Post by admin on Nov 15, 2006 13:08:14 GMT 1
Seems local Authorities in lancashire have a vendeta against smokers. Latest is the council banning ciggy breaks...
A council has voted to ban its staff from taking cigarette breaks.
Workers at West Lancashire District Council will be stopped from taking "f*g breaks" during the working day.
West Lancashire is believed to be the first local authority in England to ban its staff from taking smoking breaks. The proposal was approved by the authority's Cabinet committee meeting.
Staff will be given help to give up but could face the sack if they do not comply with the new regulations, to be enforced from March next year.
Leader of the council, Cllr Geoff Roberts, said the proposal had been approved unanimously and should be rubber-stamped by the full council next month.
"We are going to do all we can to help them cope with this," he said. "The whole issue is based upon the care and concern for our staff."
The authority will put on smoking cessation classes and provide counselling for workers to help them give up the weed.
Smokers who want to light up on their lunch breaks must also do so away from council buildings.
But the ban was criticised by smokers' rights group Forest. "We think it's a complete overreaction by West Lancs Council," a spokesman said.
"If smokers were taking dozens of breaks during the day then it would be understandable, but most smokers take very few breaks and it helps them get through the day."
uk.news.yahoo.com/15112006/344/council-ban-cigarette-breaks.html
A council has voted to ban its staff from taking cigarette breaks.
Workers at West Lancashire District Council will be stopped from taking "f*g breaks" during the working day.
West Lancashire is believed to be the first local authority in England to ban its staff from taking smoking breaks. The proposal was approved by the authority's Cabinet committee meeting.
Staff will be given help to give up but could face the sack if they do not comply with the new regulations, to be enforced from March next year.
Leader of the council, Cllr Geoff Roberts, said the proposal had been approved unanimously and should be rubber-stamped by the full council next month.
"We are going to do all we can to help them cope with this," he said. "The whole issue is based upon the care and concern for our staff."
The authority will put on smoking cessation classes and provide counselling for workers to help them give up the weed.
Smokers who want to light up on their lunch breaks must also do so away from council buildings.
But the ban was criticised by smokers' rights group Forest. "We think it's a complete overreaction by West Lancs Council," a spokesman said.
"If smokers were taking dozens of breaks during the day then it would be understandable, but most smokers take very few breaks and it helps them get through the day."
uk.news.yahoo.com/15112006/344/council-ban-cigarette-breaks.html