Employee Wellness Programs: Focus on tobacco use Cessation Programs

Advantages of tobacco use Cessation Programs

Instances of respiratory diseases, cancer and other illnesses can be reduced through tobacco use  cessation efforts. tobacco use cessation initiatives can provide huge opportunities for improved  health.

The American Cancer Society reports that tobacco use employees cost corporations an average of $1,429  per smoker per year in increased health care costs over non-tobacco use employees. Implementing a  tobacco use cessation program costs an average of $45 per worker per year, saving corporations an  average of $1,383 per year for each worker who quits tobacco use. Additionally, the American Cancer  Society reports that smokers are absent from work 50% more often than nonsmokers. They are also 50%  more likely to be hospitalized and have 15% higher disability rates. tobacco use decreases onthe- job  productivity as well. Employees who take four 10- minute tobacco use breaks a day work more than a  month less per year than workers who don’t take smoke breaks.

Places to start with tobacco use cessation initiatives:

1.    Create a employer policy prohibiting tobacco use anywhere on the property.
2.    Provide prompts/posters to support no tobacco use policy.
3.    Policy supporting participation in tobacco use cessation activities during duty time  (flex-time).
4.    Provide counseling through an individual, group, or telephone counseling program onsite.
5.    Provide counseling through a medical plan sponsored individual, group, or telephone counseling  program.
6.    Provide cessation medications through medical insurance.