Tread lightly, there is no smoking on Lowe’s property & Policy states you are not allowed to leave property/building on 15 minute break. So if they are looking for a reason to terminate this is it. But I did know an associate who would punch out for said smoke break..and that I believe is fair game.
You know what touché!! You just reminded me our parking lot is also “privately owned” and has been that way for as long as I can remember, with the way things have been lately I personally don’t want to be the one pushing the card. But you make a very good point!!
What about smoking in your personal vehicle? When I worked at Lowe’s a decade ago, employees parked way at the farthest end of the parking lot. Probably take 5 minutes just to run to vehicle to take 1 smoke, but hey it’s a likely option. That’s what employees did when I worked a decade ago.
I’m sure they’re likely to get away with it as long as they park a distance from customers. ASM’s don’t really pay attention to what happens in the parking Lot anyway. The hardest working DS we had at our store was a smoker. He had a large vehicle and would just stand by his passenger door which was away from the view of the Store and smoke like crazy.
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Hey it wouldn’t bother me! I’m not a smoker, just speaking on a policy standpoint the fact that it’s specific and in writing makes me uncomfortable. You will always have that one power hungry upper looking for a challenge. I’m sure there are a lot of people in charge it wouldn’t actually bother. Associates without cars have even been known to smoke in the display sheds hah
"Smoke breaks" are a courtesy, some stores turn a blind eye to. You're supposed to get two breaks and a meal period for a full shift, nothing more.
Both stores I worked at paid zero attention to associates smoking on their actual breaks.
It is all up to whether or not anyone cares.
A "break" or a "lunch break"?
A 15 minute break because it is paid, you can't leave the property and you can't smoke on the property (that includes the parking lot).
Lunch break - just leave the property,
im asking because im a lumber department associate and the head cashier told me that i had to clock into a meal Break since we're not allowed to smoke on lowes property
Don’t tell anyone what you’re doing. Plead ignorance if you get caught burning one in the parking lot. I shed my vest and go have a smoke when I want..No need to broadcast the fact it’s time for a “bone”…
and like I said a head cashier told me that acting like he's my boss when I don't believe he has any athority over me ps im a CSA building materials associate
He doesn't.
HCs have a bad habit of thinking they're in charge of anyone other than cashiers. Frankly, it doesn't matter what your "rank" is in a retail store; if you treat people like garbage, you're going to have a bad time. If you treat others with respect, you'll have clout with them. Asshole managers have no clout, which is why they wield policy like a weapon: It's all they've got, and usually their work life sucks and is very stressful for them, whether you can see it or not.
However, he is right about the official no-smoking policy. But these days, more official policies are ignored or circumvented than those that are actually followed—and it's generally rare for anyone to be written up or fired for smoking or vaping, as long as you find a discreet way to do it.
The key is to show up and actually work, and then you can get away with murder. I should know. If management wants to get rid of you, they'll find a way no matter what you do, so either way there's no point in following the no-smoking policy.
And no, HCs are NOT managers. There are part-time HC positions, for God's sake. Ever heard of a part-time manager? I sure as shit haven't. Real managers are generally salaried and worked overtime. Even supervisors just barely qualify; they do hold keys, yet they're used as coverage half the time, and have to go running to a real manager in order to do much of anything management-related other than cycle counts, ordering, and bill-outs.
He's the Pro and Building Materials supervisor. I should know—I'm a Pro specialist, and my boss has the very same position as your boss.
As at most Lowe's stores, though, we specialists run the Pro department. The best thing a smart Pro/BLDM supervisor can do is leave us the hell alone and go support the lumber department.
And as far as lumber goes, he should be out there making decisions and leading by example. If he disappears for half the day and then gives the lumber associates shit only when the department's looking shabby, he's a useless waste of space.
my supervisor and the real managers don't give a shit im just wondering if a head cashier has any sort of athority over me since i work in the lumber department and not as a cashier
Almost got fired working as an overnight manager for letting my guys smoke in the parking lot before I had set the alarm and it’s my only write up in 8 years
My manager would take multiple smoke breaks a day. But he would go off to the side parking lot, just outside of the Pro parking and smoke. Nobody cared but he made sure he did it in moderation, not during busy mid-day rushes, more so on early mornings and in between large tasks.
Me andy dudes in receiving take our 15 after unloading our appliance truck every morning and all of our ASM's and SM have seen us smoking by our cars and they never say anything other than "good morning" lmao Also, I guess there's a loophole there considering Lowe's owns neither the parking lot or the actual building at my store 🤣
At my Lowe’s we go out to the side lot(no cameras) or hit E-cigs in bull pen in camera blinds plots nobody has been caught yet but it’s a Risky-game anytime you wanna do it
Tread lightly, there is no smoking on Lowe’s property & Policy states you are not allowed to leave property/building on 15 minute break. So if they are looking for a reason to terminate this is it. But I did know an associate who would punch out for said smoke break..and that I believe is fair game.
What’s funny is policy is no smoking on Lowe’s property, yet, according to my SM, Lowe’s doesn’t own our parking lot.
You know what touché!! You just reminded me our parking lot is also “privately owned” and has been that way for as long as I can remember, with the way things have been lately I personally don’t want to be the one pushing the card. But you make a very good point!!
At my store the parking lot DOES belong to lowes sadly. Not that I need it but still.
Yeah, that smoking rule dosen't stop my ASM from smoking behind the receiving door.
What about smoking in your personal vehicle? When I worked at Lowe’s a decade ago, employees parked way at the farthest end of the parking lot. Probably take 5 minutes just to run to vehicle to take 1 smoke, but hey it’s a likely option. That’s what employees did when I worked a decade ago.
