Joseph DiBella is a managing director at an employee-benefits consulting firm who focuses on helping employers reduce healthcare costs. Approximately 19% of U.S. workers smoke tobacco, costing employers $278 billion annually in lost productivity and increased healthcare expenses. Smoking breaks account for nine missed work days per smoker each year, while smokers also miss 2.5 extra sick days than non-smokers. Employers pay an extra $2,056 in healthcare for each smoker.