Current plans afoot to rid workplaces of the smoking break could contribute towards an increase in stress among employees, be potentially damaging to productivity and leave employers faced with higher costs according to new findings.
The revelations, made available by consultants Croner, emanates in the wake of the July 1st smoking workplace ban on smoking. 2,103 people were surveyed and of those quizzed most rejected a total ban. Two thirds of respondents claimed that such measures would be of detriment to their stress levels. Indeed only 24% claimed they would cope well or fairly well in an environment such as this. When faced with an alternative solution of cigarette breaks restricted to lunch times only the figure that claimed that they would cope well or fairly well rose to 56% and 75% if kept to various points in the day.
Stress accounts for 26.8 days sick leave on average and it is feared that a compulsory ban on smoking breaks could increase stress levels in 16% of a workforce according to research that would inevitably lead to higher costs for the company.
Gillian Dowling, Employment Technical Consultant for Croner, said, “Whether on a contractual or on an informal basis, smoking breaks have been a part of workplace culture for years. And in office-based jobs where breaks are normally handled informally smokers typically treat smoking breaks as a way of refocusing after a period at the computer, just as non-smokers take regular breaks for coffee, personal phone calls or a snack.
“The research has clearly shown that taking this ‘freedom’ away could increase stress levels, and we would advise handling the smoking break issue on an individual basis rather than installing a ‘blanket’ smoking break ban.”
(Courtesy The People Bulletin)
