How Luxembourg companies are tackling the problem of smoke breaks

The debate about smoking breaks in the workplace is gaining momentum in Luxembourg. According to a 2024 survey by the Moovijob.com platform, 64 per cent of employees surveyed believe that smokers gain an unfair advantage by taking regular smoke breaks, while non-smokers perceive this as a loss of working time and an imbalance.

This topic touches on fundamental issues of equality, trust and corporate culture. The large supermarket chain Cactus explains that break time management is built on trust and individual responsibility. It is up to each employee to ensure that total break time - be it a coffee or a cigarette - is not exceeded. A separate schedule is provided for cashiers to ensure smooth operation at the cash registers.

The CFL transport group recognises that there is no uniform regulation for controlling break times, which is due to the different working conditions in the divisions. Instead of strict regulations, the company relies on internal team organisation and schedule flexibility, emphasising that efficiency is measured by completing tasks, not by recording minutes.

Against this backdrop of uncertainty, more and more companies are turning to Fondation Cancer to help with awareness campaigns and support for employees who want to quit smoking. Programmes include habit diagnostics, lectures, stands and even one-to-one smoking cessation counselling. This is not only an investment in employee health, but also a step towards reducing potential conflicts within the team.

Thus, taking a smoke break is turning from a habit into a symbol of corporate inequality that companies are increasingly forced to deal with. Solutions vary - from trust policies to sanitation - but one thing is clear: in an era of seeking a balance between well-being and productivity, companies can no longer ignore the issue.