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Costs Associated with Smoking in the Workplace
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SMOKING IN THE WORKPLACE CAN BE A COSTLY BUSINESS.........
• In 1988 the British Medical Association estimates that 50 million working days were lost due to avoidable smoking related ill health.
• Smokers are likely to take about twice as much sick leave as non-smokers.
• An employee smoking 9 cigarettes a day can spend 1 whole working day per week smoking.
• Cleaning and maintenance costs will be reduced by an appropriate smoking policy.
• Insurance premiums may be reduced.
• Time spent by employees smoking can reduce productivity.
A Recent Enquiry from an Employer Revealed:
Of 400 employees, 25% smoked = 100 smokers on staff
Each smoker had an average of 5 cigarettes per day at work.
= 500 cigarettes smoked per day.
Each cigarette takes about 9 minutes to smoke = 4500 lost minutes per day.
260 working days x 4500 min = 1,170,000 mins. spent each year on smoking at these premises =
19,500 hours per year.
At £8 per hour = £156,000 per year paid to employees while they smoke
