Less than half of UK plc offer support to staff to stop smoking.

This is despite the fact that smoking in the workplace costs at least £340 million a year in productivity losses and around £70 million per year in expenses incurred through absenteeism.

Official statistics from ASH tell us that about 12 million adults in the UK smoke cigarettes. The habit is fairly evenly balanced between the genders with 27% of men and 25% of women confirmed as smokers. Every year around 114,000 people in the UK die as a result of the habit.

In addition to the mortality statistics, smokers are also more susceptible to colds and flu, therefore needing more time off than non-smokers.

But according to Spring Personnel, a staffing agency, the majority of employers are ignoring the facts. Sixty per cent do not actively discourage smoking at work but instead allow unlimited cigarette breaks, and half (49%) even provide a dedicated smoking area for staff.

John Simmonds, managing director at Spring Personnel said: “With the government proposal banning smoking in enclosed workplaces from 2007, now is the time for companies that have not already done so to develop a smoking policy. By having a document that sets out smoking restrictions, companies can respect the rights of smokers and non-smokers, while ensuring increased productivity and therefore competitiveness.”

Simmonds advises bosses to adopt a policy that clearly sets out the number of smoking breaks allowed.

“This can also help to avoid confusion among bosses and increase morale amongst non-smoking colleagues who often feel hard done by, because they don’t get the breaks that their smoking counterparts enjoy.”

Statistics show that seven out of ten smokers would like to give up and introducing a non-smoking policy in the workplace can help those who do, say the recruitment outfit.

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