Employers make recruitment decisions based on issues such as employee smoking and obesity, due to perceived sensitivities, concerns of causing offence and legal implications, according to a study by Nuffield Proactive Health.

The research found that 74% of employers would be more likely to recruit a non-smoker than a heavy smoker.

Nuffield has also found that employers tend to associate obesity with negative characteristics such as laziness and a lack of self control (72%) and feel that obese people are at a disadvantage in the job market (91%).

It found that 63% of employers feel that employees who smoke do not present a good company image and 59% believe that those who smoke are less productive than those who do not.

Chris Jessop, chief executive of Nuffield Proactive Health, says: “UK businesses naturally want to recruit, and more importantly retain the best people. Encouraging people to make healthy choices in the workplace should be an important part of the employee retention strategy as the business, as well as the individuals will benefit.”