Smokers in the workplace

Smoking in the workplace has become a serious employer concern. Studies show that at least 20% of the population has smoked at some time in their life. While the number is reducing, there are still a high number of smokers, and a lot of smokers in the workplace. However, the statistics are still grim, despite a large reduction in the number of who smoke, during the past few decades, tobacco use continues to be the primary cause of death, for nearly ½ million Americans every year. This is more deaths then occurs from many of the most common cancers combined. In addition, secondhand smoke has been found to kill an estimated 60,000 people per year. This figure alone illustrates the occupational hazard of being exposed to secondhand smoke.

Employers should understand that while it is not their job to make employees stop smoking, it does become the responsibility of the company should the impact of the employees who smoke, be affecting those employees who don't. If smoking is affecting the health of non-smokers in your company, you could be held liable, should a serious health problem occur in your non-smoking employee. Several agencies that oversee the needs of workers have seen the need to bring attention and even protection to employees who do not smoke. This is the reason that laws have been established that are designed to protect non smoking employees from the dangers of second hand smoke. It should be noted, however, that employers are left to interpret and apply these laws, in the best possible manner.

It should be noted that protecting those employees who do not smoke, is only part of the process. Employers can see success when they are able to help their employees who do smoke, find a way to quit. Employees can be given a smoking cessation program that can effectively help them quit smoking and reduce the risk to themselves and those employees around them. Most smoking cessation programs are designed with the resources that will help the employee find the motivation to stop smoking. An effective smoking cessation program will then guide the employee through the process of giving up the habit for good. It has been found that smoking cessation programs work best when they are paired with company policies that restrict smoking. These policies should be designed in such a way as to not only protect the non-smoking employees, but make smoking highly inconvenient, for those employees who are trying to quit.

There are basically 3 different kinds of techniques that are available to employers who want to implement a smoking cessation program. These techniques are-
1. Restrict smoking to only the designated areas. These can be either in or around the workplace. Companies, who have not had a smoking policy in place, can find this a good way to start. Many times smokers find that this makes smoking just too inconvenient, and they begin to reduce the amount of smoking they are doing. At this point it can also be helpful to make self help materials available, for those who may be interested in quitting.
2. Facilitated-The next step is to offer employees the chance to work with an outside agency that can help them stop smoking. This is usually a company that has been hired to help with this process. There are many different methods that are used such as groups and other off-site meetings. Many times employees find this method is most useful when done in tandem with the self help materials.
3. Comprehensive-The only difference with this method, then the one described above is that the program is offered to the employees at the workplace. This allows employees who smoke to take advantage of the program while at the work site. This has been shown to have the highest success rate of any method.