Even if your community is not protected by a smokefree law, employers can still adopt a smokefree policy for the workplace. If you’re an employee and are exposed to secondhand smoke on the job, you can work with your employer and community partners to adopt a smokefree policy. Whether you are an employer wishing to protect your workers or an employee wanting to bring smokefree air to your workplace, you can work towards adopting a smokefree workplace policy. You can also contact our sister organization, Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, to advocate for a smokefree law for all workplaces in your area.

Smokefree workplaces are good for health and good for business.

Many people have higher levels of exposure to secondhand smoke than they believe, and much of it happens in the workplace. While many workplaces are smokefree due to a local or state smokefree law, many other workplaces still allow smoking. Since people spend most of their waking hours at work, smoking in the workplace causes a great deal of harm to both employers and employees.

Smokefree workplace policies not only protect workers from the health dangers of secondhand smoke, but they result in a more efficient work environment. Going smokefree in the workplace will also:

• Lower cleaning and maintenance expenses (carpets, drapes, ducts, paintwork)
• Lower insurance premiums (fire, medical, worker comp, liability)
• Lower labor costs

All this equals greater profits and a healthier and safer work environment for employees, employers, and patrons alike. See Secondhand Smoke for more information on how secondhand smoke exposure in the workplace affects employee health and productivity.

Our sister organization, Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, has information on adopting a smokefree law for your city or state and a smokefree meetings resolution.