Predictors of smoke-free workplaces by employee characteristics: Who is left unprotected?

Background Over the last decade, there has been steady progress in the adoption of workplace smoking policies in the United States. However, the benefits of a smoke-free workplace are not distributed equally among the workforce. Methods Data from 44,357 adults who reported that they work indoors were derived from an optional tobacco module on the 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), administered by 25 states. Logistic regression was utilized to examine factors associated with the absence of a smoke-free workplace policy. Results Overall, 70.9% of respondents reported working under a smoke-free workplace policy. The likelihood of being protected by a smoke-free workplace policy was significantly lower among workers who were younger, male, non-white, engaged in heavy labor earned less than $50,000 annually, had a high school education or less, smoked everyday, or worked in the South or Midwest. Conclusions There remain considerable gaps in smoke-free workplace policy coverage. (C) 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.