Smoking impacts on employers both directly and indirectly, with lost productivity and the absenteeism of smokers having the largest direct impact.
It’s estimated that, across Teesside, smoking costs businesses £51million in smoking breaks. Smoking is also responsible for over 100,000 days of lost productivity due to smoking-related sick days.
Across South Tees a number of workplaces have pledged to go or have gone smokefree. They include:
- Redcar & Cleveland Council
- South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Teesside University
Helping staff to stop smoking is the single most effective intervention employers can make in improving staff health and productivity. For more information about how you can sign the pledge or how the Stop Smoking Service can support your business and employees to achieve a smokefree workplace, call us on 01642 727 579 or email stopsmoking@middlesbrough.gov.uk.
Facts and figures
Middlesbrough
£19.9m of potential wealth is lost from the local economy in Middlesbrough each year as a result of lost productivity due to smoking.
- Early deaths caused by smoking and leading to years of lost economic activity: £7.9m
- Absenteeism due to smoking-related illness: £3.7m
- Smoking breaks: £8.4m
Redcar and Cleveland
£18.4m of potential wealth is lost from the local economy in Redcar and Cleveland each year as a result of lost productivity due to smoking.
- Early deaths caused by smoking and leading to years of lost economic activity: £6.9m
- Absenteeism due to smoking-related illness: £3.5m
- Smoking breaks: £7.9m
Figures were taken from the 2018 edition of the ASH ‘local costs of tobacco ready reckoner’.
