Coverage by smoke-free workplace policies by race/ ethnicity and health outcomes: Can workplace health policies improve worker health?

Purpose – The present research has three goals: to examine the prevalence of smoke-free workplace policies; to examine how coverage by a smoke-free workplace policy differs among racial/ethnic groups; and to examine the impact of smoke-free workplace policy (SFWP) coverage on health outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach – The research uses secondary analysis of data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) from 1998-2006.
Findings – It was found that SFWP coverage is below government goals – especially for Hispanic workers and that SFWP coverage was associated with health outcomes.
Research limitations/implications – The relatively slow progress in coverage by smoke-free workplace policies during the last eight years suggests the possibility that a ceiling has been reached in smoke-free workplace policy coverage. Limitations include factors that might negatively influence SFWP reporting (e.g. lack of knowledge about SFWP; language barriers), availability of data after 2006, and a cross-sectional design for health outcomes.
Practical implications – The findings suggest that there is health value in SFWP, but that coverage is not at 100 percent and a federal-level mandate might be necessary to reach that level. In situations where customers are allowed to smoke, it may be more difficult to justify and enforce a smoke-free workplace policy.
Originality/value – This is the first study to examine SFWP coverage by race over time. This study allows for examination of progress toward published SFWP goals.