The real cost of smoking a ciggie

One of the longest-standing feuds between different groups of people has been between smokers and non-smokers. And one of the biggest bugbears for those not addicted to tobacco is how much time people take off in the workplace to satisfy their cigarette cravings.

Now, a Japanese firm has quantified the time lost by smokers as about six working days a year.

Piala, an online commerce consulting company based in Tokyo, says it takes employees at least 10 minutes to get down to the basement smoke room and back for each lightup.

However, it acknowledged the upside of the smoke breaks was that most of the discussion in the smoking room centres around business.

Because of this, the company has decided that, instead of punishing the smokers, they will reward the non-smokers by giving them an extra six days of leave annually.

Since the scheme started at the beginning of September, four out of the company’s 42 smokers have kicked the habit.

It’s an elegant solution to a thorny issue … but, at the same time, ignores the reality that smokers also cost an economy a fortune in medical care.

In the end, though, working or not, non-smokers have already been given extra days. They could live longer.

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