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Smoking Areas
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Should employers provide a covered area to protect smokers from the elements?
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Difficult.
On the one hand, it is a filthy anti-social habit, and I feel people should be made to suffer the elements for indulging in it.
On the other - people have free choice, and probably feel enough of being social pariahs without being made to freeze and / or drown for their particular pleasure.
On balance, I would say yes, it would be appreciated by staff, and prevent lost work time as they dry off and / or warm up after a cigarette outside in the great British weather.
On the one hand, it is a filthy anti-social habit, and I feel people should be made to suffer the elements for indulging in it.
On the other - people have free choice, and probably feel enough of being social pariahs without being made to freeze and / or drown for their particular pleasure.
On balance, I would say yes, it would be appreciated by staff, and prevent lost work time as they dry off and / or warm up after a cigarette outside in the great British weather.
Many employers will not have the resources to provide space for that, and they have to comply with the law to prevent non-smokers being inflicted by the result of smoking. So no, I don't think "should" is the correct word. "Could do, if they have an out of the way place to use; as a favour", might be a better phrase.
From the House of Commons library:
Whilst the places where tobacco and other substances can be smoked is heavily restricted,
smoking itself it not banned, and may still take place outdoors (subject to other restrictions or
local by-laws) and in the home, provided the area is not used as a workplace by more than
one person. All common parts of flats and communal accommodation must be smoke-free.
Where smoking shelters are provided, these must comply with the requirements to be less
than fifty per cent enclosed otherwise they will be deemed substantially enclosed under the
regulations.
The Regulations reflect the minimum requirements to comply with the ban. Some employers
and premises owners may choose to go further and impose a smoking ban in all areas under
their control, including outside grounds and car parks.
Whilst the places where tobacco and other substances can be smoked is heavily restricted,
smoking itself it not banned, and may still take place outdoors (subject to other restrictions or
local by-laws) and in the home, provided the area is not used as a workplace by more than
one person. All common parts of flats and communal accommodation must be smoke-free.
Where smoking shelters are provided, these must comply with the requirements to be less
than fifty per cent enclosed otherwise they will be deemed substantially enclosed under the
regulations.
The Regulations reflect the minimum requirements to comply with the ban. Some employers
and premises owners may choose to go further and impose a smoking ban in all areas under
their control, including outside grounds and car parks.
“…prevent lost work time as they dry off and / or warm up after a cigarette outside in the great British weather.”
Even less work time would be lost if smokers were not allowed “cigarette breaks”. I once worked in an office where my smoking colleagues would disappear around six or seven times each day for the best part of fifteen minutes. I would like to have spent an hour and a half each day watching snooker or tennis on TV (I’m addicted to both) but I don’t think it would have gone down too well.
Even less work time would be lost if smokers were not allowed “cigarette breaks”. I once worked in an office where my smoking colleagues would disappear around six or seven times each day for the best part of fifteen minutes. I would like to have spent an hour and a half each day watching snooker or tennis on TV (I’m addicted to both) but I don’t think it would have gone down too well.
Like wot the Judge said...in the distant past, before the arthritis set in, I used to go on archaeological excavations. Site supervisors would watch like hawks for 'slacking' as all is to a schedule. No smoking in / near the site.....so smokers would clear off to the distant perimeters every hour or so, for 10-15 mins or so. If I simply leaned on my spade or sat smiling at the sun, even for my allocated break, there'd be annoyed remarks about not being on holiday.
