Tobacco-Free Workplace

Maintain a comprehensive tobacco-free workplace policy

The tobacco-free policy must apply to the entire workplace – both indoors and outdoors and must apply to all US-based employees, temporary workers, contractors and visitors. Gold Standard employers may not have any designated areas for the use of any form of tobacco.

Sample tobacco-free workplace policy

Sample tobacco-free enforcement language

Forms of tobacco and smokeless tobacco

Cigarettes, Cigars, Pipes
Smokeless tobacco, also called chewing tobacco, oral tobacco, spit or spitting tobacco, dip, chew, snuff, snus, twist, plug, and dissolvable tobacco products
Electronic cigarettes, also called “e-cigarettes,” or “Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems” (ENDS)

Best Practices

Tobacco Free Business Card

Tobacco Free Business Card

A very simple, but very effective, practice has been instituted at Celgene to dissuade employees from tobacco use as well as give them resources to find cessation programs. The Corporate Affairs team, alongside of our Corporate Services colleagues, have developed a business card that can be provided to tobacco users who are violating the Global Corporate Policy. Rather than confronting the employee or contractor with language about Corporate Policies, these cards can be provided as a reminder of the “tobacco free” status of our...

Articles of Interest

Temple studying how to be a tobacco-free campus

Treible, Amanda

The Temple News

Tobacco Free Company a Big Hit

Min, Shirley

WNCN-TV

Research & Evidence

Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults — United States, 2016

Ahmed Jamal, MBBS; Elyse Phillips, MPH; Andrea S. Gentzke, PhD; David M. Homa, PhD; Stephen D. Babb, MPH; Brian A. King, PhD; Linda J. Neff, PhD

CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

Smoke-Free and Tobacco-Free Policies in Colleges and Universities ― United States and Territories, 2017

Wang, Teresa W., PhD; Michael A. Tynan; Cynthia Hallett, MPH; Laura Walpert, JD; Maggie Hopkins; Darryl Konter; Brian A. King, PhD

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)

Frequently Asked Questions

Pillar 1: Tobacco-Free Workplace

What is “evidence-based” tobacco treatment?

Counseling and medications are considered to be evidence-based treatment for quitting the use of tobacco. Medications include both prescription (Rx) medicines that are FDA-approved for the treatment of tobacco cessation, and also non-prescription Over-the-Counter (OTC) products that have been approved by the FDA and are considered effective for discontinuing tobacco use.

Does the tobacco-free workplace policy have to apply to all employees?

Yes, it must apply to all US-based employees, at all sites and facilities, whether they are owned, leased or shared. All current employees should be notified of the tobacco-free policy, and prospective employees should be made aware of the tobacco-free policy during the job interview process. Temporary/ contract personnel as well as visitors to company sites should also be informed of the tobacco-free policy. Gold Standard organizations promote an integrated, positive message, incorporating the notion that “we care about your health” and “here are the programs and support we’re offering to help you stop using tobacco”.

Does the tobacco-free workplace policy have to apply to all buildings and grounds?

Yes, the policy must apply to the entire workplace – both indoors and outdoors. Providing designated areas for smoking or separately ventilated facilities does not meet the requirements of the CEO Cancer Gold Standard. A Gold Standard employer may not have any designated areas for the use of any form of tobacco.

Brochures/Reference

State of Oklahoma Executive Order 2012-01

Executive Order prohibits the use of any tobacco product on any and all properties owned, leased or contracted for use by the State of Oklahoma, including but not limited to all buildings, land and vehicles owned, leased or contracted for use by agencies or instrumentalities of the State of Oklahoma. The goal of this Executive Order isto provide for a healthier work environment, encourage healthier lifestyle choices for state employees and protect visitors to state property.

State of Colorado Executive Order B 2018 011

Amending Executive Order D 0036 90 Regarding Smoking in State Buildings and Further Directing State Agencies to Take Action to Limit the Use of Tobacco Products, Vaping
Products, and E-Cigarettes by Youth

Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs

Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States. Nearly one-half million Americans still die prematurely from tobacco use each year, and more than 16 million Americans suffer from a disease caused by smoking. Despite these risks, approximately 42.1 million U.S. adults currently smoke cigarettes. And the harmful effects of smoking do not end with the smoker. Secondhand smoke exposure causes serious disease and death, and even brief exposure can be harmful to health. Each year, primarily because of exposure to secondhand smoke, an estimated 7,330 nonsmoking Americans die of lung cancer and more than 33,900 die of heart disease. Coupled with this enormous health toll is the significant economic burden. Economic costs attributable to smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke now approach $300 billion annually.

Adopting Tobacco-free Policies on Campuses

This guide is designed to assist with the creation of effective and enforceable tobacco-free policies for higher-education institutions.

Tobacco-Free Campus Implementation Guide

Tobacco-Free Campus Policy Implementation Guide

A resource designed to help college students adopt and implement a 100% tobacco-free campus policy

External Resources

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Tobacco Free Campus

Tobacco Free College Campus Initiative

In an effort to protect our youth and young adults against this epidemic, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) created the Tobacco-Free College Campus Initiative (TFCCI) to promote and support the adoption and implementation of tobacco-free policies at universities, colleges, and other institutions of higher learning across the United States.

Tobacco-Free Outdoor Spaces: Buffer Zones & Other Hazy Issues

Additional Resources

Creating tobacco-free spaces through policy is effective in reducing tobacco use and improving public health. There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke and evidence shows that secondhand smoke is harmful even in outdoor spaces. While state and federal law regulate tobacco use in limited areas, New York local governments and private entities possess authority to impose more stringent tobacco use restrictions in both indoor and outdoor areas. This fact sheet aims to answer some common questions about developing, implementing and enforcing local and private tobacco-free policies. For more information about tobacco-free policies and other public health interventions, visit our website at tobaccopolicycenter.org.

Improve Indoor Air Quality

American Lung Association

Maintaining healthy indoor air quality is an important step for all of your employee’s health. Regardless of whether you work in an industrial, service or office setting, common allergens and irritants may be closer than you realize.

NCI Tobacco Policy Viewer

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Implementation of smoke-free policies can lower smoking rates and reduce exposure to second hand smoke. The NCI Tobacco Policy Viewer is an interactive web resource for mapping, query, and download of historical smoke-free policy data in the United States. The tool reveals variation across U.S. cities, counties and states in the types of indoor areas that are smoke-free, length of time since the smoke-free policy came into effect, and number of people who are protected by the smoke-free policy.

Introduction to Tobacco in Rural Communities

Additional Resources

This module highlights the demographics of tobacco use in rural areas along with populations that may benefit from successful tobacco cessation efforts.

For general information on what to consider as you start your program, see Creating a Program: Where to Begin in the Rural Community Health Toolkit.

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Tobacco-Free Workplace

Maintain a comprehensive tobacco-free workplace policy

Pillar 1: Tobacco-Free Workplace

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