Piala Inc., a Tokyo-based organization, is giving its non-smoking staff six extra days of vacation per year. The new policy was introduced in September and is meant to compensate for puffing-related breaks, which are said to consume about 15 minutes each.
“One of our non-smoking staff put a message in the company suggestion box earlier in the year saying that smoking breaks were causing problems,” Hirotaka Matsushima, a spokesman for the company said. “Our CEO saw the comment and agreed, so we are giving nonsmokers some extra time off to compensate.”
The company’s office is on the 29th floor in the Ebisu district of Tokyo. Smoking is only allowed in the basement, and it takes around 15 minutes for each trip.
They estimate that at least 30 of the company’s 120 employees have taken advantage of the perk and taken extra time off since the change. The company said that it has also encouraged at least four people to kick the habit.
“I hope to encourage employees to quit smoking through incentives rather than penalties or coercion,” Piala Inc CEO Takao Asuka said. The World Health Organisation reports that 18.2 percent of Japanese adults smoke (the figure is higher among males and older generations).
Piala Inc.’s. office is on the 29th floor. Anyone wanting a cigarette has to go to the basement, taking around 15 minutes for each trip.
“One of our non-smoking staff put a message in the company suggestion box earlier in the year saying that smoking breaks were causing problems.”
“Our CEO saw the comment and agreed, so we are giving nonsmokers some extra time off to compensate.”
“I hope to encourage employees to quit smoking through incentives rather than penalties or coercion” Piala Inc. CEO Takao Asuka said.
At least 30 of the company’s 120 employees have already taken advantage of the perk.
The scheme has also encouraged at least four people to kick the habit.
People agree non-smoking employees should get more paid leave.
Others think it’s unfair to those who smoke…
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