Cigarette Smoking in the Workplace

Smoking cigarettes has been a trend in America since before the First World War.

Naturally, throughout the years, studies have shown that smoking is harmful to a person’s

health. Regardless, over 37 million people in America still smoke. The Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has worked hard in attempts to prevent the

population from smoking. In example of such includes putting surgeon labels on

packaging and advertising. Though this was a huge accomplishment for the CDC,

smoking still negatively affects both smokers and nonsmokers around the world.

Smoking in the workplace has been a very popular topic over the years. It is found

that smokers are not only affecting their own health, but also negatively affecting

company dollars and the psychological being of non-smokers. Most workplaces and

indoor buildings, such as restaurants, have banned the use of inside smoking to prevent

second hand smoking. Although smoking leads to premature death every day, it is also

killing the pockets of the workplace.

Companies have to battle smokers wasting their profits daily. According to Micah

Berman at Ohio State University, employers that smoke are costing employers anywhere

from $2,885 to $10,125 dollars each per year! Today, many of these companies - such as

the Cleveland Clinic - have a zero tolerance to smokers and require drug testing to prove

that they do not smoke. Berman’s study showed that smokers used up $3,077 dollars for

smoke breaks and $2056 dollars towards health care annually. However, there is an

incentive for smokers to quit. Not only does quitting smoking benefit their overall health,

but it was also found, according to Berman, that nonsmokers make on average 15.6%

more money.
 Although companies are trying to look out for themselves, it does put them at a

burden between the employer and the employee. Few employees view this kind of action

as employment discrimination and feel that it is unfair. However, there is no federal law

dictating whether a company can or cannot base employment off of a nicotine drug

screening. Smoke breaks, however, do break the work mindset and give employees time

to reflect and even run ideas by other coworkers on performance or improvements within

a company or job. With this being said, I believe that the push for non-smoking is greater

than it ever has been in this country. This topic of smoking in the workplace will only

continue to increase in popularity as the number of smokers in the United States starts to

diminish. I can only wish that companies are proactive on the issue and offer to help

employees that are smokers to quit. With this proactive mindset, not only does it benefit

health, but it will also save companies money down the road.
Adams, S. (2013, June 05). Every Smoker Costs An Employer $6,000 A Year. Really?
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