header-logo header-logo

Butts out

05 July 2007 / Jeremy Nixon
Issue: 7280 / Categories: Features , Employment
printer mail-detail

How will the new non-smoking legislation affect the workplace? Jeremy Nixon investigates

With effect from 1 July 2007, England came into line with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland when smoking in all enclosed public places was banned.

In common with much of the employment law legislation we have seen over recent years, the new provisions in relation to smoking place what was best practice on a statutory footing, since for many years now smoking has been prohibited in most workplaces. A further similarity between the smoking legislation and other recent changes to employment law—particularly the statutory grievance and dismissal procedures—is the fact that the legislation is spread across a number of different statutory provisions, which will certainly keep employment lawyers and human resources (HR) managers on their toes when interpreting them.

THE STATUTORY FRAMEWORK

The new law is found in:
- The Health Act 2006.
- The Smoke-free (Premises and Enforcement) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/3368).
- The Smoke-free (Exemptions and Vehicles) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/765).
- The Smoke-free (Penalties and Discounted Amounts) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/764).
- The Smoke-free (Vehicle Operators and

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
back-to-top-scroll