The relationship between sickness absence from work and pattern of cigarette smoking

In four worksites of 1248 employees, 907 were found who had worked for the employer for 12 months or more and had had a preemployment medical examination. Nonsmokers were absent from work for sickness reasons less often than smokers (3.1 hours per month compared with 3.6 for women, 3.5 compared with 3.9 for men). Among smokers who reported the amount smoked heavier smokers claimed more sickness absence than less heavy smokers. Smokers reporting one pack or more per day had twice the sickness absence of smokers who smoked half a pack or less per day. The results support other studies which show higher relative risk for sickness absence among smokers than among nonsmokers.