Smoke free workplace

This summer, a new law will force most smokers to stub out their cigarettes for the last time at work. The changes mean that small businesses should start planning now to ensure that they fall in line with the new rules.

The legislation will cover virtually every enclosed public place, including offices, factories, pubs and bars and will force smokers to go outside if they want to light up. Employers will have to put up "no smoking" signs at the entrances to their workplace and in vehicles, or face a fine. "Smoking rooms" - special places for smokers to light up in - will be banned.

The changes follow the lead set by Scotland in March 2006. In England the smoking ban will come in to force in July 2007, while in Northern Ireland and Wales the new rules came into force in April.

Businesses already have a duty to protect their staff from passive smoking under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. And even if you are one of the few workplaces not covered by the new legislation you could still face claims that employees have suffered from secondary smoking.

But clearing the air at work can have a positive impact on business. A smoke-free environment can:

• improve the health of both smokers and non-smokers, cut absenteeism and turn-over and boost productivity;


• reduce tension between those who light up and those who don't;


• reduce cleaning costs and the need for redecoration;


• smarten up your corporate image;


• help you to meet your existing health and safety responsibilities and to comply with new legislation.

Negotiating a smoke-free policy
Turning your workplace in to a smoke-free building without upsetting smokers takes time and patience. One person should be clearly responsible for drawing up a smoke-free policy and making sure that it is working. If your business is big enough consider setting up a task force to write the policy. This should include both smokers and non-smokers.

Ask employees for feedback and keep an open mind about how you can improve the policy. The Trades Union Congress suggests drawing up a questionnaire to find out how many people smoke, the proportion who want to give up, attitudes to smoking and views on smoking breaks. Tell staff when the policy will start and consider introducing it gradually to meet the summer deadline.