Several years ago, I worked in a customer service department for a small company. We had many smokers, and several times a day, they'd all wander outside to enjoy a smoke. I'd keep working. So one day when they went out, I opened my desk drawer, pulled out a bicycling magazine, put my feet on my desk, and started reading. My boss walked in, and asked "what are you doing?" I slowly looked at him, leaving the magazine open on my legs, and said "I'm taking some non-smoker's comp time". He gave me the look. You know the one I'm talking about.
I'm all for a person's right to smoke cigarettes. I applaud them for having the fortitude to stand outside in all weather, often without protection from the harsh elements, shielding the glowing ember from the ice packed northern winds. They are the kind of people organizations need. Their focus on maintaining an appropriate level of nicotine in their system is the stuff success is built from. All smokers reading this blog are suddenly craving a cigarette. It's okay, head out and have it. This blog will be here when you get back.
It seems that the more stressful the environment is where I work, the more people smoke. Some days I'd head out of the office for lunch, and there'd be a crowd of people smoking. They looked like the same people who were smoking when I walked past the entry door a short time before. When I came back after lunch, the same crowd was there. Or at least they looked the same.
A friend once said that he smoked so he could keep up on what was happening across the office. Many of the administrative professionals who supported the leaders smoked, and they'd swap gossip between deep inhales of their chemically treated, dried weed. He knew when down-sizing was about to happen, who was nailed for downloading porn, and who was pilfering office products. His smoking was a more personal form of LinkedIn, maybe he could start a new networking site, and name it SmokeIn. But no one would visit the site, because every time someone mentions a cigarette, smokers feel the need to have one. It's okay, go ahead and have one. This blog will be here when you get back.
One very hectic day at Dysfunctional, Inc, I looked outside and saw the gorgeous weather. The smokers were really enjoying it - as much as one can enjoy getting fresh air while smoking. My team was all busy, head down and getting the work done. It was a Friday at around 3:00. I walked out into our cube area, and called my team into my office. After a few minutes, they were patiently huddled in the office, wondering why I called them in. Was the gig up? Were we being outsourced?
"Do any of you smoke?" I asked, already knowing the answer to my question. No one answered affirmatively. I went on "Okay, since none of our department smokes, I feel it's only fair that we implement a new departmental perk. It is called non-smokers' compensation time. Starting right now, I want everyone to look hard at what you're doing. If it must be done today, please do it. If it can wait until Monday, then I'm asking you to pack up your stuff, and get out of here. Do this in small groups, without drawing attention to yourself." It took a few seconds, but the grins slowly started to appear. "Do you mean we can leave work now?" was the first question. "What part of what I said wasn't clear?" I replied. "I'll be here finishing up quarterly financial reports, and won't be taking attendance. Thanks for your hard work, and get out of here".
Within 15 minutes, the office was empty. We utilized non-smokers' comp time that summer. We kept it quiet, some perks should be outside of the process.
I hereby declare that anyone reading this blog is free to leave the office early today. Unless you smoke. You can just go outside and light one up. See you in 10 minutes for the last couple of paragraphs!
Have you utilized any motivational techniques that didn't comply with organizational policies? What were they? Did your employees end up more productive, or less productive? Please comment at the bottom of this blog.
Disclaimer: I smoked for years. I quit decades ago, and still occasionally dream about smoking. I know how tough it is to quit, and I know how much smoking impacts health. My best advice is to just quit. Cold turkey. You are stronger than the marketing. If you don't want to quit smoking, it's okay, go have a cigarette. I remember how I felt when I smoked.
If you liked this post, please share it with your social network using the buttons below.
_______________
I'm all for a person's right to smoke cigarettes. I applaud them for having the fortitude to stand outside in all weather, often without protection from the harsh elements, shielding the glowing ember from the ice packed northern winds. They are the kind of people organizations need. Their focus on maintaining an appropriate level of nicotine in their system is the stuff success is built from. All smokers reading this blog are suddenly craving a cigarette. It's okay, head out and have it. This blog will be here when you get back.
