Avoid tobacco

Nearly 70% of all smokers want to quit. By supporting them in doing so, employers will have healthier and more productive workers, and may reduce insurance and maintenance costs. Even better, quitting smoking can have a positive impact on workers’ lives, saving them money, decreasing cancer risk, and improving sleep quality.

With organizational changes and support, you can make avoiding tobacco easier for employees. Here’s what has worked well at other organizations:

Support smokers in their efforts to quit in your health benefit plan, and share this information with workers. Also, consider providing incentives to workers who pledge not to use tobacco.

Refer tobacco users to outside support (smokefreeoregon.com). Federal, state, and local agencies also can be good sources of support for employees trying to quit. All Oregon counties have tobacco prevention coordinators who can help with resources and information.

Establish a tobacco-free campus

Ban smoking and post “tobacco-free workplace” signs to communicate your written policy to employees and visitors. If your business sells tobacco products, consider removing them from your inventory.

Manage stress and fatigue

Surveys show that many smokers use tobacco products to relieve stress. Addressing these issues through workplace supports may lessen the desire to smoke. Tobacco use is still the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. The good news is that the benefits of quitting begin almost instantly. Be sure to ask your workers for their ideas.

For more on this topic, visit saif.com/promotehealth.

Total Worker Health® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Participation by SAIF does not imply endorsement by HHS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.