How much does a smoker cost a private employer in the United States? A new review of past studies shows it’s about an extra $5,816 per year, compared with a nonsmoker, The New York Times reports.
Researchers at The Ohio State University estimated that the largest cost, at $3,077 annually, came from taking smoking breaks. Smokers took, on average, about five breaks a day, compared with the three breaks typically sanctioned for most workers.
The second largest cost, at $2,056, was related to excess health care expenses. Smokers typically have more health problems than nonsmokers, including heart and lung disease and various cancers.