Erin Thompson Curlett, Content & Social Media Marketing Manager:

Today at Alere Wellbeing we are celebrating the American Cancer Society's 36th annual Great American Smokeout. In honor of this day, we're offering you a few reasons why your organization should implement a smoke-free workplace, taken from the executive summary of our white paper, Taking the Initiative: a Step-by-Step Guide to a Smoke-Free Workplace:

HEALTH IMPACT

Tobacco use is the #1 cause of preventable death and disease in the U.S. Evidence has shown that smoke-free policies not only clear the air of secondhand smoke harmful to all employees, but are also associated with reduced daily cigarette consumption and possibly with increased tobacco cessation among smokers.

FINANCIAL IMPACT

Tobacco use costs employers over $196 billion per year in excess medical costs and lost productivity – on average an excess cost of $21 per smoker, per day or $7,874 per year. Smoke-free policies reduce cleaning and maintenance costs and lower the risk of fires and accidental injuries and the associated costs.

LEGAL IMPACT

Nonsmokers who have been harmed by secondhand smoke in the workplace have increasingly won lawsuits and disability claims against their employers over the past 20 years. Current disability and anti-discrimination laws also protect individuals who may have respiratory disabilities that are affected by secondhand smoke.

SOLUTION

The Surgeon General has concluded that implementing smoke-free workplace policies is the only effective way to eliminate secondhand smoke exposure in the workplace, and studies have shown that such policies are associated with reduced daily cigarette consumption among employees and may even increase tobacco cessation. When supported and enforced by top management, smoke-free worksites can also inspire employee enthusiasm for a healthier workforce.

In order to successfully implement a smoke-free initiative, you must assess your organization’s needs, interest, and limitations; create a plan that details your organization’s expectations; develop a promotion calendar and prepare your employees for the changes that will occur; implement a policy that includes a comprehensive tobacco cessation program; and evaluate the success of the initiative.


This blog post was originally published as the executive summary for the white paper Taking the Initiative: a Step-by-Step Guide to a Smoke-Free Workplace. For a complimentary copy of the complete white paper, please visit www.alerewellbeing.com/clearinsights/whitepapers