Office Politics and The Smokers Clique

I noticed this through my life in various work places, even to the extent that people who seemed to hate each other often “bonded” following taking a smoke break together. In a work place this often ostracized the non-smokers who, very often, were working when the smokers took their “smoke break”. Somehow smokers did not consider the “smoke break” part of their regular break shared by the rest of the group, and took an additional break afterwards, this would be made worse when business owners, managers, or what have you, also joined in.

In most areas smokers are now forced to smoke outside or in special parts of their building, they huddle together as if in shame, but willingly encourage each other to “have another cigarette”. They will even try to bring others into their group, offering cigarettes to non-smokers (who are welcome to join them but feel socially awkward when doing so).

Smokers often do not like smoking alone, so invite another smoker out with them, that can be a co-worker, or in some cases upper management, or lower employees (when it is upper management that wants to smoke).

It is interesting to watch particularly when lower employees take their smoke break with upper management. The boundaries seem to break down, and in ways much different than on typical breaks. Brown-nosing (the act of sucking up to ones boss) occurs all too easily, and not even intentionally. Quite simply while on smoke breaks the people get to know each other better, and they fell they have a bond.

Very often, following the smoke break, the lower employee will return to work telling their co-workers how much they hate their boss, but when promotions happen, its often that very person that has the opportunity ahead of other hard working employees.

Co-workers form tighter bonds when they come in from smoke breaks. It is a strange ritual to watch but something everyone needs to be aware of, especially employers.

Employers need to see if smokers are taking their regular break, then adding a “smoke break” on afterwards. The employer needs to be aware of some professional lines being crossed when upper management (or the employer themselves) also smoke.

Cliques will form in a work place, its inevitable, but when they form as the result of a habit such as this, it can cause ripple effects within the work place, particularly when it appears that management is involved and supportive.

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