Smoking: employees overwhelmingly in favor of a total ban on smoking in the workplace

A survey conducted by Ipsos on behalf of a pharmaceutical company commercializing NRT shows massive support of employees in the implementation of the smoking ban in the company.

Fight against smoking ...

The survey, conducted on a representative sample of 528 employees aged 18 to 65, was made public on the occasion of the second international conference on Francophone Tobacco Control (CIFCOT), which was held in Paris .

This event provides an opportunity for French associations against smoking to pressure the government to change the Evin law of 10 January 1991 to a total ban on smoking in public places, including businesses, while the law provides that places should be reserved for smokers.

Labour and smoke do not mix

For almost unanimously of respondents (93%), the fact of working in a smoky environment poses an important or very important to the health of non-smokers risk. In addition, 80% of employees surveyed indicated prefer to work in a company that guarantees a smoke free environment.

However, 21% of respondents work in a place where it is not forbidden to smoke, while the 1991 Act introduced the ban. In contrast, 23% of participants reported working in an area where this obligation is respected everywhere and 55% said it was forbidden to smoke in the workplace, however, provided places for smoking.

The evidence collected in this survey have highlighted the risk of exposure to tobacco company depends on various factors: sex (24% of men concerned against 18% of women), age less advanced (23% under 40 years against 19% of affected more than 40 years) and occupational category (31% of exposed workers, against 11% of managers).

Half of employees surveyed (52%) believe that the smoking ban is "very good" applied, while they are 31% believe it is only "fairly well applied."

Furthermore, the research company Ipsos finds a correlation between compliance with anti-tobacco legislation and the level of cigarette consumption, suggesting that the misapplication of the law encourages smoking.

In this survey, the employers' responsibility is put forward by employees. Three-quarters (78%) of them believe in that employers should ensure a smoke-free work environment, while 20% believe that this is not their responsibility.

Workplaces such as restaurants, cafes, hotels and nightclubs are no exception, since a large majority of respondents believes that employers in these places must respect the laws of both vis-à-vis their employees (75%) and customers (73%).

However, employees recognize the practice to apply correctly the Evin Law difficulty, since 57% believe that all companies have the ability to enforce it, while 42% think they do not have any means.

The respondents also believe that the occupational physician can play a role in helping a smoker who wants to quit (87% of responses). In addition, 81% of respondents also believe that it should be able to prescribe medications for smoking cessation.