Smoke Break Policy
Cassano’s smoke break policy comes down to two ideas: the store can never be unattended, and breaks can’t happen during the busiest hours.
The store is never empty
Smoke breaks that leave the store unattended are not permitted under any circumstances. If the manager in charge is taking a smoke break, another employee must be inside the store — greeting customers, answering the phone, and aware of anyone coming or going.
Blackout windows
No smoke breaks during the two busiest stretches of the day:
- 11 AM – 2 PM (lunch rush)
- 5 PM – 8 PM (dinner rush)
These are the hours when customers are most likely to walk in or call. Stepping out during them — even with someone else inside — isn’t allowed.
The basics
- Smoke breaks are short and infrequent — they’re not a guaranteed entitlement. Manager approval per break.
- Smoke only in the designated outdoor area. Not at the front entrance where customers see you. Not in the parking lot in front of the dining room.
- Dispose of butts in the receptacle, not on the ground.
- Wash your hands and use a breath mint before returning to the line. You handle food and you talk to customers — the smoke doesn’t follow you back inside.
For managers
If approving a smoke break leaves the store at minimum coverage or stretches a station, the answer is no. Smoke breaks are a privilege contingent on store coverage, not a fixed right at a fixed interval.
Consequences
Failure to follow these guidelines is grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including termination. This is a sign-off policy: every employee acknowledges it in writing.
Smoking itself — cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, or electronic cigarettes — is prohibited inside the store at all times by Ohio state law and Cassano’s policy. Smoking on break is only allowed at the legal distance from the store entrance. See L10 — Health & Hygiene Guidelines for the full rule.