A number one Labor-led council has denied banning staff from smoking at their desks in the event that they earn a living from home.
The council of Hammersmith and Fulham, which represents one of many wealthiest elements of the nation in London, informed its employees as a tenet that "any a part of a non-public dwelling used just for work functions should be smoke-free ".
The rules have been printed in 2015 in a joint doc “well being and security of companies within the two boroughs” setting out the council's anti-smoking coverage with Royal Kensington and Chelsea.
The edict is highlighted in a brand new report and launched Monday by Forest, the pro-smoking foyer group, after a search by Josie Appleton of the Manifesto Membership, a marketing campaign group for freedoms.
A spokesperson for Kensington and Chelsea, who had informed his employees that "homeworkers shouldn’t smoke at their workstations throughout workplace hours," dropped the smoking ban on dwelling employees when it launched new tips in February of this 12 months.
The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham issued the rules to Miss Appleton on April 21 beneath Freedom of Info Acts, saying it was the 'present coverage doc' of the recommendation.
Nonetheless, a supply insisted on Monday that the advisory was now not in impact and that no employees member had been penalized for violating the ban on smoking for dwelling employees.
A spokesperson for Hamersmith and Fulham mentioned: 'We don't have a coverage relating to staff who smoke within the dwelling. That is merely not true.
“It was supplied in 2015 by Kensington and the Chelsea Council for his or her staff who we employed to work throughout a variety of providers – an settlement we have now since terminated. This has by no means been an H&F coverage.
"Whereas if requested, we’d all the time advise towards smoking as a result of it may kill them prematurely, result in incapacity and waste their cash, we are going to by no means educate folks to smoke of their houses."
The report, titled “Smoke-Free Ideology – How Native Authorities Wage Selection and Private Freedom,” discovered that of 147 councils, with an specific coverage on cigarette breaks, 88 restricted them, 49 prohibited them. and solely 10 allowed employees to smoke.
About fifty councils have completely banned breaks for smoking and / or vaping, even when the employees have been out. This included banning smoking or vaping whereas strolling between work appointments.
Over 100 councils have banned smoking exterior of council buildings and grounds. In a single case, Islington Council ordered its employees to maneuver 50 meters away from its buildings earlier than lighting up.
Denbighshire has banned smoking in civic facilities, nation parks and out of doors services, whereas the report revealed smoking bans on seashores in Pembrokeshire and Swansea.
Nottingham Council and Rushcliffe have banned smoking at council occasions. Bracknell Forest has banned smoking in open areas managed by metropolis council.
Josie Appleton, the report's creator, mentioned: "It's not in regards to the dangers of secondhand smoke – it's an ethical campaign. Smoking is being handled as a shameful exercise that it shouldn't be. by no means be seen in public areas or close to official buildings.
“Absurdly some suggestions additionally stop their employees from vaping, making it more durable to give up people who smoke.
"It might be higher for boards to deal with delivering public providers, fairly than interfering with the approach to life decisions of their staff and residents."
Cllr Ian Hudspeth, chairman of the Affiliation of Native Authorities Group Welfare Council, defended the councils, telling The Telegraph they have been "accountable employers."
He mentioned: “Smoking remains to be the main reason for preventable dying. Decreasing smoking charges is a very powerful factor we will do to enhance the well being of the nation as it’ll scale back heart problems, respiratory illnesses and most cancers, which implies folks can dwell more healthy longer lives. .
'The federal government has rightly made a dedication to finish smoking in England by 2030 as a part of a sequence of measures to sort out the causes of preventable illness.
As accountable employers and public well being leaders, Boards make no apologies for main by instance and in search of to guard the well being of their staff and most of the people. . "