Fielding tough questions and concerns
from smoking employees
Are you concerned that if you adopt a smoke-free policy, you will have to field
tough questions and concerns from your smoking employees? Experience has
shown that employers typically get far less negative feedback about adopting
smoke-free policies than they anticipate. You may not get any at all!
But in case you do, below are some questions and concerns that may come in from
your employees about adopting a smoke-free policy, and how to address them.
If there are other questions/concerns you would like to see addressed here,
please contact us!
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I’ve always been able to
smoke here, why can’t I anymore?
In the interest of the improving the health of ALL employees by reducing
their exposure to second hand smoke, our organization has decided to adopt a
smoke-free policy. |
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I don’t mind smoking
outside, but what am I supposed to do in bad weather?
Unfortunately, if you continue to smoke, you will have to do so outdoors
during your work hours, so that means that you may have to endure some bad
weather while you smoke. If you’re interested in quitting, we can connect you
with the resources needed to do so. |
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I guess this is a good time
to quit smoking, but I need help. Is the company willing to help me quit?
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If the company is providing cessation
resources, explain that the company is willing to help the individual
quit, and explain which smoking cessation resources are being made available
by the company and/or are covered by the company’s health insurance plan |
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If the company is not providing smoking
cessation resources, explain which, if any smoking cessation programs are
covered by the company’s health insurance, and direct them to the smoking
cessation resources on WorkingSmokeFree.com. |
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A designated smoking area
has always worked before. Why not now?
Science on tobacco smoke shows that providing designated areas does not
protect nonsmokers from the toxins in tobacco smoke. Smoke both drifts from
the designated area to other areas and is circulated throughout the building
by the air handling system. |
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Can’t we get a separately
ventilated smoking room?
We considered having a separately ventilated smoking room, but decided
against it for two reasons: 1) a truly separately ventilated room, which
exhausts smoke to the outside and does not allow smoke to drift out, is
extremely expensive, and would create a dangerous place for any nonsmoking
staff (including the cleaning staff) to visit. 2) less expensive options,
even the newest ventilation technologies under ideal conditions, are incapable
of removing all secondhand smoke and its toxic constituents from the air. |
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I only smoke in my office
with the door closed and the window open. What’s wrong with that?
Smoking “behind closed doors” doesn’t really protect others from your
smoke. Smoke both drifts from your office and is circulated throughout the
building by the air handling system. We have an obligation to provide clean,
safe air for employees, customers and visitors to our facility. Also, due to
heating and air conditioning costs, management would prefer that you not open
your office window. |
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Everybody in my group
smokes, and now we all have to go outside. That just doesn’t make sense.
While your entire group may be made up of smokers, your group must “share
air” with many nonsmokers who work in other parts of the building. We have an
obligation to provide clean, safe air for employees, customers and visitors to
our facility. |
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If you make me smoke
outside, I will be less productive, because of all of the smoke-breaks.
Smokers are not allowed to take more breaks than nonsmokers do. Please
refer to our policy handbook regarding breaks. You will need to restrict your
smoking to break-time allowed by the company. |
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It’s not fair for smokers
not to get extra breaks to smoke outside. Aren’t our rights as non-smokers
protected?
Smokers are not allowed to take more breaks than non-smokers do. If you
have smokers in your area who are taking more frequent breaks, bring it to the
attention of your supervisor, or contact human resources. |
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We’ve never had a problem
with smoke before? Who complained?
We didn’t make the decision to adopt a smoke-free workplace policy because
of complaints from nonsmokers. This decision was made in the interest of the
health of ALL of our employees. |
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I’m probably going to have
to look for a job where I can smoke.
While we would hate to lose any of our valued employees like you,
if being able to smoke while you work is that important to you, we’ll
understand if you feel the need to seek employment elsewhere. |
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This (town, county,
nation, business, etc) was built on tobacco! It is disloyal and disrespectful
not to allow smoking.
You are correct that it is important to honor our heritage, but the
economy of the South is changing. Tobacco is no longer the sole bread-winner
in North Carolina. Furthermore, science and personal experience have shown us
that exposure to tobacco smoke is extremely dangerous. We can no longer allow
an activity in our facility that endangers the health of others. |
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Won’t we lose customers
over this?
Most people would not fault a business for adopting a policy such as this
in the interest of the health of their employees (and customers), especially
not when smoke-free workplaces have become so common nationwide. It is
unlikely that we will lose any customers over this decision. |
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Isn’t it a person’s right
to have smoking areas?
Smoking is not a right; it is a choice. It is not a person’s
right to have smoking areas – however, it IS a person’s right to be able to
get through their work day without being exposed to harmful tobacco smoke. |
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Smoking doesn’t interfere
with work production, so why ban it?
Actually, smoking does interfere with productivity. Smokers are
absent from work 50% more than nonsmokers, and employees who take four
10-minute smoking breaks a day actually work one month less per year
than workers who don’t take smoking breaks. |
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Smoking isn’t illegal,
there are no laws against it, so why can’t we smoke?
While we want to encourage our employees not to smoke in the interest of
them living longer, healthier, more productive lives, this policy is not about
telling you that you can’t smoke at all – it’s about protecting your fellow
employees from having to breathe in the toxins from your tobacco smoke. |
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Why penalize those who
smoke and not those who chew tobacco?
Because while chewing tobacco is harmful to the health of the chewer, it
doesn’t have a negative impact on the health of the people around the chewer.
Smoking, on the other hand, has negative impacts on the health of both the
smoker and the people exposed to the smoker’s tobacco smoke. |