It seems that the more stressful the environment is where I work, the more people smoke. Some days I'd head out of the office for lunch, and there'd be a crowd of people smoking. They looked like the same people who were smoking when I walked past the entry door a short time before. When I came back after lunch, the same crowd was there. Or at least they looked the same.
 |
| Hey Buddy, can you spare a match? |
One very hectic day at Dysfunctional, Inc, I looked outside and saw the gorgeous weather. The smokers were really enjoying it - as much as one can enjoy getting fresh air while smoking. My team was all busy, head down and getting the work done. It was a Friday at around 3:00. I walked out into our cube area, and called my team into my office. After a few minutes, they were patiently huddled in the office, wondering why I called them in. Was the gig up? Were we being outsourced?
"Do any of you smoke?" I asked, already knowing the answer to my question. No one answered affirmatively. I went on "Okay, since none of our department smokes, I feel it's only fair that we implement a new departmental perk. It is called non-smokers' compensation time. Starting right now, I want everyone to look hard at what you're doing. If it must be done today, please do it. If it can wait until Monday, then I'm asking you to pack up your stuff, and get out of here. Do this in small groups, without drawing attention to yourself." It took a few seconds, but the grins slowly started to appear. "Do you mean we can leave work now?" was the first question. "What part of what I said wasn't clear?" I replied. "I'll be here finishing up quarterly financial reports, and won't be taking attendance. Thanks for your hard work, and get out of here".
Within 15 minutes, the office was empty. We utilized non-smokers' comp time that summer. We kept it quiet, some perks should be outside of the process.
I hereby declare that anyone reading this blog is free to leave the office early today. Unless you smoke. You can just go outside and light one up. See you in 10 minutes for the last couple of paragraphs!
Have you utilized any motivational techniques that didn't comply with organizational policies? What were they? Did your employees end up more productive, or less productive? Please comment at the bottom of this blog.
Disclaimer: I smoked for years. I quit decades ago, and still occasionally dream about smoking. I know how tough it is to quit, and I know how much smoking impacts health. My best advice is to just quit. Cold turkey. You are stronger than the marketing. If you don't want to quit smoking, it's okay, go have a cigarette. I remember how I felt when I smoked.
If you liked this post, please share it with your social network using the buttons below.
_______________
I smoked for about thirty years. I started with a pipe 'cause it was "cool". I switched to cigarettes because the pipe was a pain in the ass working construction. I quit about eight years ago because they wouldn't let me smoke in the hospital where I'd just had six stents emplaced. Cold turkey, just put those Luckies on the shelf and ignored them.
ReplyDeleteDon't feel any better or worse for the "loss" of my smokes. At about seven bucks a pack (no more $.15/pack, $1.20 a carton like the PX in Tay Ninh) my wallet is healthier though...
I remember sharing many a smoke with you around the TOC. Congrats on quitting!
ReplyDeletei organized...or maybe a better word is instigated, lol a non-smoker break at my old job. just like u, i would sit and work while i watched the smokers come and go on their smoke breaks.
ReplyDeletemind u, there were no breaks allowed there, other than the 30 minute lunch break. but if u smoked, then it was ok, to go outside for 10-15 minutes every few hours.
then one day, all of us non-smokers had enough, and went outside with them. we stayed a good distance away from the smoke, lol but still, we went. we stood our ground when the big boss wanted to know where everyone went and eventually he was forced to add two 15 minute breaks into the day for everyone. no more willy nilly going out for a smoke.
anywho. the more i hear about ur old workplace the more i think we worked at the same company.
Christine, I just think the dysfunctions come in packages, and each organization chooses the ones they want. We both worked for a company that had Package C.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't understand why my blog suddenly took off in terms of traffic. It must be how people can relate to the posts. They are universal issues. Like Dilbert, or The Office.