According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tobacco smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States. Almost half a million Americans die prematurely of smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke annually, and more than 16 million people live with a serious illness caused by smoking. The cost from direct medical expenses and lost productivity related to smoking is more than $300 billion every year.

By offering and promoting smoking cessation programs and support in the workplace, employers can have a positive impact on these statistics. Here are some ideas and resources:

Promote cessation resources

• Promote, on an ongoing basis, current options for tobacco cessation resources offered by your employer insurance plan.
• If your workplace offers group insurance benefits, ensure that tobacco cessation medications (both over the counter and prescription) are covered under the prescription drug plan.
• Provide tobacco cessation support and information for employees’ family members.
• Promote these free tobacco cessation resources on an ongoing basis:
• Quit Partner – Minnesota Department of Health
• gov/quit – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• QuitGuide – Smokefree.gov (free app)
• BecomeAnEX – developed in partnership with Mayo Clinic
• American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout

 Provide support

• Create a “Quitters Wall” where employees can write about their tobacco challenges or successes and offer support.
• Provide incentives (such as discounts on health insurance or other benefits) for being a current nonuser of tobacco and for current tobacco users who are in a cessation class or actively quitting.

Review and update your tobacco policies

• Create a policy that allows for participation in tobacco cessation activities during the workday.
• Update your workplace tobacco policy to include E-cigarettes and vaping.
• Announce and promote your organization’s revised policies in your workplace communications.
• Update your tobacco signage: Organizations located in Hennepin County can order smoke-free signs for no charge at smoking and tobacco restrictions | Hennepin County (click on the Restrictions Countywide tab).

Click here to read this month's E-tips for your employees: "Help someone break the tobacco habit" If you have trouble accessing the document, try a different web browser.

To share these E-tips with employees, you can:  

• Email the E-tips document to your staff as an attachment. 1) Click the link to download and save the E-tips to your computer. 2) Add your organization's logo in the bottom left corner. 3) Then send it as an email attachment to staff. 
• Print the document once you've added your organization's logo and post it in a common area in your workplace.
• Copy and paste the text into your organization's newsletter
  

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  Upcoming Health@Work event

  Take it outside! online training on July 28 at 9 a.m.  

  Take it outside! is a four-week challenge that helps employees reap the benefits of spending more time outside being active. Plan to attend on Wednesday, July 28 to receive everything you need to launch Take it outside! at your workplace whenever it’s convenient for you! Click here to sign up today.

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  Missed last month's E-tips?

  Click here to read last month's E-tips on moving more and sitting less at work.