner

I don’t want a nurse caring for me that has to “pop out” every half out to engage in the habit. My life is in her hands and not really sure if people having serious nicotine fits can be trusted to make rational life saving decisions.


17 posted on 11/02/2017 8:05:06 AM PDT by Morgana ( Always a bit of truth in dark humor.)
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To: RedStateRocker

“Smoked for 20 years, been clean for 21, but damnnit even when I smoked I waited until my break every couple of hours;”

Tell me then what is wrong with smokers that have to do one right after another? Have seen this happen. How bad are they addicted?


18 posted on 11/02/2017 8:06:41 AM PDT by Morgana ( Always a bit of truth in dark humor.)
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To: redgolum

“Averaged about an extra 45 minutes a day.”

MORE like 60 minutes.

Understand that these same smokers make no effort to make up the time by arriving early, staying late, cutting a lunch break, etc.

I have watched a smoking area out my window for years. The net result is smokers are at their desks less minutes than non-smokers.

Don’t get me started on Facebook and other social media abuses during “work” hours.

HOW all of these “breaks” impact true productivity is the real open question.


19 posted on 11/02/2017 8:29:18 AM PDT by LeonardFMason (426)
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To: Morgana

Lack of willpower, pure and simple.

Anyone who can’t go a couple of hours without a cigarette needs to be institutionalized.I smoked from 16 to 36; I *NEVER* would have taken an unauthorized, unscheduled break for a cig, and would have had no problem seeing someone who did get fired.


20 posted on 11/02/2017 8:41:32 AM PDT by RedStateRocker (Nuke Mecca, deport all illegal aliens, abolish the IRS, DEA and ATF.)
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