I will start by saying my co-worker is one of the most fun and nicest people I have ever had the opportunity to work with. As many others do, we work in a non smoking office. Smokers must go outside to a designated area to have a quick smoke. We have an office of about 40 people and it is just my co-worker and I to support everyone except the president and CFO. This includes projects and answering phones. Now, let's go to the problem. My co-worker is a heavy smoker and will take a "smoke break" approximately 5 or 6 times a day. Each break is anywhere from 5 minutes to 20 minutes depending on which other smokers are outside to chat with. I am left to cover the phones and accept new projects while she is gossiping and having a jolly time outside. She is the first call person (meaning she picks up the phone first) and I am the one on the first project (meaning I get the typing assignments and she gets the over flow) These breaks add up to over an hour a day on top of lunch and 2 breaks. I personally feel that the time my co-worker spends should be spent actually on working. I would like those who do smoke to sit back to think of the time they take, taking those "smoking breaks" and also to think about the added responsibility that it puts on those who have to pick up the slack so to say. I can start dwelling about the after smell of smoking but that can be a whole new sound off in its own!

	People should be able to smoke if they get their work done
	Smoking should be limited to only designated breaks in designated areas
	Though it would be hard, smokers should not smoke at work at all

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Facts:

Research by charities has shown that more than half (57%) of Britain's 12 million smokers mistakenly believe it is the nicotine in cigarettes that causes heart disease, when in fact the real damage is caused by the tobacco smoke. (Source: British Heart Foundation)

Other time wasters during the day:

Bathroom breaks, chatting with co-workers in the hall, going to the break room for the tea or coffee and that snack from the vending machine, personal phone calls, surfing the internet.

It can be any topic you feel strongly about:

• Overtime
• Age Discrimination
• Hostile Work Environment
• At Will Employment
• Gas Prices
• Back stabbing co workers
• Childcare costs
• Virtual Assistants
• Company Benefits
• Company Benefits
• Workplace Safety
• Co-Workers
• Holidays your feelings, comments
• Smoking and the bans in public places
• Events in the news
• Not being appreciated for your value
• Humorous topics
• Topics that make you stop and think

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