If you are one of the 1.2 million company car drivers who also happens to smoke, get down to the chemist now and order a massive supply of Nicotine Patches. For when the smoking ban comes into force July this year, it includes company cars.
Drivers will not be allowed to smoke in work vans, company vehicles, lorries or tractors, including company pool cars or vehicles used for multiple users as an employee forced to inhale stale smoke left by the previous occupant of the car could have legitimate grounds for complaint.
So employers and fleet managers will need to display no-smoking signs in shared cars and make sure they communicate the policy effectively to staff. Employers have a duty to prevent employees smoking in a company vehicle and failure to comply with this duty could result in the company being fined in the Magistrates Court.
Employers are being strongly urged to start advising their employees of these changes or face total chaos in July when suddenly the whole of the UK becomes smoke free.
Well let’s face it, the whole of the UK will be come chaotic as we become a smoke free nation and tempers will be flaring left right and centre. Can you imagine those company car salesmen or white van drivers not being able to smoke in their vehicles? I can see the road rage figures soaring.
So take a leaf out of my book. Give up now.
Jackie Violet