10 June 2009 The British Heart Foundation yesterday found that smokers are costing the NHS £5 billion per year. So how much is smoking costing UK businesses? From a sample of over 1000 British workers, a study from Aon Consulting found that smokers are perceived to take above average levels of absence from work: 57%.  This is substantially more than elderly workers (34%), recent graduates (30%), their boss (25%) or those on flexible hours (16%).  
 
The Aon study also found that men are more likely than women to suggest that smokers take more than average amounts of time off work (61%) compared with 53% amongst women).
 
Alex Bennett, Head of Health and Risk, Aon Consulting said:

“Whilst health reasons alone should be enough for employers to help support their workforce quit smoking, from a straightforward financial point of view it is in the best interest of businesses to implement programmes to assist in this. Extra days off work means lost productivity, which hurts the bottom line, not to mention the higher costs of health and risk insurances for smokers (these can be anything from 10% to 30% depending on the insurance category).
 
“The strong opinions uncovered in the Aon Benefits survey are also borne out by the available facts. 2008 studies in the Netherlands showed that those who smoke are demonstrably absent from work more often than non smokers. Indeed not only do they report absent more frequently, but they remain absent for longer too.  It is a similar story found in studies of cardiac and cancer illness, with smokers showing higher incidence and poorer recovery.      
 
“Many employers have already moved to support smoking cessation in the workplace offering counseling support within work schedules which complement the services offered under the NHS as recommend by NICE and including nicotine replacement therapy. Appropriate investment in these areas, though a clear cost, can be proven to derive clear business returns if managed and measured correctly.”

ENDS

 
 For further information please contact:

Josephine Corbett / Leo Wood

0207 269 7250 / 7137

Josephine.corbett@fd.com / leo.wood@fd.com 

Alexandra Lewis

Aon press office
020 7882 0541
Alexandra.lewis@aon.co.uk
http://aon.mediaroom.com

About Aon Consulting
Aon Consulting Worldwide is among the top global human capital consulting firms, with 2008 revenues of $1.358 billion and more than 6,300 professionals in 117 offices worldwide. Aon Consulting works with organizations to improve business performance and shape the workplace of the future through employee benefits, talent management and rewards strategies and solutions. Aon Consulting was named the best employee benefit consulting firm by the readers of Business Insurance magazine in 2006, 2007 and 2008.  For more information on Aon, please visit www.aon.mediaroom.com.

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