Beloved ‘smoko’ tradition in jeopardy as tradies skip second break due to increased workload

By admin On Nov 3, 2022

Australia’s beloved ‘smoko’ tradition could be in jeopardy as some tradespeople are opting not to take a break due to increased workload.

New research from tradie marketplace Hipages reveals 40 per cent of tradies only take one small break per day, while 45 per cent work more than nine hours a day.

The data is not surprising, according to Melbourne tradie Martin Nguyen.

Australia's beloved 'smoko' tradition could be in jeopardy as some tradespeople are opting not to take a break due to increased workload. — Australia’s beloved ‘smoko’ tradition could be in jeopardy as some tradespeople are opting not to take a break due to increased workload. (9News)

Nguyen, who works with Kubra Building Services, said having a second “smoko” break was becoming less and less common.

“We are reluctant to have two breaks and we just try and meet targets as best we can,” he said.

“It’s definitely not a big thing anymore.

New research from tradie marketplace Hipages reveals 40 per cent of tradies only take one small break per day, while 45 per cent work more than nine hours a day. (9News)

“It’s often 5am wake-ups and you don’t get back to 6 or 7pm at night so it’s not as easy as it looks.”

The research found that 26 per cent of tradies didn’t take annual leave last year, while 64 per cent were concerned about taking a holiday, for fear of disrupting business.

“They are the ones that are sacrificing the breaks and leave the risk of having to run their business and keep it afloat,” Hipages Chief Customer Officer Stuart Tucker said.

“We understand the bigger construction sites is very mandated about breaks.”