Smokers Work Less Than Non-Smoker Colleagues

A new research made amongst the US navy female service members revealed that smokers perform worse at work than non-smokers.

Smokers had a higher probability to display a less than honorable discharge, to be demoted, to desert, and to earn less than their non-smoking mates.

Historically, the smoking incidence among US military personnel was higher than among civilians, but after a decline, recently smoking rates have once again risen.

Currently, there are roughly 59,000 women in the US Navy and the research investigated the career progression of roughly 5,500 women entering the US Navy between 1996 and 1997.

The survey assessed during 8 years service period, early discharged or disciplinary procedures, promotions, demotions, absences without leave, and pay grades.

Of these women, about 45% had never smoked, 27% were daily smokers when they enlisted and the others were ex smokers or smoked occasionally.

Daily smokers were found less likely to enlist for eight years compared with non-smokers and they were much more likely to leave before they had finished their full 8 years term.

Non-smokers achieved the longest period of service; daily smokers the shortest one and much less regular smokers re-enlisted.

Regular smokers were much more likely than non-smoking persons to be discharged for medical reasons, bad behavior, misconduct, drug misuse, and personality disorders.

On average, non-smoking personnel were paid much more than daily smokers, indifferent of their educational level and served time. The score of ex-smokers or occasional smokers fell in between that of non-smokers and daily smokers. "Cigarette smoking might simply be a 'marker' for other underlying factors, such as non-conformity and high risk taking, that contribute to poorer performance in the military," explained the researchers.

Another recent research conducted in Sweden revealed that smokers take an average of almost eight days more of sick leave every year than their non-smoking colleagues, based on data on more than 14,000 workers in Sweden between 1988 and 1991. 45% had never smoked, 29% were current smokers and 26% former smokers.

Non-smokers took the fewest days off, being sick; smokers took the most days with an overall average of 25 sick leave days. Smokers took almost 11 extra days off compared with their non-smoking mates, which means 43% more.

Smoking persons were found to prefer "riskier" jobs and had poorer underlying health, as well as socioeconomic factors. Other factors than bad health directly linked to smoking could have been linked to sick leave too.

The authors say their research points to smoking as presenting a significant impact on productivity.