Seems the boss is right! Smokers work an hour a day less than non-smoking colleagues – wasting over a year of their lives on office cigarette breaks, a study has revealed.

The study of 2,500 adults by UK-based market research company ‘OnePoll.com’ found that an average smoker takes four 15-minute breaks daily, amounting to nearly 445 days out of a working life.

Moreover, four in five smokers didn’t cut down on their breaks during the recession and that women spent longer outside than men, according to the findings. Surprisingly, only one in 10 smokers admitted going outside for a chat without lighting up.

“These stats are bound to be annoying for employers.

It will also irritate non-smokers, who wouldn’t get away with taking four 15-minute coffee breaks,” a spokesman was quoted by the ‘Fox 26′ online as saying.