Developing corporate smoking policies

Abstract

There is little dispute regarding the dangers of smoking. The literature is replete with studies that repeatedly document the physiological effects of cigarette smoking. However, this knowledge does not seem to be well expressed in new behaviors. Millions of Americans continue to smoke, and many corporations continue to accommodate smokers. New incentives introduced into the system, are beginning to produce a shift in the balance. Rising price tags for health care have forced corporations to view smoking cessation and employee wellness as cost-effective mechanisms for financial control. Numerous companies have discovered that the smokers are too expensive to maintain. Not only are they less healthy and less productive, but they have become an occupational hazzard to coworkers. The recent fear of litigation seems to have tipped the scales in favor of the nonsmoker. The time is ripe for nonsmoking to become a corporate policy. The occupational health nurse is in a position to spearhead this drive. Few opportunities afford the nurse such a chance to serve both the employee and the employer without bias. Smoking cessation is a vehicle for improved employee health as well as enhanced corporate finances. The future viability of the occupational health nurse's role may depend on her ability to maximize just such opportunities.