HEALTHIER WORKPLACE TRANSLATES INTO LOWER INSURANCE PREMIUMS

An employer could save $4,000 a year in insurance premiums, improved productivity and fewer sick days for each employee who quits smoking.

Organizers of a workplace wellness seminar hope that information might be incentive enough for employers to consider strengthening smoking policies and encouraging employees to quit.

A discussion of the risks of smoking in the workplace was among topics discussed at a seminar Thursday on community and workplace health. It was sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri and the Cape Girardeau County Health Department.

In addition to the presentation about tobacco in the workplace, other topics discussed were infections and communicable diseases and domestic violence.

Michael Goldberg, director of health promotions with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri, said health care is being addressed as a national issue, but it's really a local concern.

"We need to be smarter health care consumers, take better care of ourselves and learn how to change our behaviors," Goldberg said. "Otherwise we will not see health care reform. To have health care reform, we must have a healthier population.

"What we hope is that people will take more responsibility for their health care," he said.

Charlotte Craig, director of the Cape Girardeau County Health Department, said, "This is a joint effort to bring good, solid information to business groups about problems that affect the workforce."

She agreed that communities can often answer their own health care problems. "It can and should start at the local level," said Craig.

Things like encouraging employees to wash their hands regularly or establishing a policy that requires employees who are sick with something contagious to go home can actually save money in the long run. Fewer employees will get sick.

Smoking at the workplace has become a national issue for similar reasons. A grassroots effort called ASSIST is designed to control tobacco use. Maggie Friend, Southeast Missouri Hospital communications director, said one in four Missourians smokes. That means that 75 percent of customers do not smoke.

The local ASSIST effort is preparing a "Tip" campaign in June. Coupons will be distributed and restaurant patrons asked to leave the "tips" at places they would like to see establish a smoke-free policy.

"There is no law that says you must have a smoking area or that you must permit smoking," said Erika Hendrickson, regional ASSIST business consultant.