Advantages and Disadvantages of No Smoking in Working Places
Discuss advantages and disadvantages of having smoke free workplaces including the perspective of both employers and employees and their rights and obligations.
The speedy spread of tobacco products and users all over the world is causing significant concern that has become a worldwide challenge. The leaders of different countries are now expressing their concern about the rapidly increasing number of smoking-related deaths. Recent reports reveal that approximately 4.9 million deaths worldwide can be attributed to smoking. This number is expected to rise to a notable 10 million deaths by 2030, if strong policies on tobacco control are not implemented worldwide. Tobacco -smoking is currently considered the second major cause of death. Deaths caused by smoking alone are not the only ones causing concern. Based on statistics from the late 1990’s, more than 3,000 of smoking-related U.S. deaths in the US are actually caused by secondhand smoking. One can only imagine how much larger those numbers must have grown over the past few years.
Some countries, however, are pursuing a milder course of action; they are choosing to limit the ban to public areas and workplaces. In addition, these bans are only applicable to tobacco use; selling tobacco products is still completely legal. As countries begin to declare war against tobacco, anti-smoking advocates and health organizations salute their efforts.
The costs of employee tobacco use to the employer are significant. Direct costs to the employer include healthcare costs associated with tobacco use. Indirect costs include lost productivity, absenteeism and recruitment and retraining costs resulting from death and disability related to tobacco use.
Tobacco-free workplaces can enhance productivity in two ways: by reducing the effects of secondhand smoke on nonsmokers and by reducing excess smoking-related absenteeism among smokers who are motivated to quit as a result of the tobacco-free policy. Especially for small
The speedy spread of tobacco products and users all over the world is causing significant concern that has become a worldwide challenge. The leaders of different countries are now expressing their concern about the rapidly increasing number of smoking-related deaths. Recent reports reveal that approximately 4.9 million deaths worldwide can be attributed to smoking. This number is expected to rise to a notable 10 million deaths by 2030, if strong policies on tobacco control are not implemented worldwide. Tobacco -smoking is currently considered the second major cause of death. Deaths caused by smoking alone are not the only ones causing concern. Based on statistics from the late 1990’s, more than 3,000 of smoking-related U.S. deaths in the US are actually caused by secondhand smoking. One can only imagine how much larger those numbers must have grown over the past few years.
Some countries, however, are pursuing a milder course of action; they are choosing to limit the ban to public areas and workplaces. In addition, these bans are only applicable to tobacco use; selling tobacco products is still completely legal. As countries begin to declare war against tobacco, anti-smoking advocates and health organizations salute their efforts.
The costs of employee tobacco use to the employer are significant. Direct costs to the employer include healthcare costs associated with tobacco use. Indirect costs include lost productivity, absenteeism and recruitment and retraining costs resulting from death and disability related to tobacco use.
Tobacco-free workplaces can enhance productivity in two ways: by reducing the effects of secondhand smoke on nonsmokers and by reducing excess smoking-related absenteeism among smokers who are motivated to quit as a result of the tobacco-free policy. Especially for small