Should employers fine smokers? Today I was reading an article on Lifehacker on that subject. Initially, most of the comments were on the side of the employers. I'm not sure I agree though. Don't get me wrong. I think that smoking is a terrible, dirty habit that puts the smoker at risk and all those around him. However, many of the comments were about lost productivity (as you might expect, with the article being on a productivity blog). And, on those grounds I have to disagree.

One comment in particular caught my attention. The author claimed that he knew of smokers at his company that took 10 minute smoke breaks every hour. His contention was that that added up to 80 minutes of lost time every day. On the surface, that seems like a very simple calculation. The guy is outside, away from his computer, smoking a cigarette. Obviously he isn't working. However, in the day and age of the knowledge worker, it's not that simple. I look at it much like a professional athlete. You rarely see an athlete in for the entire game. Every so often, even the most skilled players are given a short rest. The reason for that is obvious to any one who has engaged in a strenuous activity. Your muscles just need a rest periodically to regain your energy level. Many researchers in the area of cognition describe the mind as just another muscle. That 10 minute break may be just what the person needs to refocus, and regain their mental energy. In addition, that is 10 minutes that the person isn't exposing themselves to the eye strain of looking at a computer monitor, the repetitive motion of typing and mousing, and it gives them an opportunity to stand up and get their blood flowing.

A few years ago, I was given an "ergonomic evaluation" at work. The result of that was a list of recommendations, including an ergonomic keyboard, chair height, and a 10 minute break every hour. Admittedly, part of this recommendation is likely due to the fact that I've already experienced some RSI problems (due to a stupid workspace setup when I worked from home during college). This may seem excessive, but some sites I've read actually recommend a 30 second break every 10 minutes, along with a 15 minute break every 2 hours. Add it up, and you're talking about 1 hour 48 minutes a day. Now, I don't take the breaks like I'm supposed to. When I get working on something it's hard to tear myself away. But I do try to do 2 15 minute breaks a day to get up and walk around campus. I think there are 3 benefits to this. First, that short period of exercise gets my blood pumping and helps me to stay alert. Second, I often will use that time to think about the work I have been doing, and refocus my efforts for when I return to my desk. Third, By scheduling in my break, I become more productive by saying "I'll work on this task for 2 hours, then I'll take a break." It helps break up day a bit and gives my day some landmarks to help map it out.

So, smoking may be a dirty habit. But I don't believe it to be the productivity loss that many believe it is.