Smoking breaks in tech NEED to stop!

In too many teams, the real conversations happen outside during smoke breaks. It’s why many young folks start to smoke.

Early in my career, I found myself tagging along.

Not because I smoked, but because I didn’t want to miss the discussions. Sometimes even decisions were made out there.

That is the problem.

It is fine if casual chats happen over a cigarette. Then no one feels like they’re missing out.

But when those chats start shaping strategy, setting direction, or influencing key calls, you create an unfair divide.

Even if someone is just standing there, they are still passively inhaling.

That is not inclusion. That is pressure with a health cost.

This culture has to shift. And that shift has to start from the top.

If you’re making decisions during these breaks, share them with your team, including freshers.

Don’t punish your teammates (especially new ones) for choosing a healthier life.