Dear Manager,
It has been brought to my attention that since I have started working for this company, I have failed to take any of my smoke breaks. At first I thought, “But, I do not smoke. Why would a non-smoker take a smoke break?” And then from the depths of my soul, I suddenly knew the answer… “Because it is my right to take that break!”
Now, I have no desire to start the unfortunate habit of smoking, as it leads to health issues and early death. However, because this company allows for it’s employees to take smoke breaks (if they so choose), logic tells me that I (as a non-smoker) should also be granted permission to not work for approximately the amount of time of daily smoke breaks.
I am not a smoker, but I have acquainted myself with smokers before, and know that a smoke break is a time of clearing your mind of work-related issues (while filling your lungs with nasty nicotine and countless other chemicals).
In the same light, during a vacation, you clear your mind of all things work-related. Based on this, a smoke break should be considered a ten (10) minute vacation from work.
For your convenience, I have broken down my history of not taking smoke vacations versus the amount of time I have freely given the company by continuing to work through said smoke vacations.
Taking weekends and holidays into consideration, I have worked here for approximately 320 days. Assuming the average smoker take three (3) ten minute smoke vacations each day (approximately 30 minutes per day), I have missed around 9,600 minutes of smoke vacations. By dividing 9,600 minutes by 480 minutes (8 hours), I have approximated that in my time as an employee for this company, I have not taken twenty (20) days worth of vacation.
My question is as follows: Do I have to take all twenty (20!!!!) days (or four weeks) of vacation before the end of the year, or can I roll them over to next year?
Thank you for your time and attention in this matter.
