Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: average joe who wrote (95835)	2/10/2005 1:27:34 PM
From: Grainne	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 108807

I suppose it is true that smokers don't suck up as many retirement benefits because they tend to die younger, but we are specifically discussing employed smokers, and the increased costs for the companies that continue to employ them. Health insurance premiums specifically are less expensive for employers if none of their employees smoke. Please read the statistics: Why Go Smoke-Free? Why Help your Employees Quit? Lost Productivity Smoking-related illness leads to about $47 billion in lost productivity each year in the U.S. 1 More than 8% of work time is spent on smoking-related activities.2 Absenteeism Smokers are absent 6.5 days more from work per year than non-smokers.2 Smokers make approximately six more visits each year to health care facilities and their dependents make four more visits to the health care services than non-smokers.2 When exposed to a year of second hand smoke, non-smoking employees are twice as likely to take time off sick and require treatment for respiratory problems than unexposed employees.3 Costs Insurance claims average $300 per year more for smokers than nonsmokers.4 Health insurance benefits are used 50% more by smokers than nonsmokers.1 Accidents resulting from smoking can cost employers $45 per person per year due to injury and workers' compensation costs.4 Benefits Banning smoking in the workplace can reduce health and fire insurance premiums by over 25% and decrease disability and early retirement payments by 75%.4 Ventilation costs for indoor smoking areas can be eliminated when adopting a smoke-free workplace.4 Smoke-free workplaces report dramatic decreases in maintenance costs due to reduced property damage and cleaning costs.5 Companies can save 67 cents on every dollar invested in smoking cessation.6 Financial savings in medical care, absenteeism, on-the-job productivity, and life insurance exceed the cost of cessation programs.7 Companies implementing smoking cessation programs boast higher economic profits, with a benefit-cost ratio of 8.75, than they would without having cessation programs.7 Banning workplace smoking can promote cessation and results in reduced sick leave and break time.8 Health Effects of Smoking in the Workplace Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the U.S.9 Secondhand smoke exposure increases lung cancer risks by 20-30% and heart disease risk by 25% among non-smokers.8 Secondhand smoke exposure aggravates asthma and other respiratory conditions.8 Smoking in the workplace can result in a combined damaging effect when smokers are also exposed to workplace chemicals and other toxic agents.9 Smokers have twice the accident rate of non-smokers on the job. Smoking can cause eye irritation, decrease alertness, and contribute to fire risk.9 Workplace Smoking Policies According to a 1998 Gallop poll, 94% of Americans both smokers and non-smokers believe that companies should either ban or restrict smoking to separately ventilated areas.10 71% of Kentuckians report that smoking is banned inside their workplace. Of those who said workplace smoking was permitted, 59% reported that indoor workplace smoking areas were enclosed and ventilated.11 The Americans With Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. This law protects people with disabilities caused or worsened by exposure to tobacco smoke.10 SOURCES 1. med.sc.edu:106/oscar/tsld007.htm 2. wellness.uswp.edu 3. news.bbc.co.uk 4 ash.org 5. hc-sc.gc.ca 6. acoem.org 7. rwjf.org 8. ash.org.uk 9. lungusa.org 10. nolo.com 11. University of Kentucky Survey, 2000. bluegrass-smokefree.com