2018 Employer Tobacco 

Cessation Program Profile

The CDC ScoreCard is a tool to help 

employers assess whether their health 

promotion programs are based on the 

best evidence for improving employees’ 

health and wellness. 

https://www.cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/initiatives/

healthscorecard/index.html

How Are Employers Doing in Promoting Tobacco Cessation?

60%of employers have 

a comprehensive workplace 

tobacco control programa 

including policies, benefits, and 

environmental support strategies

722 worksites (83%) have 

a tobacco use ban policy in place 

covering 370,793 employees

90% of employers who reported 

having a tobacco-free policy actively 

enforce that policy

On average, employers have 

7 of 10 (70%) Tobacco 

Control ScoreCard strategies 

in place

On average, employer’s 

tobacco control score

Did Not Change

between 2018 and 2017

CS313332-A

Tobacco use remains the 

leading cause of preventable 

disease, disability, and death 

in the United States with over 

47 million U.S. adults currently 

using any tobacco product.1 

Smoking harms nearly every 

organ of the body, causing 

many diseases and affecting 

the health of smokers in 

general. Quitting smoking 

has immediate as well as 

long-term health benefits.

CDC WORKSITE

HEALTH SCORECARD

What Evidence-Based Practices Does the ScoreCard Assess?

PROGRAMS

Opportunities to 

begin, change, 

or maintain 

health behaviors

BENEFITS

Overall 

compensation, 

including health 

insurance

POLICIES

Formal or informal 

statements to 

protect or 

promote health

ENVIRONMENTAL 

SUPPORTS

Physical factors 

at work that 

help protect and 

enhance health

1

 Wang TW, Asman K, Gentzke AS, et al. Tobacco Product Use Among Adults — United States, 2017. MMWR Morb

 Mortal Wkly Rep 2018;67:1225–1232. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6744a2.

a

Comprehensive programs refer to a coordinated set of strategies, which include programs, policies, benefits, 

environmental supports, and links to the surrounding community that are designed to meet the health and 

safety needs of all employees. 
TOBACCO 

CONTROL 

SCORECARD 

STRATEGIES

STRATEGYb

% OF WORKSITESC

WITH STRATEGY

IN PLACE

(2018 SCORE)

95%

83%

78%

75%

74%

73%

70%

68%

66%

35%

b

Evidence-based practices (i.e., programs, policies, environmental supports, benefits) with the highest weighted scores (2 or 3 points) in the CDC Worksite Health 

ScoreCard, including the strategy’s impact on population health outcomes and the strength of the scientific evidence supporting this impact.

c

Percentages based on 873 ScoreCard submissions in 2018.

Provide incentives for being a current nonuser 

of tobacco and for current tobacco users that 

are currently involved in a cessation class or 

actively quitting

1-800-QUIT-NOW

It’s Free. It’s personalized. 

It’s up to you.

Benefits

THIS IS A 

TOBACCO FREE 

WORKPLACE

THIS IS A 

SMOKE-FREE 

ENVIRONMENT

SALE Prohibit the sale of tobacco products on 

company property

Have a written policy banning tobacco 

use at the worksite

Provide health insurance coverage with no 

or low out-of-pocket costs for prescription 

tobacco cessation medications including 

nicotine replacement

Actively enforce a written policy banning 

tobacco use

Inform employees about health insurance 

coverage or programs that include tobacco 

cessation medication and counseling

Provide or promote free or subsidized tobacco 

cessation counseling

Display signs (including ‘no smoking’ signs) 

with information about the tobacco-use policy

Provide health insurance coverage with no 

or low out-of-pocket costs for FDA-approved 

over-the-counter nicotine replacement products

Refer tobacco users to a state or other 

tobacco cessation telephone quit line

VIOLATION