Bosses blast work smoking clinics

The British Chambers of Commerce said the guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) were out of touch with the reality of the workplace.

Nice believes that by helping workers to quit, businesses will actually save money, based on the increased productivity.

"For example, a business with 20 employees, of which typically five would smoke, could spend just £66 on providing brief advice (including employees' time) and see an overall saving of around £350 based on improved productivity," a spokeswoman for Nice said.

But David Frost, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "The idea that businesses should pick up the tab for an individual's tobacco addiction just shows how far removed from the economic reality of the workplace Nice is. If people have a problem with tobacco dependence, it is up to them to sort that out, but not during working hours."

Nice, the independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on the promotion of good health, has issued the new guidelines for every workplace in England, as they prepare to go smoke-free from July 1. Currently, smoking costs the NHS an estimated £1.5 billion each year, and costs industry an estimated £5 billion in lost productivity, absenteeism and fire damage.

Andrew Dillon, chief executive of Nice, said: "Going smoke-free is a win-win situation for both employers and employees, and our advice sets out the best approach to making it happen.

"Our advice is based on the best evidence of which workplace approaches are effective for smokers and make business sense for employers."

The recommendations include making information on local stop smoking services widely available at work and where feasible, where there is sufficient demand, providing on-site stop smoking support.

After July 1, smoking will be banned in virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces in England, and failure to comply will be an offence.