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The Franklin County Commissioners are providing employees with the tools they need to end their tobacco addiction by partnering with the Ohio Tobacco QUIT LINE (800-QUIT-NOW). Through this partnership, the County is encouraging employees to think about the role of tobacco in their lives as part of an overall health and wellness-focused initiative.
“We want our employees and their families to lead healthier lives,” said Commission President Marilyn Brown. “We are finding ways to help our valued team members realize better health by giving them legitimate options to aid them in ending a powerful addiction.”
"Offering this benefit to our employees just makes sense," said Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy. "As one of the largest employers in Franklin County we want to ensure that our workforce has access to the necessary resources to stay strong and healthy so that we can continue to save money on health insurance costs.”
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, employers who help workers quit smoking save an average of $1,623 in health care costs and gain an average of $1,760 worth of productivity per employee each year. Franklin County employs just over 7,000 employees.
“This benefit hits home for me, since both of my parents suffered from smoking-related illnesses. Their last years were not quality ones as a result. I want our employees and their loved ones to have a better future,” said Commissioner Paula Brooks. “Not only are we improving the health of our workforce, we are improving the productivity of our employees and saving precious tax-payer dollars with this benefit.”
By offering QUIT LINE information and support, Franklin County is giving its workforce viable, no-cost, low-pressure options with which to improve their health and productivity. With the QUIT LINE’s trained, compassionate Quit Specialists, nearly one in two tobacco users who enroll in the 800-QUIT-NOW coaching program while using nicotine replacement therapy will quit successfully – compared to five percent when attempting to quit “cold turkey” on their own.
Franklin County has estimated that 2,000 employees smoke. When you add in spouses and dependents, the County has about 3,500 benefit-covered individuals.
“We commend Franklin County for taking the initial steps to introduce a healthier and more productive workplace for their employees and for offering a service such as the QUIT LINE that can give renewed hope to those who have struggled with the difficulties in quitting tobacco in their past,” said Mike Renner, executive director of the Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation.
About OTPF
The Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation (OTPF) was created by the Ohio General Assembly in 2000 and is funded with monies secured from the national Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) by tobacco companies. OTPF's mission is to reduce and prevent tobacco use by Ohioans. Its vision is to be the most effective tobacco-control agency in the U.S., while creating a tobacco-free Ohio. OTPF programs include the distribution of community grants, the operation of the Ohio Tobacco QUIT LINE at 800-QUIT-NOW, and stand, Ohio’s tobacco use counter-marketing campaign. For more information on OTPF, go to www.otpf.org. Or please visit OTPF’s youth Web site at www.standonline.org or QUIT LINE site at www.ohioquits.com.
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