Employers turn their noses up at staff smoking

A survey conducted by the Aziz Corporation found that just 10 per cent of employers felt that smelling cigarette smoke was acceptable during office hours.

Cigarette smoke topped a list of pet hates, ahead of tattoos, which were despised by 29 per cent of respondents, and long hair on men, which was disapproved of by 24 per cent of those polled.

The research follows previous research that showed that employers and employees alike are in favour of a ban on smoking in the workplace, in order to protect employee health and boost productivity.

Ireland and New York have both banned smoking in businesses over the past year, and despite troubles enforcing bans, bars and restaurants have not seen profits significantly drop as a result.

Trade unions have warned firms they are putting employees’ health at risk by letting smoking continue in the workplace, and have urged employers to agree strict cigarette policies with staff in contracts.

With smoking becoming increasingly unacceptable in public places, small firms are facing increasing pressure to ban the practice outright.

Khalid Aziz, chairman of the Aziz Corporation, said that smokers are now the pariahs of the British workplace.

“Having already been shunted outside of buildings to huddle in office doorways when they want a cigarette, they are now finding even the smell of smoke on the clothes, hair and breath is frowned upon.

“Ireland’s recent ban on smoking in public places seems to be indicative of the cultural shift that is taking place, and these results are interesting given that the UK government is considering a similar ban,” he said.