Originally Posted by otto

With the increased financial freedom and cultural changes due to the advent of BPO industry in India, the young generation faces numerous problems. Inability to form strong relationships with others due to factors like the odd work hours and lack of familial support cause troubles to these employees.

Trying to cope with the high stress level of the job and peer-pressure, often the youngsters end up taking up the habit of smoking. It has been found that the women smokers of the country has increased manifold in the last few years. Especially women employed in the BPO sector have taken to smoking as even a fashion statement.

Even young girls in their teenage years have taken up smoking as a steady habit, which is alarming. This also affects the health of their co-workers as the risk of passive smoking increases in the closely positioned cabins of the offices of the BPO sector. The passive smoking even leads the non-smoking girls to actively take up smoking after some time.

The major factors that contribute to the increase in the smoking habit are peer pressure, work culture, high stress levels and as a fashion statement.

Often these young girls are not aware of the severe impacts that can result from smoking such as tuberculosis, lung cancer and even infertility. BPO s must take measures to help these girls break the bad habit through counseling, classes and other measures like nicotine patches as smoking adversely affects both the personal life and work efficiency of a person.