Michael T Halpern1, Humphrey Taylor. 1. Health Services and Social Policy Research, RTI International, 701 13th St. NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20005, USA. mhalpern@rti.org
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To collect global information on attitudes of employers and employees toward workplace smoking and cessation. METHODS: The Global Workplace Smoking Survey collected data from employers (smoking and non-smoking) and smoking employees in 14 countries in 2007. RESULTS: A total of 3,525 employees (all smokers) and 1,403 employers (smokers and non-smokers) participated in the survey. While the majority of employees and employers felt that workplace smoking was unacceptable, this was indicated by a greater proportion of employers than employees, particularly in Europe and Asia (92 and 93% of employers vs. 61 and 71% of employees, respectively). Only 29% of employees believed that smoking has negative financial impacts on their company compared to 46% of employers. While almost three-quarters of employees agreed that all workplaces should be smoke-free, agreement was greater among employers (87%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate a broad lack of support for workplace smoking among employers and smoking employees, although employers were more likely to stress negative financial consequences and advantages of smoke-free workplaces. These results suggest directions for subsequent programs to reduce workplace smoking by assisting smoking cessation.
OBJECTIVES: To collect global information on attitudes of employers and employees toward workplace smoking and cessation. METHODS: The Global Workplace Smoking Survey collected data from employers (smoking and non-smoking) and smoking employees in 14 countries in 2007. RESULTS: A total of 3,525 employees (all smokers) and 1,403 employers (smokers and non-smokers) participated in the survey. While the majority of employees and employers felt that workplace smoking was unacceptable, this was indicated by a greater proportion of employers than employees, particularly in Europe and Asia (92 and 93% of employers vs. 61 and 71% of employees, respectively). Only 29% of employees believed that smoking has negative financial impacts on their company compared to 46% of employers. While almost three-quarters of employees agreed that all workplaces should be smoke-free, agreement was greater among employers (87%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate a broad lack of support for workplace smoking among employers and smoking employees, although employers were more likely to stress negative financial consequences and advantages of smoke-free workplaces. These results suggest directions for subsequent programs to reduce workplace smoking by assisting smoking cessation.
Authors: Ana P Martínez-Donate; Melbourne F Hovell; C Richard Hofstetter; Guillermo J González-Pérez; Marc A Adams; José de Jesús Sánchez; Gabriela Guzmán-Cerda Journal: Rev Panam Salud Publica Date: 2005-12
Authors: Shona Hilton; Sean Semple; Brian G Miller; Laura MacCalman; Mark Petticrew; Scott Dempsey; Audrey Naji; Jon G Ayres Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2007-08-14 Impact factor: 3.295