Boss announces four extra days of holiday for non-smoking workers
A UK employment company has introduced four days paid leave to non-smoking employees.
KCJ Training and Employment Solutions announced the initiative on social media to kick off the new year.
“As of right now all of our non-smoking office staff have been given an extra 4 days holiday per year,” the company posted on Facebook on January 2.
KCJ managing director Don Bryden believes the new policy will cut back on employees who take “cheeky cigarette breaks”.
"I was watching the employees that smoke. They have four, five or even 10 cigarettes a day and take around 10 minutes outside each time,” Mr Bryden told local publication Swindon Advertiser.
“I looked at the other guys during these breaks and they're always on the phones, typing away and trying to do their work, so I thought they should be compensated.”
The Cornwall-based firm also believes the move will encourage smokers to give up the habit.
“We're proud to incentivise our staff to quit smoking and to create a healthy workplace within our KCJ offices,” the Facebook post said.
Mr Bryden said the announcement was already making an impact with some employees vowing to quit smoking, but they would have to prove their commitment for a year before they were rewarded.
"Funnily enough, when I made the announcement some of the workers said they weren't going to smoke any more, but it doesn't work like that. If they can give up smoking for 12 months, I'll give them the extra four days,” he told Swindon Advertiser.
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