‘None of us are robots’: Aussies fume over new workplace push

Aussies have pushed back against a workplace norm that could be set to change.

Aussies have been left panicking over the idea that the classic “smoko” might soon become a thing of the past.

The term used to mean that workers would take 10 minutes away from work to have a cigarette - a smoke break.

Over time, the smoko has morphed into a chance for people to rest, get coffees, scroll on their phones, whatever.

Aussies are now defending their 10-minute right after a slew of major retail giants joined forces this week to support an application by the Australian Retailers Association’s to the Fair Work Commission proposing a series of changes for workers.

Kmart, Coles, Woolworths, Costco, Mecca, and 7-Eleven have all thrown their support behind the ARA’s application, which outlines a request for a slew of changes.

These include reducing the legal gap between shifts from 12 to 10 hours and not paying loading to full-time staff members who are paid 25 per cent above standard rates.

The application also pushes for workers to not be entitled to unpaid meal breaks for shifts up to six hours and for managers not to have to roster on worker’s breaks in advance.

The rule that has sparked the most discussion, though, is the ARA’s push for a change in paid work break requirements.

Aussies have shared why the smoko break is important. Picture: iStock

Kmart has told the Fair Work Commission that the infamous “smoke break” no longer makes sense.

“The majority of our workforce is representative of a younger demographic who would often prefer to waive their meal break because they already carry water with them during shift and because smoking rates are now far less prevalent,” Kmart’s head of supply operations Chris Melton wrote in a witness statement to the commission.

Someone argued that people aren’t robots. Picture: iStock

The ARA has followed up the submission by publishing a list of “FAQs” on its website today, clarifying that the proposal doesn’t seek to eliminate such breaks altogether, but aims to “introduce flexibility in break requirements” so rather than taking a break from their shift, workers can “go home early if and only if they choose to do so”.

The idea of workers not taking their smokos throughout their shifts has caused some uproar.

Channel 10’s The Project took to Facebook and asked, “Should workers still get a 10-minute smoko break?” and the response was staggeringly in favour of keeping the break.

One Aussie argued that anyone working in retail should be entitled to a 10-minute break because “customers can be extremely draining mentally”.

A retail worker claimed it should be a 25-minute break because it can take to get off the shop floor and head into a breakroom or outside.

Another argued that there’s “nothing wrong” with giving people breaks because “none of us are robots” and smoko is just the old-fashioned name for it.

Someone else said young people probably don’t even realise they’re “entitled” to a 10-minute break, which they could use to sit down and hydrate.

One Aussie argued that 10-minute breaks allow people to “work better”, and they are good for both the mind and productivity.

Another commenter, who said they were retired, bragged they had never taken a smoke break in their entire career, while another said all employees should be “entitled” to a smoking break whether they smoke or not.

Nat Barr kicked off the debate on Sunrise. Picture: YouTube/Sunrise

The debate also made its way onto Channel 7’s Sunrise, where Triple M’s Luke Bona and commentator Cath Webber doubled down on their love for the 10-minute break.

Mr Bona argued that workers were being talked into giving away their “entitlements” in exchange for more pay.

“This is a smoke screen! This is absolute G-up; this is about the Australian Retail Association going into bat with a number of big retailers and what they want to do is they want to get rid of awards,” he said.

“I think you’ve got to read between the lines in all this.”

Ms Webber agreed, saying it was a “slippery slope” and that laws are there to protect “vulnerable people”.

She argued that most employers and employees can work out if there’s time to take a 10-minute break or if they can leave 10 minutes early instead, but the rules are about protecting workers from “dodgy employers”.

“Back in our day, when we were young, you’d smoke so you could genuinely get a break. Everyone was out there,” Ms Webber said.

Mr Bona said it was a smoke screen. Picture: YouTube/Sunrise

She warned it could be a slippery slope. Picture: YouTube/Sunrise

Following reaction to the submission, the ARA released a statement earlier this week saying the current award is “complex” and that its application sought to make the industry award “clearer, simpler and more flexible for all parties”.

“This application was in response to the review of modern awards initiated by the Federal Government and conducted by the Fair Work Commission,” the ARA statement read.

“The ARA recognises that the current award, with 994 individual pay rates spanning 96 pages, is unnecessarily complex and misaligned with the evolving needs of the retail workforce. This leads to employees and employers struggling to understand workplace entitlements and cultivate flexibility within working arrangements.

“The ARA’s proposed variations to the GRIA seek to promote clearer guidelines around working conditions, empowering employees to understand their rights while also fostering greater transparency and flexibility in working arrangements.”

The case will be heard by the FWC in March 2025.