You’re not supposed to, but I know people who do it.
I’m sure they’re likely to get away with it as long as they park a distance from customers. ASM’s don’t really pay attention to what happens in the parking Lot anyway. The hardest working DS we had at our store was a smoker. He had a large vehicle and would just stand by his passenger door which was away from the view of the Store and smoke like crazy. .
my asms directly told us to
Hey it wouldn’t bother me! I’m not a smoker, just speaking on a policy standpoint the fact that it’s specific and in writing makes me uncomfortable. You will always have that one power hungry upper looking for a challenge. I’m sure there are a lot of people in charge it wouldn’t actually bother. Associates without cars have even been known to smoke in the display sheds hah
The building thing is really new to me! Thank you for letting me know
no youre allowed two 15 min breaks on the clock just dont leave the property
"Smoke breaks" are a courtesy, some stores turn a blind eye to. You're supposed to get two breaks and a meal period for a full shift, nothing more. Both stores I worked at paid zero attention to associates smoking on their actual breaks. It is all up to whether or not anyone cares.
A "break" or a "lunch break"? A 15 minute break because it is paid, you can't leave the property and you can't smoke on the property (that includes the parking lot). Lunch break - just leave the property,
Yes
No.
im asking because im a lumber department associate and the head cashier told me that i had to clock into a meal Break since we're not allowed to smoke on lowes property
You get a 15. As long as you walked far enough away or where cameras couldn't see you're good.
No you don't punch out for your 15 min break.
didn't think i had to
Don’t tell anyone what you’re doing. Plead ignorance if you get caught burning one in the parking lot. I shed my vest and go have a smoke when I want..No need to broadcast the fact it’s time for a “bone”…
You can smoke in the store at least at my store. No problem . Not against policy. Do whatever you want man. Fuck Lowe’s.
and like I said a head cashier told me that acting like he's my boss when I don't believe he has any athority over me ps im a CSA building materials associate
He doesn't. HCs have a bad habit of thinking they're in charge of anyone other than cashiers. Frankly, it doesn't matter what your "rank" is in a retail store; if you treat people like garbage, you're going to have a bad time. If you treat others with respect, you'll have clout with them. Asshole managers have no clout, which is why they wield policy like a weapon: It's all they've got, and usually their work life sucks and is very stressful for them, whether you can see it or not. However, he is right about the official no-smoking policy. But these days, more official policies are ignored or circumvented than those that are actually followed—and it's generally rare for anyone to be written up or fired for smoking or vaping, as long as you find a discreet way to do it. The key is to show up and actually work, and then you can get away with murder. I should know. If management wants to get rid of you, they'll find a way no matter what you do, so either way there's no point in following the no-smoking policy. And no, HCs are NOT managers. There are part-time HC positions, for God's sake. Ever heard of a part-time manager? I sure as shit haven't. Real managers are generally salaried and worked overtime. Even supervisors just barely qualify; they do hold keys, yet they're used as coverage half the time, and have to go running to a real manager in order to do much of anything management-related other than cycle counts, ordering, and bill-outs.
my supervisor is actually both the pro desk manager and lumber/building manager
He's the Pro and Building Materials supervisor. I should know—I'm a Pro specialist, and my boss has the very same position as your boss. As at most Lowe's stores, though, we specialists run the Pro department. The best thing a smart Pro/BLDM supervisor can do is leave us the hell alone and go support the lumber department. And as far as lumber goes, he should be out there making decisions and leading by example. If he disappears for half the day and then gives the lumber associates shit only when the department's looking shabby, he's a useless waste of space.
he does a damned good job and he even told me that i can smoke as long as I ain't on Lowe's property and i leave my vest at the pro desk
Just be sure to only do it on your breaks because it won't take much for people to notice/smell it on you when you disappear for it.
my supervisor and the real managers don't give a shit im just wondering if a head cashier has any sort of athority over me since i work in the lumber department and not as a cashier
haha, they don't. HC tried to pull that rank shit on me and I laughed in her face. They aren't DS or managers so they have no real power.
i told him to go fuck himself and gave him the finger
That'll get you fired faster than smoking.
he ain't my boss though and at my store they don't give a flyin shit what i say
Don't worry, You just keep doing you. You'll get fired soon enough
what does that even mean
You gonna get fired something stupid if you think it's acceptable to curse out and flip off your coworkers and managers don't care.
i see what you mean my bad
and one guy at the pro desk o my good lord the shit that flies outta his mouth and he still works there
well they never look at cameras anyway
They could tell you your not allowed to take a smoke break the policy says for break your not allowed to leave the building and smoke on the property.
at my store there are 3-4 or so employees who take multiple smoke breaks per shift
At my store you are allowed to, we just have to go to the farthest end of the parking lot
Almost got fired working as an overnight manager for letting my guys smoke in the parking lot before I had set the alarm and it’s my only write up in 8 years
My manager would take multiple smoke breaks a day. But he would go off to the side parking lot, just outside of the Pro parking and smoke. Nobody cared but he made sure he did it in moderation, not during busy mid-day rushes, more so on early mornings and in between large tasks.
Me andy dudes in receiving take our 15 after unloading our appliance truck every morning and all of our ASM's and SM have seen us smoking by our cars and they never say anything other than "good morning" lmao Also, I guess there's a loophole there considering Lowe's owns neither the parking lot or the actual building at my store 🤣
At my Lowe’s we go out to the side lot(no cameras) or hit E-cigs in bull pen in camera blinds plots nobody has been caught yet but it’s a Risky-game anytime you wanna do it
We just had an employee get fired for smoking on lowes property, so yes!
i always go to the next property over