Pregnant women want to have a healthy pregnancy and, if they smoke, many of them want to quit. Employers can play a critical role in helping pregnant smokers quit smoking. Creating a supportive work environment is one aspect of an overall plan to assist pregnant smokers-and other employees-with quitting. Beyond a smoke-free workplace, employers can offer pregnant smokers support by making health services and benefits available to employees.
Employers gain a number of benefits by reducing the rate of smoking among pregnant, and other employees. These include: reduced health care costs, improved employee health and increased productivity, and decreased absenteeism, including days taken to care for a sick child. Children living with smokers and/or exposed to secondhand smoke have more coughs, colds, and ear infections.
A safe, healthy work environment can also boost employee morale, especially when it is part of an overall plan to assist smokers.
NEW: Toolkit for Employers
An information kit to help you help your pregnant employees quit smoking.
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Simple Things Your Company Can do to Help Pregnant Smokers:
Send emails or flyers to employees or feature information about smoking and pregnancy in your newsletter, to raise awareness of the issue.
Place posters around your office in restrooms, lunchrooms, and designated smoking areas and keep brochures and other materials on hand that direct women to additional quit-smoking resources.
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