Other Important Information:

Key Findings based upon interviews with organizations who’ve implemented smoke free work environments/campuses:

• Visible, active support from the CEO, Senior Leaders, and if available, Medical Leadership is critical;

• Overarching philosophy and communication are focused on positive, supportive, coaching, a soft approach;

• Responsibility and accountability belong to everyone;

• No exceptions are made;

• Implementing the smoke free environment policy was easier than designating smoking areas;

• Break times were included from the beginning of policy implementation;

• Unions have been supportive of SFE efforts, especially when programs are provided free to the employee during paid time;

• Allow 8-12 months for planning and implementation;

• Give employees 6 months advance notification and communicate internally prior to any external communication about the policy;

• Begin with education efforts with frequent reinforcement of relationship to the mission;

• Provide easy-to-access smoking cessation resources and programs whit choices for employees well before the implementation date (however, experience shows that the number who actually participate is low).