Beliefs regarding smoking in the workplace: results from the Global Workplace Smoking Survey

To collect global information on attitudes of employers and employees toward workplace smoking and cessation.

The Global Workplace Smoking Survey collected data from employers (smoking and non-smoking) and smoking employees in 14 countries in 2007.

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%).

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.