Stepping outside city buildings to take a cigarette break may not be an option for city employees for long.
City administrators have drafted a tobacco-free campus policy that would snuff out all smoking and chewing tobacco usage by workers in Wauwatosa municipal buildings, grounds, parking lots and structures, and in any city-owned equipment or vehicle.
The statewide ban of smoking in workplaces went into effect July 5, so it seemed like the right time to look at making the city's policies stricter, said Beth Aldana, director of human resources.
May help some kick habit
The purpose of the proposed policy is to prevent residents and staff from having to endure secondhand smoke when visiting city properties and to give employees who smoke another reason to quit. Health insurance plans will cover prescription smoking cessation products and an annual smoking cessation program would be offered to employees, Aldana said.
Cigarettes, pipes, cigars and chewing tobacco would be prohibited. Electronic cigarettes, battery-powered devices that deliver nicotine through a vapor rather than smoke, also would be banned because it's difficult to tell them apart from traditional cigarettes.
Michael Loy, the city's health and productivity coordinator, estimated that 70 of the city's more than 400 employees use tobacco products. In addition, Aldana said she has received a few reports of employees smoking or using chewing tobacco in city vehicles.
Those who violate the policy could face a variety of disciplinary actions - ranging from a verbal warning to termination - depending on the number and frequency of violations.
Official seeks input
City Administrator James Archambo said he could put the policy into place for employees immediately, but he wanted some feedback from the Employee Relations Committee on Tuesday.
"Right now I'm considering whether this should be put in place," he said. "I want your opinion."
If there was interest in expanding the policy to the general public, that would be a decision for the Common Council to make, he said.
It was Alderman Michael Walsh who said last fall that he would like to look into making city facility campuses smoke-free.
"This is in right direction to encourage all employees not to smoke since we're all paying for (their health insurance)," he said.
Not tough enough?
But Walsh said the proposed policy didn't go far enough because employees still would be allowed to smoke in their own vehicles even if they are parked on city property.
"We have to get tight by saying, 'If you're on city property you have to stop smoking,' " Walsh said. "I would encourage us to pass the strongest language possible."
City Attorney Alan Kesner said it may be possible to make the policy more restrictive when it comes to employees, but it would difficult to restrict the public from smoking in their private cars should the policy be extended.
Alderwoman Cheryl Berdan wasn't as supportive of the policy. "I'm not in favor of over-regulating people," she said.
The committee is expected to continue discussing the issue into the fall.
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I'm very confused by these kinds of policies. If the issue is second hand smoke, then why ban smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes (it's not that hard to tell the difference). And if the issue is about health insurance costs then again smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes should be acceptable. Further, I've got to ask if are they going to ban over-weight people? I'm sure there would be more than 70 individuals involved and that would effect medical costs far more. Are they going to ban junk food too? I really fail to see the purpose of this other than for a bunch of politicians to jump on a "ban-wagon" to look like they are doing something when all they really are doing nothing but furthering the hatred of smokers, which seems to be so popular.
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Back to topJanetda - Jul 14, 2010 3:58 PM - Report Abuse