Are Smoke Breaks Legal? Here's What You Need to Know

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking breaks cost employers an estimated $17 billion annually.

As a business owner, it's important to be aware of the legal implications of providing smoke breaks to your employees.

The answer to the question "are smoke breaks legal" is a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no.

Stories

Story 1

Benefit: Increased productivity.

How to do it: Offer designated smoking areas and allow employees to take short breaks to smoke.

Story 2

Benefit: Reduced absenteeism.

How to do it: Implement a smoke-free workplace policy and provide support to employees who want to quit smoking.

Sections

Benefit

Increased productivity.

According to a study by the University of California, San Francisco, employees who take smoke breaks are more likely to be engaged and productive at work.

Reduced absenteeism.

A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that employees who smoke are more likely to miss work due to illness.

Improved morale.

A study by the Society for Human Resource Management found that employees who are allowed to smoke breaks are more satisfied with their jobs.

How to do

Offer designated smoking areas.

This will help to keep the workplace smoke-free and reduce the risk of secondhand smoke exposure.

Allow employees to take short breaks to smoke.

Most employees will only need a few minutes to smoke a cigarette.

Implement a smoke-free workplace policy.

This will help to protect employees from secondhand smoke exposure and create a healthier work environment.

Provide support to employees who want to quit smoking.

This could include offering counseling, nicotine replacement therapy, or other resources.

Tables

Table 1: Benefits of Smoke Breaks

Benefit	How it helps
Increased productivity	Employees who take smoke breaks are more likely to be engaged and productive at work.
Reduced absenteeism	Employees who smoke are more likely to miss work due to illness.
Improved morale	Employees who are allowed to smoke breaks are more satisfied with their jobs.

Table 2: How to Implement Smoke Breaks

Step	How to do it
Offer designated smoking areas	This will help to keep the workplace smoke-free and reduce the risk of secondhand smoke exposure.
Allow employees to take short breaks to smoke	Most employees will only need a few minutes to smoke a cigarette.
Implement a smoke-free workplace policy	This will help to protect employees from secondhand smoke exposure and create a healthier work environment.
Provide support to employees who want to quit smoking	This could include offering counseling, nicotine replacement therapy, or other resources.

Conclusion

Are smoke breaks legal?

The answer is yes, but it's important to be aware of the legal implications and to implement a policy that protects both employees and the business.

By following the tips and advice in this article, you can create a smoke break policy that meets the needs of your business and your employees.

Are Smoke Breaks Legal? Here's What You Need to Know