cleanthoughts Publisher Matt Gallinger [email protected] Associate Publisher Micah Ogburn [email protected] (518) 640-9155 (518) 640-9177 Employee Smoke Breaks Spouting sagely about smoking cigarettes. Editorial Director Rich DiPaolo [email protected] Managing Editor Aaron Baunee [email protected] (516) 404-4532 (518) 640-9167 Assistant Editor Amanda Martini-Hughes [email protected] (518) 640-9168 Account Executives Susan Pierce [email protected] Pat Harrington [email protected] Art Director Marty Harris [email protected] Graphic Designer Justin Lancaster Director of Business Operations Michael Perkins [email protected] (518) 640-9156 Ad Materials Manager Rebecca Wilson [email protected] (256) 715-0342 (518) 640-9173 I I am not a habitual smoker, so I must admit that I feel somewhat indignant about those who take frequent breaks to inhale nico-tine-laced tobacco, tar and other carbon byproducts. To me, smokers receive extra breaks each day simply for having an unhealthy habit. Aside from that, there is the lingering smell, the secondhand smoke, the improp-erly discarded cigarette butts — I could go on for quite some time. But, for better or worse, the choice to pick up the habit of smoking is a personal deci-sion and one that is popular amongst all age groups in America and around the world. So, since it is impossible to deny the existence of the widespread practice of smoking, I am curious as to how others address it. Depending on your setting — an indus-trial facility, for example — smoking might not be frowned upon with any severity and could be a habitual activity with many employees. However, if you are a custodial or mainte-nance professional in an educational facil-ity, smoking can be both frowned upon and grounds for a citation if you light up in a restricted area. Each state has unique regulations regard-ing smoking, and every company or orga-nization has particularities as to what is socially acceptable in terms of employee activity. I know that, in the state of New York, smokers must stand at least 50 feet from any entrance — a restriction I see heeded by few. It could also be possible that certain types of cigarettes or other smoking appa-ratuses are not welcomed in your buildings or on your grounds; maybe traditional ciga-rettes are fine, but cloves, cigars and pipes are circumscribed. Smoking can be a very touchy sub-ject that becomes more complicated when staffs are comprised of a mixture of smok-ers and nonsmokers. To further add complexity to the situa-tion, if a supervisor or manager is a smoker, he or she may be inclined to give increased leeway to subordinate smokers. Conversely, smokers may find them-selves at the short end of the stick if their superior is smoke-free. (518) 640-9164 CMI ® Administrative Manager Sharon Hillis [email protected] (518) 640-9163 Editorial, Advertising & Publishing Offices NTP Media, division of 19BritishAmericanBlvdWest•Latham,NY12110-6405 (518) 783-1281 FAX: (518) 783-1386 Subscription Questions or Inquiries Toll Free (866) 721-4807 Outside U.S. (847) 763-1867 or e-mail [email protected] Subscribe / Renew / Change of Address: http://www.CMMOnline.com/Subscribe What’s Your Policy? 1. How often do you allow workers to grab a quick puff and “calm their nerves?” 2. Do you have any standard practices at your business or organization regard-ing the length and frequency of smoke breaks? 3. Are your employees monitored closely enough to know how often they are picking up their packs and squeezing in that extra break? 4. Are your employees required to clock in and out for their smoke breaks? CM Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608 Canada Returns to be sent to: Bleuchip International, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2 Corporate General Manager Barry Lovette [email protected] Vice President of Operations [email protected] Brent Kizzire Chief Marketing Officer, Publishing Services Group [email protected] Hank Brown Vice President of Business Publishing [email protected] Tracy Aston-Martin Vice President of Finance [email protected] Brad Youngblood Group Circulation Director [email protected] Delicia Poole Circulation Analyst Anna Hicks [email protected] Editorial Advisory Board: Benjamin Tanner, Antimicrobial Test Laboratories; Bill McGarvey, Phillip Rosenau Company; Darrel Hicks, St. Luke’s Hospital; David Holly, The Ashkin Group; Kathleen Stanton, American Cleaning Institute (ACI); Jeff Cross, Cleanfax magazine; Russell Kendzior, National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI). Aaron Baunee, managing editor Send comments or thoughts on this topic or any other article that appears in CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® magazine, to [email protected]. CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management Online™ Service at www.CMMOnline.com 4 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • October 2012
CMM – Archives Oct 2012: 4
