Wellmark plans to snuff employee smoking

Starting Oct. 1, employees of Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield will not be allowed to smoke during the work day.

Officials for the company announced the new directive Wednesday and say it is just one more step in an ongoing wellness campaign to promote better health among employees.

“We're a health insurer, we know first hand the difference it makes to the bottom line when employees practice healthy behavior,” said spokesperson Rob Schweers. “We're always looking for more ways to promote a healthier workplace.”

While the 1800 Iowans working for the health insurer have had to smoke 100 feet away from the company properties, they will not be allowed to smoke during breaks or when they go out for lunch. Coming back to work smelling like smoke could lead to trouble for employees, but Schweers said he doesn't know what kind of trouble that will be.

“We're not trying to be Big Brother to our employees… We're not focused on punishment,” Schweer said. “Eventually there would be some disciplinary action if people continue to smoke but that's not our focus with this policy.”

Schweer said the company set the policy so far in advance to give employees the chance to prepare. Schweer also said that the company will help employees and their families find medical attention and counseling if they want to quit smoking.

“If I'm a smoker and my wife is a smoker, it's harder to quit when you're coming home to that environment,” Schweer said. “We want to extend those resources to the entire family.”

Schweer said that this move may be a surprise to employees who smoke but that it makes sense given their job.

“For health care organizations, we've always been out a little bit in front in terms of curtailing smoking,” Schweer said. ”We need to set an example and that's our mission.”