While many cigarette smokers might believe their decision to smoke affects only them and their health, studies have shown that it also affects their work lives, according to the State of Indiana. Employees who smoke cost employers money and hours in lost productivity.
Significance
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States each year, according to the Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention. More than 440,000 smokers die from smoking-related deaths each year---more than from AIDS, drug usage, alcohol, homicide, suicide and motor vehicle accidents. These deaths impact not only a person and his family, but also businesses and co-workers. On average, smoking reduces adult life expectancy by 14 years, according to Business & Legal Reports.
Medical Implications
Employees who smoke cost employers an estimated $1,623 in extra medical costs, according to the State of Indiana. Because smokers tend to experience chronic health conditions, such as heart disease and lung disorders, these smoking-related costs can be higher than for non-smoking employees. For this reason, many employers and insurance companies are offering incentives to employers who offer programs that help smokers quit their habit.
Productivity
Productivity refers to the amount of time workers are truly focused on work and not other preoccupations, such as smoking. Lost productivity has a price tag---an estimated $1,760 for one smoking employee over the course of a year, according to the State of Indiana. Employees who smoke are more likely to be absent, according to the Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention: an average of 2.3 more days annually than non-smokers.
Secondhand Smoking
Secondhand smoke affects non-smoking employees and also can cost businesses, according to National Business Group Health. Implementing non-smoking policies at the workplace would save an estimated $49 million in medical costs associated with secondhand smoke in the United States. Employees exposed to secondhand smoke qualify for workers' compensation, unemployment, disability and other smoking-related settlements.
Solution
Smoke-free policies can help employers experience greater productivity, minimize insurance costs and reduce impact on employees who experience secondhand smoke. Establishing a smoke-free environment and offering incentives to employees who quit smoking can improve a smoker's attempt to quit, according to the Center for Tobacco Research and Prevention.
References
- State of Indiana: Costs of Employee Tobacco Use
- Business & Legal Resources: Smoking Deaths Cost $92 Billion in Lost Productivity
- National Business Group on Health: Tobacco: The Business of Quitting
- Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention: The Business Case for Investing in a Smoke-Free Workplace Is Clear
