Employers Association supports Smoke-free Worksites

By Lovemore Masakadza

The Charlotte-based Employers Association understands that the health of employees is of paramount importance to its member companies. According to the association’s benefit services director, Cathy Graham, employers are very aware of the dangers of secondhand smoke and many want to do what is best for their employees.

“Smoke-free worksites are becoming the norm,” Graham said. “Providing a safe work environment is valuable for both the employer and employees.”

Although 85 percent of about 380 members of the Employers Association’s worksites surveyed in 2006 had a formal written policy concerning smoking on company premises, only 8.5 percent did not permit smoking on company premises. (See table)

Some allowed smoking in different places such as; private offices or enclosed cubicles, plant or manufacturing areas, lunchrooms or break areas and outside of facilities.

The Employers Association, which specializes in providing human resources and training services to employers, has more than 860 member organizations of all sizes and industries, both public and private, with a majority its members having some presence in Charlotte.

Graham said that in her lifetime she has witnessed what many people have experienced —a time when smoking was not restricted in any way at worksites. Now, she is seeing many employees having smoking policies and hopes that trend continues.

In North Carolina there are no smoke-free worksite laws and it is up to an employer to adopt such policies. The Mecklenburg County Health Department urges companies to consider the health of their employees by adopting smoke-free policies.