Workplace Health Promotion: Addressing Smoking Risk Factors & Programs

This essay addresses the critical risk factors associated with smoking, emphasizing its significant contribution to global mortality rates and various health complications such as heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory illnesses. It proposes the establishment of smoking cessation programs within the workplace, supported by the National Health Service (NHS), to guide and support employees in modifying their smoking habits. The proposed programs prioritize employee well-being through personalized interventions, including one-to-one interviews and health risk appraisals, facilitated by Wellness Coaches. The active involvement of employers in these programs is crucial for fostering a supportive environment and encouraging employees to address their smoking dependencies, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes and reduced healthcare costs.

Running head: WORKPLACE HEALTH PROMOTION
BUSINESS ETHICS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1WORKPLACE HEALTH PROMOTION
A. Discuss the Risk factors of smoking.
Smoking is one of the most critical factors leading to the causes of deaths all over the
world. Although other causes of deaths such as illegal drug usage, alcohol usage, and
firearm-based incidents are always considered limelight, the effects of smoking outweigh
these causes. Smoking is not only responsible for causing negative health effects but is also
responsible for developing or elevating health risks such as heart diseases. Smokers are
considered more likely to develop heart disease, lung cancer, and stroke in comparison to
non-smokers (Gaalema et al., 2018). The risks increase by two to four times for heart
diseases; the potentiality of lung cancer increases by 25 percent in men and 25.7 percent in
the female. Smoking can cause the risk of cardiovascular disease and respiratory diseases.
The risks caused by smoking can be projected in the overall performance of the individuals as
it will affect the health directly and will construct a direct dependency on smokers’ stress
onto smoking tobacco. Moreover, smoking affects the overall health of individuals, which
ultimately results in absenteeism and increased costs and time for availing healthcare
amenities and practices.
B. Set smoking cessation programs for employees
The smoking cessation programs for employees can be established in the workplace
infrastructure with the support of the National Health Service (NHS) of the locality, which
will assist in guiding with the norms and policies for smokers’ behavior an extent. The
programs will be directed mainly towards the well-being of the employees, rather than
focusing on the productivity rate. The programs will increase the engagement of the
employees (smokers) by understanding personalized needs through the regular one-to-one
interview (Griffiths & James, 2017). Employers need to be wholly associated with the
program execution process set by NHS in the specific region. Employers’ involvement will
ensure the encouragement of employees’ well-being by conducting Health Risk Appraisal

2WORKPLACE HEALTH PROMOTION
Programs and by conducting barometric screenings, which will allow employees to reflect the
baseline assessment of the personal risks in health conditions. The programs will also include
the participation of Wellness Coaches, who will guide the smokers personally to respond
alternatively to their need for smoking in the workplace and life in general.

3WORKPLACE HEALTH PROMOTION
References:
Gaalema, D. E., Leventhal, A. M., Priest, J. S., & Higgins, S. T. (2018). Understanding
individual differences in vulnerability to cigarette smoking is enhanced by attention to
the intersection of common risk factors. Preventive medicine, 117, 38-42.
Griffiths, L., & James, K. S. (2017). Evaluating an Employee Health Tobacco Cessation
Program for Enhanced Success.