2020 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 

69%of employers have a comprehensive workplace tobacco control programa that 

includes education, policies, and benefits strategies.

372 worksites (78%) have a tobacco use ban policy in place covering 366,560 employees.

On average, employers have 5 of 8 (63%) Tobacco Control ScoreCard strategies in place.

How Are Employers Doing in Promoting Tobacco Cessation?

CS324630-D

Tobacco use remains the 

leading cause of preventable 

disease, disability, and death 

in the United States with over 

50 million US 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

1. Cornelius ME, Wang TW, Jamal A, Loretan CG, Neff LJ. Tobacco product use among adults — United States, 2019. 

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020;69:1736–1742. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6946a4 

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. The 2020 CDC ScoreCard tobacco use module does not include any questions related to

 environmental supports.

What Evidence-Based Practices Does the ScoreCard Assess?

PROGRAMS

Opportunities to 

begin, change, 

or maintain 

health behaviors

POLICIES

Formal or informal 

statements to 

protect or 

promote health

ENVIRONMENTAL 

SUPPORTS

Physical factors 

at work that 

help protect and 

enhance health

BENEFITS

Overall 

compensation, 

including health 

insurance
TOBACCO CONTROL 

SCORECARD STRATEGIES STRATEGYb

PERCENTAGE OF 

WORKSITESC WITH 

STRATEGY IN PLACE

(2020 SCORE)

33%

Provide financial incentives for being a 

current nonsmoker and for current smokers 

who are actively trying to quit tobacco by 

participating in a free or subsidized, 

evidence-based cessation program

SALE 90% Prohibit the sale of tobacco products 

on worksite premises

78% THIS IS A 

TOBACCO FREE 

WORKPLACE

Have and promote a written policy 

banning tobacco use at the worksite

77%

Provide health insurance coverage with 

free or subsidized out-of-pocket costs 

for FDA approved prescription 

tobacco cessation medications

73%

Provide and promote free or subsidized 

lifestyle coaching, counseling, or

self-management programs that equip 

employees with skills and motivation 

to quit using tobacco.

75%

1-800-QUIT-NOW

It’s Free. It’s personalized. 

It’s up to you.

Provide educational materials that 

address tobacco cessation

65%

Provide health insurance coverage with free or 

subsidized out-of-pocket costs for FDA approved 

over-the-counter nicotine replacement products

57%

Provide and promote interactive educational 

programming on tobacco cessation

b

Evidence-based practices (i.e., programs, policies, environmental supports, and benefits) in the CDC Worksite Health ScoreCard have a weighted score from 1 to 3 points. 

 The score is derived from the strategy’s impact on population health outcomes and the strength of the supporting scientific evidence.

c

Percentages are based on 480 ScoreCard submissions in 2020.