Links for Businesses:
Smoke free laws do not harm business at restaurants and bars
The advantages of smoke free environments
How Can I Make My Business Smoke Free?
(Information from Making Your Workplace Smoke Free: A Decision Maker’s Guide published by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Office on Smoking and Health)
- ASSESS THE CURRENT SITUATION
- Review your company’s current policies, practices, and employee attitudes in regard to smoking policies. Ask the following questions:
- What are the restrictions on smoking, if any?
- Who is covered by the policy?
- What are employees' attitudes about the current policy?
- Who is satisfied or dissatisfied? Why?
- Review any state or local regulations on smoking in the workplace and get a sense of how other businesses in your area are approaching this issue
- Gather information from management and employees
- Collect this information in the same manner you normally pursue information, such as through meetings, work groups, task forces, surveys, etc.
 If you form a work group to work on this initiative, make sure you include representation from management, employees from each department, smokers, former smokers, and persons who have never smoked on the committee (if at all possible)
- Find out management's opinion on adopting a smoke free policy. Share information about the benefits of a smoke free policy, and get management's opinion on the following questions:
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of adopting a smoke free policy?
- Should incentives be used to encourage employees not to smoke?
- Should the company offer smoking cessation programs? If so, who should pay for these programs?
- What characteristics of our business will ease or support the adoption of a smoke free policy and cessation activities?
- What obstacles need to be considered before we implement a smoke free policy and cessation activities?
- DECIDE ON A NEW POLICY AND DEVELOP A PLAN TO IMPLEMENT IT
- Use the information you've gathered to guide you in developing your smoke free policy. Include the following items in your new policy:
- The purpose of your policy (For example, the harmful effects of secondhand smoke on health)
- A tie between the smoke free policy and cessation support and the recognizable corporate values (For example, performance or employees as an asset)
- Clear statement of where smoking is prohibited
- Clear statement of where smoking is permitted (if anywhere on the premises)
- Clear statement on enforcement and consequences of noncompliance
- Clear statement of support to be provided for employees who smoke (i.e. cessation assistance)
- Name and phone number of person who can answer questions about the policy
- Decide how you will handle the use of other tobacco products (spit tobacco, snuff, etc.). Be clear in your language and either use the word "cigarettes" or "tobacco products"
 Let your implementation plan guide the rest of your actions. Make sure you include the following:
- When the policy will be announced (at least 4 months before the effective date, and longer for larger organizations);
- When the policy will become effective;
- Events that will be tied to the transition;
- Supportive activities for smokers;
- Role of the contact person listed in the policy;
- Roles of work groups or task forces working on the policy implementation;
- Sufficient time for acquiring appropriate signs to communicate the smoke free policy; and
- Mechanism for allowing employee feedback during the transition period
- Use these tips to make the transition to your new smoke free policy as smooth as possible:
- Focus on smoke, not the smoker
- Focus on health and safety regarding secondhand smoke, not individual rights
- Obtain management commitment and support. This support can be made visible to employees through the use of paycheck stuffers, posters, newsletters, and other company communication channels
- Provide training for middle managers and supervisors on policy communication and enforcement
- Provide real and visible opportunities for employee participation in policy planning and implementation
- Educate the workplace community about the hazards of combining secondhand smoke and materials used in work processes
- Allow 4 to 6 months from the time of the announcement to implementation, depending on the size of your organization and the magnitude of the change from the old policy to the new one
- To maximize motivation, plan to implement the policy in conjunction with national events such as the Great American Smokeout in November or around New Year's Day (when people are making New Year's resolutions)
- Ensure that restrictions and enforcement are equitable across job categories
- Offer smoking cessation programs to all employees and their families before and after the policy change
- Enforce the smoke free policy just as any other policy would be. Provide training in enforcement for supervisors. Do not differentiate between smoking breaks and any other kind of breaks
- Anticipate unintended effects (For example, the concentration of smoke in designated areas)
- Continue to provide smoking cessation educational opportunities and programs after the policy has been implemented to support employees in their attempts to quit smoking and to prevent relapse
- COMMUNICATE WITH EMPLOYEES AND MANAGEMENT
 Once you've comprised your plan, you will need to communicate the upcoming policy change with your employees- Make sure all employees understand the policy and the implications of its changes
- Make sure midlevel managers understand their responsibilities for implementing and enforcing the new smoke free policy
- ANNOUNCE AND MANAGE THE POLICY
- You are now ready to formally announce the new smoke free policy to all employees and prepare them for its implementation
- Announce the policy and cessation support by using your company’s standard communication channels (letters, memos, staff meetings, posters, etc.)
- Make sure you show that management fully supports the new policy
- Announce your timeline of implementation for the new smoke free policy and cessation activities
- Obtain signs that communicate a positive smoke free message
- Offer to answer employee questions and invite comments about the new policy and cessation activities
- On the effective date of the policy, you should have:
- Signs in place;
- Removal or placement of outdoor ashtrays depending on your policy restrictions;
- Facility changes complete; and
- Smoking cessation and smoker support ready.
- Anticipate any issues that may arise and have a plan to deal with them
- Monitor the effectiveness of the new smoke free policy
- Short Term Effects:
- Changes in exposure to secondhand smoke in the work environment
- Number of employees attending cessation activities or using self-help materials
- Awareness of the new smoke free policy
- Employee attitudes toward the new policy and cessation activities
- Improved employee morale
- Less conflict between smokers and nonsmokers
- Enhanced quality of work
- Improved job satisfaction
 Long Term Effects:
- Changes in the number of employees who smoke or use tobacco
- Effect of cessation activities on successful quitting
- Changes in health risks for smokers and nonsmokers
- Enhanced corporate image
- Improved employee attitude toward health
- Reduced absenteeism
- Reduced healthcare costs
- Lower accident rate
- Decline in turnover
- Fewer sick day used
- Improved productivity
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