Smoke Free Workplace Policy
The Smoking Policy sets guidelines for smoking within the company premises. It aims to protect non-smokers while respecting smokers’ rights. The policy covers all tobacco products, prohibits indoor smoking, and designates specific areas for smoking. It also addresses the company’s actions and potential disciplinary consequences.
This Employee Smoking Policy template is ready to be tailored to your company’s needs and should be considered a starting point for setting up your employment policies.
This smoking policy should include:
- Protection measures: Ensuring non-smokers are protected from second-hand smoke and maintaining a clean workplace image.
- Specific areas: Designating where smoking is allowed and prohibited, including indoor restrictions.
- Company’s responsibilities: Placing signs, communicating the policy, and offering smoking cessation programs.
Smoke free workplace policy template
Policy brief & purpose
Our employee smoking policy outlines our rules regarding smoking in the workplace. This policy aims to protect non-smokers without unreasonably depriving smokers from their right to smoke.
What is covered under the Employee Smoking Policy?
Our employees who smoke need to follow this policy so they will:
- Protect non-smokers from second-hand smoking
- Avoid setting off alarms and smoke detectors
- Preserve an image of a clean workplace
- Avoid fires from discarded cigarettes
We’ll follow any legal guidelines regarding indoor smoking.
Scope
This policy applies to all employees of our company as well as to visitors, contractors and temporary staff.
Policy elements
Our policy refers to all tobacco products. As a general rule, smoking isn’t allowed indoors. This rules refers to:
- Working areas
- Hallways
- Staircases
- Restrooms
- Warehouses
- Company vehicles
- Kitchen and Cafeterias
We may establish designated areas that are properly ventilated and secluded.
Smoking is prohibited indoors at any time, not just during working hours. If an employee stays late at work, they’re still obliged to follow this policy.
Areas where smoking is permitted
We permit smoking during normal breaks at:
- Designated smoking areas
- Balconies and open-air verandas
- Any outer premises including gardens, yards and sidewalks outside of our buildings
We also advise our employees to:
- Extinguish their cigarettes and discard them only in appropriate containers
- Avoid smoking when they have scheduled meetings with clients or vendors
- Avoid smoking near flammable objects and areas
Our company’s actions
We will:
- Place signs at all areas where smoking isn’t allowed
- Communicate this policy through [bulleting boards/ internal newsletters]
- Offer smoking cessation seminars as part of our employee wellness program
Any employee who has a complaint regarding this policy can contact our Human resources (HR) department.
Disciplinary Consequences
We expect employees to respect this policy and their colleagues. We’ll take disciplinary action towards employees who disregard this policy:
- Employees who violate this policy frequently or cause severe problems (e.g. fires) may face consequences up to and including termination.
- Employees who violate this policy infrequently or don’t cause major issues will face reprimands or detraction of benefits.
Managers and our HR department are responsible for taking appropriate action after they investigate any incidents thoroughly.
| Disclaimer: This policy template is meant to provide general guidelines and should be used as a reference. It may not take into account all relevant local, state or federal laws and is not a legal document. Neither the author nor Workable will assume any legal liability that may arise from the use of this policy. |
Further reading
- Federal Laws and Policies – U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services