Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

Smoking cessation is defined as a complete discontinuation of smoking for a period of six months. A 1992 national survey in the US found that 40 percent of worksites provided information or sponsored activities on smoking cessation and 59 percent had formal policies restricting smoking at work. Cigarette smoking is the chief preventable cause of premature death and disability in the US. Compared to nonsmokers, smokers have 40 percent higher estimated lifetime healthcare expenses, consistently sustain more occupational injuries, have higher use of drugs and alcohol, and have higher rates of absenteeism ( Kaman, 1995 ). The overall effect of smoking on job performance is less clear, but appears to be negative because of lost work time due to smoking ( Kaman, 1995 ). Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, a documented carcinogen, by nonsmokers is also associated with negative health effects. Cascio (1991) estimated the annual cost of employing smokers and allowing them to smoke at work to be $2,853 per smoker, in 1991 US dollars. Meta‐analysis suggests that smoking cessation programs at work conservatively produce a 13 percent quit rate, compared to 6 percent of smokers who quit on their own ( Fisher, Glasgow, and Terborg, 1990 ). Smoking cessation programs appear to be cost beneficial. Policies toward a smoke‐free work environment decrease employee exposure to environmental ... log in or subscribe to read full text