Promoting smoking cessation is good for your employees’ health, and it also makes good business sense. Becoming a smoke-free workplace shows that you are committed to the health and the future of your employees. Having a smoke-free workplace doesn’t just benefit your employees’ health – it also affects your company’s financial health. Following are different ways that being smoke-free benefits your company.

The Benefits of Being Smoke-Free

  • Improves your employees’ health:
    • Reduces the risk of lung cancer for smokers and for those exposed to second-hand smoke (exposure increases the risk of lung cancer by 12 to 19 percent).
    • Reduces heart attacks for smokers and for those exposed to second-hand smoke (exposure increases the risk of a heart attack by 25 to 35 percent).
    • Reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke and upper respiratory infections.
    • Increases lung function and circulation.
  • Lowers your costs:
    • Employees who smoke cost their employers significantly more in medical expenditures and workers’ compensation than nonsmoking employees.
    • Smoke-free businesses can expect to save $190 per 1,000 square feet of work space each year due to lower cleaning and maintenance costs.
    • Banning smoking reduces the risk of fire and lowers fire and property insurance costs up to 25 percent.
    • Smoking employees pay roughly one and one half times as much as nonsmoking employees for their health insurance.
  • Increases productivity and morale:
    • Smoking leads to inefficiency, errors, eye irritation and lower attention spans.
    • Employees who take four 10-minute smoke breaks throughout the work day actually work one month less per year than those who do not smoke.
    • Smoke-free workplaces are more attractive places to work for prospective employees.
    • Employees take fewer sick days. Smokers miss an average of 6.2 days as a result of illness, whereas nonsmokers only miss an average of 3.9 days.
  • Reduces your liability:
    • Employees cannot file disability claims for being ill from secondhand smoke.
    • Complies with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) by allowing individuals with respiratory problems to work in your environment because there is no tobacco smoke pollution.

Going smoke-free is one of the best ways to benefit your employees and your business. Contact Odell Studner  to learn more about how to help your employees quit!

Sources: American Lung Association of Wisconsin, Center for Disease Control and Prevention