Almost
three-quarters of HR professionals would back a blanket ban on smoking at work,
according to an online poll.
The
majority of 203 HR practitioners questioned voted in favour of a smoke-free
workplace, while just 29 per cent objected to such a ban.
However,
the TUC’s health and safety expert Owen Tudor said companies should be wary of
simply introducing smoking bans overnight.
"Blanket
bans are not a fair way to proceed. Any non-smoking policies should be
negotiated between staff and employers," he said.
He
also urged employers in the leisure and catering sectors to consider using
equipment such as ventilators to remove the smoke.
The
results of the survey, carried out by website HR Gateway, were welcomed by
anti-smoking group Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).
It
claims that employers choosing to ban smoking have healthier staff and lower
absence levels.
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