Tobacco Free Work Place
Tobacco Free Boone County offers assistance in educating businesses and their employees about the benefits of a tobacco free policy in the workplace. If you would like assistance in creating, writing or educating about a policy , please contact Hollie Pierce at Tobacco Free Boone County. 870-391-3526 or by email at hpierce@northark.edu
Costs to Employers
The costs of employee tobacco use to the employer are significant. Direct costs to the employer include healthcare costs associated with tobacco use. Indirect costs include lost productivity, absenteeism and recruitment and retraining costs resulting from death and disability related to tobacco use.
Tobacco-free workplaces can enhance productivity in two ways: by reducing the effects of secondhand smoke (SHS) on nonsmokers and by reducing excess smoking-related absenteeism among smokers who are motivated to quit as a result of the tobacco-free policy. Especially for small businesses that have employees who handle a variety of tasks, productivity can be greatly increased by reduced absenteeism.
A smoker who quits could save employers an estimated $960 in excess illness costs each year. Persons who quit smoking before age 65 are estimated to save from 40 percent to 67 percent of the lifetime excess medical costs of persons who continue to smoke.
Benefits of a Tobacco Free Workplace
Economic Impact of Tobacco Use in the Workplace
. Estimates of the annual excess illness costs per smoking employee are $960.
. Smokers are absent from work 50 percent more often than nonsmokers, have twice as many on-the-job accidents, and are 50 percent more likely to be hospitalized than workers who do not smoke.
. Recognizing that employees of smoke-free companies overall may be healthier year-round, many insurers are inclined to give those companies a break on premiums. Some fire and casualty companies, for example, will cut their premiums by 50 percent.
. Smoking-attributable direct healthcare costs in Arkansas equal $748 million per year.
. Smoking-caused productivity losses in Arkansas equal $1.24 billion per year.
Benefits of a Tobacco-Free Workplace
For the Employer:
* A tobacco-free environment helps create a safe and healthy workplace.
* Direct healthcare costs to the company may be reduced.
* It may be possible to negotiate lower health, life, and disability coverage as employee tobacco use is reduced.
* The risk of fires is lower.
* Managers are relieved when a process for dealing with tobacco use in the workplace is clearly defined.
* Absenteeism is lower due to smoking-related illnesses.
* Maintenance costs go down when smoke, matches and cigarette butts are eliminated in facilities.
* Office equipment, carpets and furniture last longer.
For the Employee:
* A tobacco-free environment helps create a safe and healthy workplace.
* A well-planned and carefully implemented effort by the employer to address the effects of tobacco use on employee health and the health of their families shows the company cares.
* Workers who are bothered by second-hand smoke will not be exposed to it at the worksite.
* Smokers appreciate a clear company policy about smoking at work.