Posted By Merv Newman Jane, I think you will probably find that even the non smokers will take breaks. Not everyone will get up, pour a coffee and carry it straight back to their desk to continue working. Many people will take five minutes or so to chat with colleagues. The smokers will probably get their coffee, go outside to smoke and chat there to their fellow-smokers (or even non-smokers who just come outside for the chat) I've worked in a number of places which have the policies you indicate and it always seems to be as I have said. Suggest you try the new system and promise a review or the situation in a few weeks.

Posted By Rob T Tom, As you are obviously a non-smoker and this isn't a question regarding the so-called passive smoking issue, I suggest that you butt-out (pun intended) of the debate. Why is it that the non-smoking fascists always think that they have some god-given right to lecture smokers on their own pleasureable past-time and, worse than that - assume all smokers want to give up!!!! The next time I see you eating a cream cake I'll come along and suggest liposuction, stomach stapling and hypnosis - and don't you dare say you enjoy eating as you know it causes morbid obesity, clogging of arteries and the highest cause of death in the UK. Maybe obese people should have outside shelters where they can go so they don't offend people with the smells of pies, lard and colostomy bags! Seems a bit harsh? No blo*dy difference to the continual assault smokers have to put up with and over-eating is as much a drug as smoking. On the question itself - I find it quite incredible nowadays that people worry more about a few minutes of time than the performance of staff. If the job is done to a satisfactory or better standard why worry whether someone has gone outside for 5 minutes (or longer) or not. When firms treat staff as adults who are able to manage their own tasks and timescales you may well see a drop in stress levels. This is a management issue and reasonableness (if there is such a word) is the essence of the day.

Posted By Pete Driver or 'sight' even!

Posted By Merv Newman Logging off for a smoking break would then lead to complaints of unfairness to the smokers. In any work situation which permits it we will all take time to socialise. In fact I would say that a workplace which does not permit socialising will not be a pleasant place to work. You can't ask casual gossipers around the coffee machine or in staff toilets to clock of and on every time, even though they may "waste" more time than the smokers who are easy targets. As for the shelters, my first question is "why do you need them ?" surely not to protect your smokers from bad weather ? You should not be actively encouraging your people to take time away from work by providing comfortable, attractive places to while away their time. So, no seats, no heating/air conditioning, bare lightbulb (one only) and lots of motivational "stop smoking" posters as the only reading material. You can encourage people to stop smoking but, as Rob says, not everyone wants to. I smoke a pipe.

Posted By Jane Ling Thanks everyone for your responses, as expected, a well-balanced good natured discussion(!), with lots of useful ideas in between. Just to clarify it is not management who are concerned it is the non-smoking staff who are moaning, although they are happy to stop and have a chat or nip out for a bacon roll. It is the chief exec who has asked me to look into shelters, even though he very proudly tells everyone that he has given up smoking and only smokes a few cigars a day now. Jane