ASH press release
Embargo: 00:01 Wednesday 5 September 2001
Smokers are less productive: ASH calls onGovernment to act on passive smoking at work.
In response to new research published today showingthat smokers take 3 times more sick leave than non-smokers and are lessproductive when they are there [1], ASH commented that it should come as nosurprise that smoking - the biggest preventable killer in the country - affectsproductivity. Addiction to nicotine leadsto huge health problems, more sick leave, and means that non-smoking staff haveto take up the slack.
ASH once again called on the government to advance thelong-delayed Approved Code of Practice on passive smoking at work and to ignoremisguided fears that smoking policies at work cause additional ‘red tape' .
Clive Bates, Director of ASH, said:
“It'stime employers recognised the fact that health and industrial competitivenessare fundamentally linked. Ignoring thehealth and welfare of staff is not only poor employment practice, it's also badfor business.
TheGovernment's Small Business Service has consistently opposed any measures todeal with smoking in the workplace. It hasn't got its head round the fact thatby doing so, it is promoting illness and poor productivity and ultimatelyincreasing costs. It also leaves employers vulnerable to being sued byemployees who are made ill by passive smoke at work.
TheSmall Business Service's motto is “Think Small First” - it's a pity thatthey've taken this literally in thinking small about smoking in the workplace.”
ENDS
[1] Halpern, MT et al. Impact of smoking status on workplace absenteeism andproductivity. Tobacco Control 2001; 10: 233-238
For further information on the health effectsof passive smoking and the case for smoking policies in the workplace see:
Contact Clive Bates: 020 7739 5902 (office) 0776879 1237 (mobile).
ISDN Available.
