February 2004

Smoking In The Workplace: A Consultant’s Perspective To Value Lost!

C2B is in 5 sections this month:

This Research was designed to provide society, workers and corporations vital information about:

1. The Physical Effects of Smoking On Your Health

2. The Advantages and Disadvantages of A Widespread Ban On Smoking In The Workplace

3. Cost In Man-hours of Lost Productivity

4. Methodology

5. Conclusion

Smoking has been proven to contribute to various smoking related diseases such as lung cancer. Lung cancer is the most common cause of death in both men and women. In more recent studies, passive smoking has also been linked to several health hazards. The passive smoker has the right to approach the smoker if they are disturbed or uncomfortable and request the cigarette or smoking material be extinguished. However, does a company have the right to totally ban smoking from the workplace? The available evidence indicates bans are implemented. Approximately 26 percent of the current smokers, 16 percent of the former smokers and 13 percent of those who never smoked were not satisfied at all with the any smoking policy.

Anti-smoking groups feel that research provides conclusive evidence that smokers pollute the environment with several toxic chemicals and second hand smoking presents significant risk to the non-smoker’s health. They feel that smokers willing to quit should be provided with social and medical support, whereas those unwilling to do so should be prohibited from endangering the life of others. Those smokers against the ban insist such a ban will be unfair. They felt that the research on effects of second hand smoking is inconclusive.

The majority of laws to regulate smoking in the public places and, hence exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) are local and state ordinances, rather than federal. Therefore, restrictions vary widely, and little is known about their effects. However, employers should study the legal repercussions of smoking policies in order to sidestep any negative financial and economic and economic consequences.

In addition to the rise in health care and lost wages or productivity, the researcher aimed at exploring behavior changes, morale problems, and lost productivity, which may occur in a smoker who is addicted to nicotine. There are several factors involved in the use of tobacco in the workplace: Absenteeism, low job performance, lack of compliance with company policies and procedures, and health hazards just to name a few. Non-smoking policies can promote employees health by lessening harmful substances from the work environment. They also improve industrial capacity by reducing loses generated by absenteeism and compensation claims. With companies paying $10,000 - $12,000 per smoker in lost productivity, sickness and other cost, smoke free establishments have become the norm, while smoking in designated areas is the second most popular policy.

Smoking in the workplace is a complex issue. In determining whether or not bans should be implemented, some guidelines should be set: (1) assess present conditions; (2) identify objectives; (3) formulate a written policy; (4) foster policy awareness; (5) provide support, training and incentives; and (6) follow-up progress.

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“C2B” Consulting-to-Business is a free, monthly, electronic newsletter written and published by Dwayne D. Jakes, D.B.A., Founder & Managing Director of Dwayne D. Jakes & Associates Management Systems, L.L.C. Past Columns are archived at

http://www.ddjakes.com

Copyright February 2004, Dwayne D. Jakes & Associates Management Systems, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction is prohibited. We encourage sharing “C2B” Consulting-to-Business in whole or in part if copyright and attribution are always included. Distribution and Reproduction without attribution prohibited.

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