The Benefits of a Tobacco Free Workplace

Tobacco related illnesses anddeaths account for much of the medical expenses of the United States. The sadthing is that these illnesses and deaths can be prevented, and in effect,smokers are choosing their fate. As an employer, there may be things you can doto make people aware of the benefits of a tobacco free workplace, and one ofthose things begins with you.

An Employer's Part in theTobacco Free Workplace

If you have smokers at theworkplace, you know that the smoke is not only annoying to other workers but isalso a health hazard. Healthcare costs are consequently increased, and insurancerates go up in workplaces where tobacco is used. In addition, fire safety isdecreased and absenteeism rises. As if to add insult to injury, a workenvironment with smokers has furniture that will always stink and must bereplaced often. When you look at the whole picture, benefits of a tobacco freeworkplace are many and large.

As an employer, you need tocreate firm smoking policies and make sure they are clear to your managers.Managers are the individuals who have to enforce them, so ambiguous or unclearpolicies will make them unenforceable. Perhaps you could also make a programincentive where nonsmokers and those who stop smoking for a certain period oftime will get a bonus when the cost of healthcare goes down. Such action willprovide more benefits of a tobacco free workplace. Many municipalities andstates have laws concerning tobacco use at work, and violating them can costthe employee and your company money.

An Employee's Part in theTobacco Free Workplace

If you are an employee who smokes,you are no doubt aware of what you are doing to yourself, and that quittingsmoking may be as much a matter of self-esteem as health. However, you are alsoprobably aware that your smoke harms others. Many people who smoke areconsiderate of others and choose a tobacco free workplace by smokingoutside.

However, some smokers are notconsiderate, and must have rules put in place to enforce a health workplace fortheir peers. As an employee, you may be subject to laws as well as companyrules. You may see restrictions such as:

No smoking within 25 feet ofdoor

Employee smoking area locatedin rear of building

Employees who smoke may besubject to higher costs for health insurance

There are many variations, butthese are major themes that say, "This Company will not tolerate exposureof healthy employees to smoke, nor will the company pick up the tab forsmokers' health insurance." Because smoking is a choice, this is onlylogical.