31.10.12
Absenteeism higher in smokers
Smokers miss more work days each year than non-smokers, a new report suggests, costing the UK economy £1.4bn in 2011.
A report published in the journal Addiction analysed 29 separate studies on absenteeism and smoking across the world. Results showed that current smokers are 33% more likely to miss work and are, on average, absent and extra 2.7 days per year than non-smokers.
Current smokers are also 19% more likely to miss work than ex-smokers, which can support the use of company quitting schemes.
Smoking also incurs other costs on the workplace, such as reduced productivity due to smoking breaks, or the cost of cigarette-related fire damage, the report added.
In the analysis smoking was tied to workers' short-term absences as well as leaves of four weeks or more.
The authors said: “Quitting smoking appears to reduce absenteeism and result in substantial cost savings for employers.”
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