It
is important to create a comprehensive tobacco-free
worksite policy that prohibits tobacco
use on the entire worksite campus. This is an integral aspect to
tobacco-free worksite policies because healthcare costs may not be
affected by policies that allow smokers to simply step outside.
Furthermore, if you do allow smoking in designated outdoor areas,
you might end up with some unintended results. Gatherings for
smokers outdoors can become a social club of sorts, resulting in
smoking breaks that last longer than necessary. On rare occasions, a
nonsmoker may even decide to take up smoking to gain access to
additional break time and fellowship.
Creating a tobacco-free policy that works for your business requires
thoughtful planning and a sequenced introduction of the policy.
Following these five steps can help ensure a successful policy for
everyone involved:
1. Assess the current situation.
2. Decide on a new tobacco policy and develop a plan to implement
it.
3. Communicate with employees and management.
4. Announce and manage the policy.
5. Offer cessation services to employees interested in quitting
tobacco.
Tobacco-Free
Worksite Toolkits are available for additional information on
developing tobacco-free policies for your place of business.
For more information or to obtain a Tobacco-Free Worksite Toolkit,
please contact Kelsey Kuhlman at (740) 203-2077 or Kelsey@delawarehealth.org.
