Beyond just the smokers' lost time, nonsmoking employees end up subsidizing the smokers across the board. They have to make up for lost work time and lost sick time. And their health care costs increase because of their colleagues who smoke. There is, however, a light at the end of the tunnel. Researchers agree that nearly 3 in 4 smokers want to quit. The biggest hurdles to doing so, they say, are lack of resources or lack of willpower. Studies have shown that the majority of employers still have not adopted broad-based campaigns to help encourage smoking workers to quit. And yet, some businesses have showcased that the strategies and solutions are easier to develop and implement than expected. It's clear that an employer who helps employees to quit smoking will be better off. The upside is improved employee health and wellness, increased morale, better productivity rates and a healthier bottom line. Some of these tactics include:

Create a "smoke-free" work environment. Companies are not just paying higher health care and workers' compensation costs for smokers. They are also paying for the effects of secondhand smoke among the nonsmoking staff. By creating a smoke-free corporate campus, you will improve quality of work and also will improve your corporate image. A smoke-free workplace will also improve air quality, promote a healthier work environment and will help cut building maintenance costs. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that U.S. employers could save $4 billion to $8 billion per year in building operations and maintenance costs just by creating a smoke free policy.
Offer and cover smoking cessation programs for your employees. Instead of viewing a smoker's bad habit as a lifestyle choice, view it as a life-threatening addiction that could not only cost your company a lot of money, but also some of your most talented workers. When compared with health-related costs caused by smoking, cessation programs are relatively inexpensive and they are one of the most successful preventive services out there. By offering these programs to your employees, you are not only showing them you care about their wellbeing, but you are also promoting a healthier work environment for all of your workers.

It's important to understand that providing comprehensive benefits and encouraging smoke-free lifestyles are not enough. Once these policies and procedures are in place, employers need to go the extra mile to ensure workers are engaged. Most importantly, businesses need to quantify the program use, quality and effectiveness.

Instant Insights /

Why your company should help smokers quit

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