Request to Conduct research - Essay Example

In addition, cigarette smoking harms secondhand smokers. Around 438,000 Americans die every year from inhaling secondhand smoke (Webber 13). The workplace is one of the most frequent places of smoking because of the time people spend in working and due to work-related stress. Hence, it is critical for the company to implement a comprehensive workplace smoking program that will benefit its employees and the organization. DECISION-MAKER The authority, who can implement the program, is the Human Resource Department (HRD) Manager.

He is in charge of approving policies and solutions that impact the welfare of the employees. He will need the approval of the Finance Department and the support of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Board of Directors. The HRD Manager should grant this solution because it will improve the health of the people, which will impact their performance and reduce the long-term healthcare costs of the company. PROPOSED SOLUTION The solution is embodied in a comprehensive “Workplace Smoking Cessation Program.

” The title does not emphasize banning smoking or anti-smoking because some smokers have aversive attitudes to such language. To launch this program, an ad hoc committee will be formed, consisting of at least six people, two from HR and four employee representatives, wherein two are smokers and two are non-smokers. The goal is to promote employee participation and enhance the legitimacy of the program as a pro-employee effort. These people will brainstorm on the policies and procedures regarding the program.

The program will be composed of its benefits and communications strategy. It will offer health benefits support for tobacco cessation, while communicating tobacco-free worksite policies (Webber 14). The company will play a large role in educating employees and their families about the health impact of tobacco use and the programs and services that are accessible for employees, so that they can quit smoking (Webber 14). In order to save money, existing resources for motivating smoking cessation behaviors will be used, as well as public measures for assessing the success of the program.

The HR will employ multiple communication tools and techniques to promote smoking cessation practices. These tools will emphasize the social, health, economic, and ethical reasons of stopping smoking habits. Several elements will be underscored: 1) Employ a value-based benefit design that promotes screening, counseling, and over-the-counter and prescription medications that will support tobacco cessation. 2) Emphasize the various benefits of smoking. 3) Give information about programs and services that help employees quit, such as telephone counseling quit lines, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) resources, and other public resources. 4) Promote a general health philosophy in the worksite (Webber 14).

BENEFITS The benefits of the program to the organization are: 1) Better employee and organizational performance because of less smoking-related absences and illnesses. 2) Lower healthcare costs. 3) Decrease of instances of sudden workforce problems because of deaths and illnesses caused by smoking. 4) Higher morale due to emphasis on health and welfare. The benefits of the program to the employees are: 1) Better understanding of the benefits of quitting smoking. 2) Improved health and stamina. 3) Increase in morale because of the attention given to their health and welfare