October 8, 2001—New research shows that smokers in the UK take three times more sick leave than non-smokers and are less productive when they are there, leaving non-smoking staff to compensate. In response to the study, published in the journal Tobacco Control, anti-smoking group Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) once again called on the British government to advance the long-delayed Approved Code of Practice on passive smoking at work.
Clive Bates, Director of ASH, commented, “It’s time employers recognized the fact that health and industrial competitiveness are fundamentally linked. Ignoring the health and welfare of staff is not only poor employment practice, it’s also bad for business. The Government’s Small Business Service has consistently opposed any measures to deal with smoking in the workplace. It hasn’t got its head round the fact that by doing so, it is promoting illness and poor productivity and ultimately increasing costs. It also leaves employers vulnerable to being sued by employees who are made ill by passive smoke at work.”
For further information on the health effects of passive smoking and the case for smoking policies in the workplace, visit ASH.
