Smokers claim that smoke breaks enhance their productivity in the workplace but employers beg to differ. Who is right?

Clearing the air

Thankfully, for non-smokers at least, the days of smoke-filled offices and ashtrays on desks are gone. Although the air has been cleared to a large degree, many employees still struggle with the smoking habit and have to take frequent smoke-breaks to get their nicotine fix. Although smokers deny that smoking inhibits their productivity at work, the facts point in the opposite direction and is solidly backed up by research results.

The fact that smoking negatively affects productivity in the workplace has been established truthfully by research findings.

Facts are…

These days, most office and workplace spaces are situated in smoke-free buildings.  So, smokers are often forced to take a drag outside their workplace. Trekking outside takes (wastes) time. In fact, research shows that employees who take four ten-minute smoke breaks a day actually work one month less per year than workers who don’t.

Employers realise that frequent breaks are necessary for workers to relax, reflect and help maintain their efficiency and productivity levels throughout the day. Although smokers claim that smoke breaks also give them the time to do so; the opposite is often true. While some reflecting may be done, it occurs in an unhealthy atmosphere laden with toxic tobacco chemicals and fumes and second-hand smoke. These are causes and sources of lung cancer and other serious diseases in both smokers and non-smokers. Needless to say, these diseases all have a negative influence on workers’ health and productivity.

Studies show that smokers have poorer-than-average work performance and productivity scores. In one study, current smokers showed a mean increase of only 4.5% in objective productivity measures while former smokers showed a substantial increase in seven of ten measures and non-smokers scored the highest of all.

Research results indicate that smokers tend to call in sick more often than non-smokers. Absenteeism influences productivity and costs companies money. Smokers, on average, apply for between eight and 11 more sick leave days per year than non-smokers.

Employers that hire smokers also have to bear other indirect medical costs of up to R57 000 or more a year, per smoker. Research shows that smokers are more prone to serious, smoking-related diseases such as cancer and heart and lung disease that negatively impact their productivity and even their longevity. An increased rate of early retirement, due to bad health and loss of productivity, is a sobering reality.

Study upon study has verified the fact that smoking has a negative impact on productivity and that smokers are often, for a variety of reasons, less productive than others in the workplace!

If you are a smoker and would like to stop smoking, call the employee wellbeing programme.

Sources

 

Halperna, T. et al. Impact of smoking status on workplace absenteeism and productivity. Retrieved from: http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/10/3/233
Rose-Innes, O. Do smokers make bad employees? Retrieved from: http://www.health24.com/Lifestyle/Stop-smoking/Smoking-alternatives/Staying-smoke-free-at-work-20130219
Smokers cost employers thousands. 2013. Retrieved from: http://www.health24.com/Lifestyle/Stop-smoking/News/Smokers-cost-employers-thousands-20130605
Smoking, the rules and regulations. Retrieved from: http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/Public+Content/SA+Health+Internet/Protecting+public+health/Smoking+the+rules+and+regulations/