Marks & Spencer staff have been banned from smoking in public while wearing their company uniforms, according to newspaper reports.
Workers have been barred from smoking outside stores, a week after smoking inside company premises and vehicles was banned, a leaked memo said.
Staff at the high-street retailer have been told to cover their uniforms so they cannot be linked with the firm when they are smoking.
The leaked memo said: “When smoking outside, staff must ensure no part of their uniform is visible to link them to M&S, ie, logos or company name.”
Another memo, from HR director Keith Cameron, said: “To protect the image of the company, smoking will not be allowed in areas visible to customers/visitors entering or leaving an M&S building,” reports The Mirror.
A nationwide ban on smoking in pubs, clubs, restaurants and in workplaces comes into force next year.
Last month BT stopped staff smoking on its premises and barred them from lighting up in company vans and some company cars.
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