No smoke without fine
Firms are being warned to get their anti-smoking policies in order - or they could face fines of up to £2,500 if they're caught out when new legislation comes into force next summer.
You will also need to display a no smoking sign on your premises, or you could be fined £200. A further charge of £1,000 could be levied if you fail to put up a sign or if people ignore it, and you could be deemed to have committed a crime.
The consultations on how the regulations preventing smoking in enclosed public places will actually be carried out are still ongoing.
But law firm DWF says they will be stringent.
Spokeswoman Sarah Clayton said:
"The rules in their current format represent the toughest measures yet to combat smoking at work."Employers need to consider how they would implement the regulations throughout company premises and vehicles to ensure they can comply with the law."
