Smoking and vaping habits are taking up a significant portion of the working week, with some employees spending hours away from their desks on nicotine breaks.
New figures suggest that one in five vapers spend more than two hours a week vaping, raising questions about productivity, consistency in break policies and how organisations manage time away from work tasks.
They also indicate that vaping may be taking up more time than smoking, despite often being seen as a more flexible alternative in the workplace.
Vaping breaks take up growing share of working time
An analysis from retailer Alternix suggests that vaping is becoming a more time-intensive habit during the working day.
Around one in five vapers reported spending between 20 and 39 minutes a day vaping, compared with a smaller proportion of smokers spending the same amount of time on cigarettes. Over the course of a working week, this equates to roughly two hours, or around 5% of working time.
A notable proportion of vapers also reported spending more than an hour a day on the habit, a higher share than among smokers. This may reflect differences in how the two are regulated, with smoking restrictions limiting where cigarettes can be used, while vaping is often permitted in more spaces.
Younger workers were among those most likely to spend longer vaping each day, with nearly a third of those aged 18 to 24 reporting daily use of between 40 and 59 minutes.
Productivity and policy questions for employers
The data raises broader questions about how employers manage break time, particularly where different rules apply to smoking, vaping and other forms of time away from work.
While regular breaks can support wellbeing and focus, uneven patterns of time away from desks may create tensions within teams, especially if some employees feel others are taking more frequent or longer breaks.
There are also implications for productivity. Regular short breaks can add up over time, particularly in roles where coverage is required or deadlines are tight.
At the same time, the findings point to a wider issue around nicotine dependency and workplace support, particularly where habits are embedded into daily routines.
Heavy use remains common across both groups
The survey also found that heavy use remains widespread among both smokers and vapers.
More than a quarter of smokers were classified as heavy users, including a significant share who reported smoking 20 or more cigarettes a day. Among vapers, around one in five were considered heavy users, going through multiple devices each week.
Patterns of use also differed by gender. Men were more likely to report higher levels of vaping, while women were more likely to report higher cigarette consumption.
These differences suggest that nicotine use remains a persistent feature of working life, even as behaviours move away from traditional smoking.
Time, wellbeing and workplace culture
David Phillips of Alternix said the time spent on nicotine use could add up over the working week. “Understanding how long smokers and vapers spend on their habit can be revealing, highlighting just how much productivity time can be lost.”
While the commercial angle is clear, the figures point to a wider workplace challenge. As habits evolve and new products become more common, employers may need to review how policies address fairness, productivity and employee wellbeing.
The survey was based on responses from UK smokers and vapers, with working time estimates calculated using a 37.5 hour week.
William Furney is a Managing Editor at Black and White Trading Ltd based in Kingston upon Hull, UK. He is a prolific author and contributor at Workplace Wellbeing Professional, with over 127 published posts covering HR, employee engagement, and workplace wellbeing topics. His writing focuses on contemporary employment issues including pension schemes, employee health, financial struggles affecting workers, and broader workplace trends.
- William Furney
- William Furney
- William Furney
- William Furney
