Business Doctor:
Each month a panel of experts answers your business dilemmas. This month, with 90% of New Year's resolutions failing, how are newly quit smokers struggling with smoke free work places?
Gideon Ben-Tovim
(Joint Chair of the SmokeFree Liverpool Stakeholder Group)
"One of the reasons many people supported the move to smokefree workplaces was that ‘it will help me give up smoking'..
And since the legislation came into effect last summer, the experience across Merseyside is that many people have quit, and are staying quit - with the temptation to smoke at work now removed.
During the Liverpool smokefree campaign many businesses came on board before the 1st of July legislation to prepare their businesses, staff and customers for the new era. In turn, people chose to use this and the impending legislation as their reason to quit - not waiting for New Year to make a smokefree resolution.
Workplaces being smokefree seems to have really helped people to stay quit as it removes the temptation whilst they are out and about. But there is another good reason for quitters to stay quit, and for smokers to quit: why not think of the children?
It has been proved that secondhand smoke is just as harmful as smoking yourself and, while smokefree workplaces protect many adults, children and young people can still be at risk.
SmokeFree Liverpool has recently launched its SmokeFree Kids campaign which is working towards protecting children and young people, with the support of LFC, EFC, Alder Hey Children's Hospital and Liverpool Women's Hospital."
Charles Millet Employment Law Specialist at Morecrofts
"Following the smoking ban that came into place in July last year, more than 1,200 warnings were given by smoking inspectors in the following four months. It is therefore important that employers review their smoking policies and display the correct "No Smoking" signs in their premises. Employers in breach of the regulations could face fines for allowing people to smoke in their premises, as well as for failing to display "No Smoking" signs.
A failure to display a "No Smoking" sign can result in a fine of up to £1000 and a failure to prevent smoking in a smoke free place can incur a fine of up to £2,500. If the fixed penalty procedure is used, different rates apply.
From an Employment Law perspective, an employee found to be smoking in a smoke free area could be asked to attend a disciplinary meeting. Employers would be advised to state in their disciplinary procedures that the act of smoking in a prohibited area will constitute gross misconduct.
There is no legal right to smoke at work. There is a right to a rest break of at least twenty minutes for every six hours worked. Presumably, smokers will be able to smoke during such rest breaks so long as these are not in substantially enclosed spaces. Employers should also be aware that the ban includes smoking in company vehicles if the vehicle is used by more than one person."
Keith Gorman, Programme Manager for Health@Work
"Smoking is a serious addiction and many people don't appreciate how difficult it is to give up. When people quit smoking they have to deal with the withdrawal from nicotine, and breaking the habit of 'lighting up'. Symptoms of withdrawal can include anything from insomnia to headaches and exhaustion.
Our smokefree workplaces have led to more support out there for newly-quit smokers. Many employers reviewed their smoking polices in July when this new legislation came in and have put in measures to help staff who are looking to quit. After all it is in the interests of the employer to look after the health of their staff. If staff are taking less unofficial smoking breaks and less time off because of ill health, they are spending more time performing to their best in their roles.
In addition to getting help from employers there are lots of free support networks out there for newly-quit smokers. Liverpool has a number of organisations which will help, such as Roy Castle's Fag Ends. This group will do ‘drops ins' on companies and help staff looking to quit. This can include free nicotine replacement therapy for 6 - 12 weeks and breath tests. These tests are designed to assess the amount of carbon monoxide, an after-effect of smoking, which is in the system. Someone from Fag Ends will come in every week to test staff and check their progress. This acts as a good motivator for newly-quit smokers, who want to see themselves improving week on week."
