Cuyahoga County Health Alliance Tobacco-Free Policy Workshop Planning a 100% Tobacco-Free Campus Policy Cuyahoga County Board of Health August 24, 2012

Why Does My Workplace Need a Tobacco-Free Policy? To provide a safe and healthy environment for employees and customers (to discourage tobacco use and to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke) To encourage smokers to become nonsmokers (have a quit rate that is 84% higher than average) To encourage cigarette smokers to smoke less cigarettes (consume 11-15% less tobacco than average) To help former tobacco users remain tobacco-free To contribute to reducing smoking rates in our county (overall, to have an impact on the public’s health) To reduce healthcare and insurance cost for your organization To improve productivity

Why Does My Workplace Need a Tobacco-Free Policy? (Continued) Tobacco users cost companies more per claim than non-tobacco users (i.e. greater hospital inpatient costs- make six more visits/yr than nonsmokers) May be able to negotiate lower health, life, and disability coverage because of the reduction in employee smoking A policy coupled with cessation programs to help employees quit may be able to save even more on their insurance costs Performance/productivity can be increased (smokers are absent from work 6.5 days more than nonsmokers; average smoking employee spends a total of 18 days/yr on smoking breaks)

Why Does My Workplace Need a Tobacco-Free Policy? (Continued) In Summary: Tobacco-Free Policy Developed= Reduced Tobacco Consumption OR Quit Using Tobacco = Healthcare Costs↓ = Employee Absenteeism↓ = Workforce Productivity↑

Are there different levels or stages to adopting a policy? **1.) A 100% tobacco-free campus, including facilities and vehicles, as well as the property or grounds of the employer 2.) A tobacco-free building, with tobacco-free indoor areas. Designated smoking areas are located outside. (everyone has this policy due to the Ohio Smoke-Free Workplace Act) **Include tobacco products other than cigarettes in your policy? Recommended that you include all forms of tobacco since they all have harmful health effects.

What Should I Do to Build Consensus in My Workplace for the Policy? 1.) Assess the current situation within your workplace (allows employees to express their opinions to help you gain support for the policy, but it will also help guide implementation) Is there a current tobacco policy? Do employees What are the employees” attitudes about the current policy? Do employees comply with the current policy? Survey your employees-advantages/disadvantages of becoming an entirely tobacco-free campus; using incentives to encourage employees to quit; offering and paying for tobacco cessation programming

What Should I Do to Build Consensus in My Workplace for the Policy? 2.) Create a “well-represented” Tobacco-Free Taskforce Includes management and general staff Tobacco users Former tobacco users Persons who have never smoked or used tobacco **Encourages employees to take ownership in your policy, which can help guarantee the policy’s acceptance and success 3.) Clear and concise communication (i.e. letter from management; notices in newsletter/ )- communicate with employees on why the decision was made (provide enough time for tobacco users to prepare for the changes); when it will become effective (recommended to announce at least 4 months before the effective date); and how to obtain cessation resources and assistance, if needed

What Should be Included in my Company’s Policy? Purpose for the policy, including the harmful effects of secondhand smoke, rising healthcare and insurance costs, and any other reasons relevant to your workplace A tie between the policy and your corporate values (i.e. employee health and performance) Clear statement of where smoking is prohibited Clear statement of where smoking is permitted (if anywhere)

What Should be Included in my Company’s Policy? (Continued) Clear statement on how other forms of tobacco will be regulated Clear statement on enforcement and the consequences of noncompliance Clear statement of how you will support employees who smoke or use tobacco (i.e. cessation information/services) Contact information for the individual(s) who can answer questions about the policy ***Get feedback from Management and the Taskforce before finalizing the policy

How Else Should I Prepare for the New Policy? Removing any ashtrays or other types of cigarette depositories Posting “Tobacco-Free” area signs in highly visible locations Focusing on the “smoke” and not the “smoker” Focusing on the health and safety of all employees, not individual rights