Smoking in the workplace: review of critical issues

Abstract

The relationship among various occupations, smoking, and disease has been studied extensively, but few investigators have looked closely at smoking in the workplace, particularly among blue-collar workers. The authors discuss the phenomenon of smoking in work settings and suggest reasons why tobacco use has been accepted on the job. The fate of heavy smokers in the wake of workplace smoking bans is considered. The authors discuss the relationship between smoking and work-related stress, particularly among blue-collar workers. The influences of job tasks, workflow, and employee social networks on smoking are examined. The authors suggest that, until recently, work settings have provided little support for cutting back and many opportunities that reinforced smoking habits. Worksite cessation is reviewed briefly, followed by suggestions for improving present worksite-based cessation strategies. The authors pose an agenda for future descriptive and applied research on smoking in the workplace.