5/18/2023
Let's address the elephant in the room because tobacco use in the workplace, especially in India, is often pushed under the carpet. Par kyun? Tobacco consumption is one of the few preventable habits with tremendous health benefits.
Whether you choose to chew, sniff or smoke, the effects are equally harmful. Tobacco consumption has personal and professional consequences. Employees who consume it in the workplace suffer from more health issues, face a decline in work productivity, and are more likely to miss work than their non-smoking counterparts. Companies are gradually implementing smoke-free policies to tackle the issues of tobacco use in the workplace and safeguard the health of non-smokers. Read on to know what more can be done this тАШWorld No Tobacco DayтАЩ.
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Source :┬аhttps://www.livetobaccofreeaustin.org/
Employers can empower employee health by turning challenges from tobacco use in the workplace into opportunities. Consider these points:
Making the workplace a tobacco-free zone does more than boost employee health. It helps the business save millions of rupees that would otherwise be spent on complications arising from tobacco consumption.
When employees are healthy and happy, it reflects in their work. Reduced sick leaves and absenteeism boost productivity at work. An organisation that values its workers' mental and physical health grows faster.
It happens every so often that non-smokers pay the price of smoking in public area. Exposure to secondhand smoke is a potential health hazard that causes serious health problems. A smoke-free environment safeguards the health and safety of all employees. Creating a designated smoking area can gradually reduce consumption among employees, especially if it is positioned in a far-flung corner of the office area.
It is believed that when more workplaces go smoke-free, more homes do too. Healthy employees have happier families with lesser health issues that are often related to secondhand smoke consumption.
Not everyone chooses to go cold turkey. As an employer implementing a smoke-free workplace, you need to help your smoking employees with access to counsellors or doctors who can advise about NRT (Nicotine Replacement Therapy). Working and quitting tobacco altogether can take a toll on their mental health. Focus on organising interactive sessions during breaks to distract them from heading out for a smoke.
Peer pressure plays an overwhelming part in driving youth to smoke and chew tobacco. There can be many other reasons why young adults become dependent on tobacco products. Here are some of them backed by evidence (sources at the bottom) that could trigger this habit:
Dhanda aur tambaku ka rishta hanikarak hai. Janhit mein jari.
Today, businesses are becoming more sensitive towards practising workplace safety measures that protect their employees. From implementing tobacco-free policies to smoking cessation support, they're doing it all one step at a time. It's a slow journey but a cleaner and healthier one. Par yeh karna kaise hai apne desh mein?
Our standard strategy can be used as a guideline and tweaked according to your business needs. Here's what you can do to encourage a tobacco-free workplace:
1. Policy Outline