Outrage after tobacco company nominated 

Source:

Anti-smoking groups say they are outraged at the inclusion of British American Tobacco (BAT) in a best workplace competition.

BAT's participation in the JRA Best Workplace Awards, where it was a finalist in the small to medium workplace category, was a cynical corporate social responsibility stunt, said Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) director Ben Youdan.

The company should be cut from the competition, he said.

"This is a classical move by the tobacco industry to present itself as a normal business.

They no longer succeed in making smoking appear normal, so they're putting effort in to making themselves seem like a respectable corporate entity," said Youdan.

Anti-tobacco organisation Te Reo Marama director Shane Bradbrook said any company that sold a deadly product should not be eligible for such an award.

Companies must register themselves for the awards.

JRA managing director John Robertson said BAT was a finalist based on its employee feedback.

"The selection process does not involve any subjective judgment or contribution by JRA," he said.

It was not JRA's place to make a value judgment on the business activities of any of our participants, he said.

BAT was not available for comment.