Smoking at work: the law
Smoking isn鈥檛 allowed in any enclosed workplace, public building or on public transport in the UK.
Penalty for smoking in the workplace
Workers can be fined up to 拢200, or up to 拢50 in Scotland.
The law doesn鈥檛 apply to e-cigarettes. Employers can decide if they can be used on their premises.
What businesses must do
Businesses must:
- display 鈥榥o smoking鈥� signs in all workplaces and vehicles - no smoking signs in Wales must be in both Welsh and English
- make sure people don鈥檛 smoke in enclosed work premises or shared vehicles
Staff smoking rooms aren鈥檛 allowed - smokers must go outside.
Fines and penalties
Businesses can be fined up to 拢2,500 if they don鈥檛 stop people smoking in the workplace or up to 拢1,000 if they don鈥檛 display 鈥榥o smoking鈥� signs.
In Scotland, there is a fixed penalty fine of 拢200, which can go up to 拢2,500 if the fine isn鈥檛 paid.
Smoking in work vehicles
Smoking isn鈥檛 allowed in any work vehicle that more than one person uses, for example:
- taxis
- buses
- vans
- goods vehicles used by more than one driver
- company cars used by more than one employee
A worker can smoke in a company car that only they use if their employer agrees.
Residential care homes
Residential care homes and hospices can offer individual smoking rooms but only for residents.
The rooms must be well ventilated and smoke mustn鈥檛 get into other rooms.