Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Alcohol and drug misuseLatest NewsSmoking in the workplaceOccupational HealthWellbeing

Bosses fume over plans to make them pick up the tab and give smokers paid time off to kick habit

by Gareth Vorster 1 May 2007
by Gareth Vorster 1 May 2007

Employers’ organisations have spoken out against guidance recommending that smokers should be given paid time off work to help them kick the habit in the run up to the 1 July ban on smoking in public places in England.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) claimed the proposal would help cut the estimated £5bn annual cost of lost productivity, absenteeism and fire damage caused by smoking. It recommended that staff be allowed to attend stop-smoking clinics in work hours without loss of pay.

Smoking costs the NHS an estimated £1.5bn each year.

Victoria Carson, campaigns manager at the Forum of Private Business, said: “Where do we draw the line? What provisions would be put in place if the clinics fail to help staff? Many smokers struggle to quit and businesses must not be left with a growing bill.”

The proposals could damage relations between smoking and non-smoking colleagues, she added.

“Why doesn’t the NHS, using the savings made in the cost of healthcare by the smoking ban, set up evening smoking clinics out of work hours?” Carson said.

David Frost, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “The idea that businesses should pick up the tab for an individual’s tobacco addiction just shows how far removed from the economic reality of the workplace Nice is.”

Ben Willmott, employee relations adviser at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, said there were alternative solutions that would not encroach into working hours disproportionately and alienate staff.

He told Personnel Today: “Support does not have to be time consuming. It can simply point staff in the direction of online resources, phone helplines or getting an expert in for a one-off seminar.”

Avatar
Gareth Vorster

previous post
Jill Shedden takes up top HR job at British Gas as Alf Turner makes way
next post
Does the new ‘super union’ have anything to be bullish about?

You may also like

Hiring boom set to slow as employers come...

15 Aug 2022

Are you a ‘quiet quitter’?

12 Aug 2022

July saw highest number of job adverts for...

12 Aug 2022

Transport sector recruitment ‘should be overhauled to improve...

12 Aug 2022

Liz Truss comments on Civil Service dismissed as...

12 Aug 2022

Hot summers, hot desks – employment law advice...

12 Aug 2022

Sharp rise in firms offering enhanced parental leave...

11 Aug 2022

Expert urges Covid-19 autumn booster expansion amid waning...

11 Aug 2022

Working in a heatwave: what should employers consider?

11 Aug 2022

Zero-hours contract benefits ‘can outweigh negatives for workers’

11 Aug 2022

  • 6 reasons why work-based learning is better than traditional training PROMOTED | A recent Fortune/Deloitte survey found that 71% of CEOs are anticipating that this year’s biggest business disrupter...Read more
  • Strengthening Scotland’s public services through virtual recruiting PROMOTED | This website is Scotland's go-to place for job seekers looking to apply for roles in public services...Read more
  • What’s next for L&D? Enter Alchemist… PROMOTED | It’s time to turn off the tedious and get ready for interactive and immersive learning experiences...Read more
  • Simple mistakes are blighting the onboarding experience PROMOTED | The onboarding of new hires is a company’s best chance...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today