Smoking Ban May Increase Stress Levels

06-07-2007

Smoking breaks are not compulsory and many employers have considered dropping the practice now a ban on smoking in workplaces has been introduced. However, BUPA Wellness has suggested that regular breaks could help reduce stress build-ups amongst staff.

Many people, whether they smoke or not, do not take the breaks they are entitled to, and therefore remain within the work environment all day. Smokers and especially those trying to give up smoking who may have, until now, felt able to relieve work-related stress by taking a short cigarette break may no longer have that release and could already be experiencing various feelings of stress. These could be made worse by experiencing smoking withdrawal symptoms as well.

No matter how busy you are at work, it is advisable to take the breaks to which you are entitled to help reduce stress, improve concentration, wellbeing and work / life balance. A short change of activity can also help.

Stress affects one in five of the working population and is the single biggest cause of sickness absence in the UK.

According to the Workplace Law Handbook 2007, no employer has a duty to prevent all stress, which can be as a result of interests outside work (including smoking). However, once an employee has raised the issue of stress, an employer is under a duty to investigate properly and protect the employee as far as is reasonably practicable.

Listed below are some steps that employers could take to combat stress in the workplace:

• Monitoring health of employees through a confidential advice line or regular company medicals;
• Offering a counselling service;
• Conducting pre-employment health checks to allow for vulnerable potential employees to be excluded from stressful roles;
• Conducting risk assessments that include stress;
• Monitoring and recording employees' working time with action being taken if the benchmark being set out in the Working Time Regulations 2003 is breached.

In addition, it has also been recommended that employers provide support for employees wishing to give up smoking.

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