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The rules for the municipality of Gentofte, which is located in the northern part of Greater Copenhagen, are very clear. Employees may not smoke “either indoors or outdoors, in the home workplace or during transportation between workplaces.”
A total of 50 out of 98 Danish municipalities have introduced smoke-free working hours. Another five are preparing for the introduction of such rules in early 2021.
The municipality of Gentofte takes criticism very lightly that this type of regulation infringes on employee privacy.
Invasion of privacy
– That’s not what we’re introducing rules for. It is for working hours. During the time that she receives our salary, she does not smoke, says Helene Rasmussen, head of the municipality’s social administration.
– We have not taken a position that way. Just decide that you can’t smoke while working for Gentofte Township.
Union representatives within the municipality criticized the decision when it was made. They considered that it violated the privacy of their colleagues and did not want to participate in such control.
Some municipalities, like Lolland, have chosen to allow smoking during breaks if employees leave the workplace.
“They go too far”
– When they introduce a smoking ban that is applied at home, I think they go too far, says union representative Steen H Sørensen in Lolland to Magisterbladet.
– It is as if they decided that I am not allowed to eat anything special for lunch because it is not healthy.
In Sweden, Chef magazine has tried to investigate what applies to smoking when working at home.
The newspaper writes that it is “clear that smoking and snus may be allowed during working hours, provided the work is done from home.”
“Therefore, the guideline does not regulate duties,” announces Västra Götaland region labor law attorney Lena Kullander.
