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Firms urged to help smokers quit Firms urged to help smokers quit
(40 minutes later)
Businesses are being urged to help workers give up smoking before the smoking ban in England on 1 July.Businesses are being urged to help workers give up smoking before the smoking ban in England on 1 July.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) said workers should be allowed time off with pay to attend stop smoking clinics. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) said workers should be allowed time off with pay to attend "stop smoking" clinics.
And the NHS watchdog also called on employers to provide staff with information on nearby services.And the NHS watchdog also called on employers to provide staff with information on nearby services.
But the pro-smoking group Forest said non-smokers might be unhappy about their colleagues getting time off.But the pro-smoking group Forest said non-smokers might be unhappy about their colleagues getting time off.
Smoking is estimated to cost industry £5bn in lost productivity, absenteeism and fire damage.Smoking is estimated to cost industry £5bn in lost productivity, absenteeism and fire damage.
Employees who quit will give themselves an instant pay rise - a 20 a day smoker will save nearly £2,000 a year by stopping David SloanNICEEmployees who quit will give themselves an instant pay rise - a 20 a day smoker will save nearly £2,000 a year by stopping David SloanNICE
NICE said businesses should be trying to encourage staff to give up smoking prior to the start of the ban in England on 1 July.NICE said businesses should be trying to encourage staff to give up smoking prior to the start of the ban in England on 1 July.
It prohibits smoking in all enclosed public places and workplaces and comes after similar bans have been introduced elsewhere in the UK.It prohibits smoking in all enclosed public places and workplaces and comes after similar bans have been introduced elsewhere in the UK.
The guidance said employers should develop a specific policy on how to support employees who want to give up smoking.The guidance said employers should develop a specific policy on how to support employees who want to give up smoking.
This should include detailed information on where staff can go for help.This should include detailed information on where staff can go for help.
It also calls on NHS "stop smoking" services to help business support staff by running clinics on firms' premises if there is demand.It also calls on NHS "stop smoking" services to help business support staff by running clinics on firms' premises if there is demand.
The most radical suggestion is that employers should allow staff to attend anti-smoking clinics in work time.The most radical suggestion is that employers should allow staff to attend anti-smoking clinics in work time.
StaffStaff
The Federation of Small Businesses said it would be up to individual employers to decide if this was appropriate.The Federation of Small Businesses said it would be up to individual employers to decide if this was appropriate.
But Mary Boughton, the federation's health and safety chairman, said the measures could help to "improve the health of staff and productivity of business".But Mary Boughton, the federation's health and safety chairman, said the measures could help to "improve the health of staff and productivity of business".
"Small businesses recognise the need to support their staff in the workplace.""Small businesses recognise the need to support their staff in the workplace."
Similar bans have been introduced in other parts of the UKSimilar bans have been introduced in other parts of the UK
However, some business representatives have privately questioned whether it is right for employers to interfere with people's personal lives.However, some business representatives have privately questioned whether it is right for employers to interfere with people's personal lives.
And Simon Clark, director of smokers' lobby group Forest said it was "absolutely ridiculous" that workers should attend stop smoking clinics during working hours.And Simon Clark, director of smokers' lobby group Forest said it was "absolutely ridiculous" that workers should attend stop smoking clinics during working hours.
"It's wrong to expect employers to accept employees taking time off, and I imagine their non-smoking colleagues will be very unhappy about it.""It's wrong to expect employers to accept employees taking time off, and I imagine their non-smoking colleagues will be very unhappy about it."
And he added that any such move would be likely to be open to abuse as "people will take advantage as they have an excuse to take time off work".And he added that any such move would be likely to be open to abuse as "people will take advantage as they have an excuse to take time off work".
Dr David Sloan, a public health specialist at NICE, said: "We know that overall around three out of four smokers want to quit.Dr David Sloan, a public health specialist at NICE, said: "We know that overall around three out of four smokers want to quit.
"It's important for employees and their representatives to work with employers on what support they need to give up smoking, and to encourage their employers to make support available."It's important for employees and their representatives to work with employers on what support they need to give up smoking, and to encourage their employers to make support available.
"Along with the health benefits of stopping smoking, employees who quit will give themselves an instant pay rise - a 20 a day smoker will save nearly £2,000 a year by stopping." "Along with the health benefits of stopping smoking, employees who quit will give themselves an instant pay rise - a 20-a-day smoker will save nearly £2,000 a year by stopping."