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)

Tobacco-Free Workplace 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

We Have Not ‘Come a Long Way, Baby’: Dr. Alan Blum on Smoking Cessation and Prevention

Blum, Alan, MD

Cancer Network

tobacco nation: the deadly state of smoking disparity in the u.s.

The Truth Initiative

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

Cigarette butts near building entrances: what is the impact of smoke-free college campus policies?

Lee, Joseph G L, Leah M Ranney, Adam O Goldstein

BMJ Journals

Brochures/Reference

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

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

State of Oklahoma Executive Order 2013-43

Executive Order prohibiting the use of electronic cigarette or vaping device 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.

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.

External Resources

Tobacco-Free Workplace

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.

Global Smoke-Free Worksite Challenge

American Cancer Society

The Global Smokefree Worksite Challenge (GSWC) was a global, multi-sector initiative for employers to make their worksites smoke-free or completely tobacco-free. The GSWC assisted employers in establishing smoke-free worksites and broadening their policies to establish completely tobacco-free campuses when appropriate. The Global Smoke-free Worksite Challenge was launched as a Clinton Global Initiative ‘Commitment to Action,’ concurrently with the United Nations High Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases in September 2011.

After the initiative came to an end in 2016, the Society committed to ensuring the availability of the high-quality tools developed over the years. These tools are available below.

Toolkits & Guides for Tobacco-Free College Campuses

Tobacco Free College Campus Initiative

The goal of this toolkit is to provide you with the resources and tools to help you institute a successful tobacco- or smoke-free campus policy; in other words, to make the changes you want to see on your campus.

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.

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.

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Tobacco-Free Workplace

Maintain a comprehensive tobacco-free workplace policy

Tobacco-Free Workplace