said:
“It is remarkable that attitudes have changed so much that it is now more acceptable to interrupt a business lunch to take a phone call than to light up a cigarette after the meal. This toleration of mobile phones reflects not only the rise of the ‘mobile phone generation’ but also a business culture where it is increasingly seen as not only acceptable, but indeed essential, to be contactable at all times.
Mobile phones, and Blackberries in particular, mean that the office is now everywhere, from the boardroom to the breakfast table.”
While mobile phones are now an accepted part of business life, smoking is most definitely not. The survey reveals that almost four fifths (79 per cent) of managers find smoking immediately outside the office unacceptable and half think that companies should prohibit smoking throughout their entire grounds, including external spaces, such as car parks.
So strong is the animosity towards smoking in a work environment that nearly three-quarters (70 percent) think that those who take frequent smoking breaks are being unfair to their non-smoking colleagues.
Khalid Aziz commented:
“Popular opinion has now shifted from viewing smoking as acceptable and even sophisticated, to seeing it as scruffy and a way of skiving off work.
M&S recently banned employees from smoking in public when wearing company uniforms and BT has prohibited staff from lighting up in their offices or company vans. This corporate concern that any association with cigarettes can damage a brand’s reputation shows just how far from grace smoking has fallen. No company wants their brand associated with the image of Harry Enfield’s Waynetta Slob – that’s just not professional.”
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Professor Khalid Aziz of The Aziz Corporation is available for interview on this story. If you would be
interested in speaking with Khalid then please contact Joni Hollis on 020 7760 8616 or 07889 843 463.
Notes to Editors
The Aziz Corporation
The Aziz Corporation is the UK’s leading independent executive communications consultancy. Its mission is to add
value to businesses by ensuring their people are effective communicators. Consultancy services offered by the Aziz
Corporation include presentation skills, media training, crisis management, image consultancy and voice development.
About the survey
This survey was completed by 200 senior managers and directors of major companies based across the United Kingdom.
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