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Benefits of the Law
Oregon pays over $1 billion each year in health care costs and lost productivity due to disease and early death from smoking. Employers bear the brunt of these expenses.
Smoking costs employers money. Smokefree workplace laws often serve as an incentive for smokers to quit. When a smoker quits, employers save money and everyone benefits.
How do Oregonians Benefit?
Employers
- A healthier workforce with fewer sick days
- Possible reduction of health care costs
- Reduction of maintenance costs when smoke is eliminated from the environment (for example: wear and tear on office equipment, carpets and furniture.)
- Financial benefits
Workers
- Protection from secondhand smoke that can cause heart disease, lung cancer and poor respiratory health.
- Motivation to cut down on the use of tobacco or to quit smoking.
Communities
- Reduction of the huge economic toll smoking exacts on Oregon — over $1 billion each year in health care costs and lost productivity due to disease and early death from smoking.
Financial Benefits
Financial benefits of complying with a smokefree workplace law:
- Reduced cleaning and maintenance costs
- Reduced number of fire incidents
- Reduced cost of fire insurance
Financial benefits when a smokefree workplace law results in employees quitting smoking:
- Reduced absenteeism
- Reduced amount of work time wasted by employees smoking
- Reduced health care costs
- Reduced life insurance premium costs
- Reduced risk of industrial accidents and occupational injuries
- Reduced disability costs
- Reduced number of disciplinary actions
Download list of Data sources and references (pdf)
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