Switzerland: A cigarette, an hour's work more

From February 1st 2020, government employees in the Swiss Canton of Ticino will work an hour more every time they want to smoke.

The move has been reasoned as a way to improve employee productivity.

Lawyers also argue that non-duhanpiers are penalised under the current system. Under current law, employees are eligible for two 15-minute holidays a day. While employees will not need to mark the hour if they smoke during this time, all smoking outside these two vacation periods will be measured, followed away by albinfo.ch.

The law will initially be applied to the cantonal and government parliament buildings, but is set to expand into other government buildings throughout the canton in the future.

Fabio Badasci, from Ticino, said the move was justified not only because of productivity concerns but it was necessary so that it would be right for all workers.

Badasci told Swiss news page “Le Temps” that the ongoing “reductions from smoking represent an uneven treatment among smokers and non-duhanpiers ) and ( result in) a loss of productivity”.

Smoking is prohibited in closed areas in Switzerland since 2010, although the country is still considered to be one of the most tobacco enemies in Europe.

Some 27 percent of Switzerland's inhabitants smoke.