The England smoking ban will make catering a cleaner and more appealing business, says Debbie Radage the sales and marketing manager at recruitment firm City Catering.
With less than four weeks until England’s smoking ban kicks in on 1 July, employers are counting down the days until they have to implement the new regulations and erect no-smoking signage at their premises.
Commercially it is hoped the change in smoking regulations will now attract more customers to bars and restaurants that were otherwise put off by the smoky atmospheres.
With England on board the UK-wide ban will mean food and drink areas will be entirely smoke free, making smoking sections in restaurants a thing of the past.
But this is also great news for employers as the ban comes at a vital time with the catering industry’s image as employer of choice in real need of a boost.
As public spaces such as theatres, cinemas and public transport have long had smoking bans in place, so it will be businesses such as pubs, clubs and restaurants that will most noticeably feel the effects.
I believe this simple step will make an enormous difference to the way graduates and future employees perceive the catering business, helping to recruit those often put off by the thought of smoky pubs and restaurants as their work place.
Whatever your view on the science of passive smoking – and some reports claim it has been killing as many as three workers a day in the UK - it is undeniable that our staff will be healthier and more productive with a ban in place.
Staff will have better working environments, much cleaner air and the extremely appealing prospect of going home smelling of hard work rather than their customers’ smoke.
I really feel the whole of the sector, and especially employers, will benefit from the restrictions.
Read more on the smoking ban here >>
Have your say
Click here to e-mail your comments.