Smoking at work is one of those issues that seems manageable until it isn’t. One employee lights up too close to the main entrance. A colleague complains about the smell drifting into the office. And suddenly the whole situation escalates because there’s no written policy in place to point to.
A clear smoking policy fixes that before it starts. It gives everyone on your team, from new hires to senior managers, a consistent set of rules to follow. It also gives HR and supervisors something concrete to enforce, instead of handling complaints on a gut-feel, case-by-case basis.
Below, you’ll find three professionally written, ready-to-use workplace smoking policy samples covering different organizational settings. Pick the one that fits your situation, fill in your company details, and you’ll have a complete, enforceable policy in minutes.
Workplace Smoking Policy Samples
Getting this right matters more than most people realize, especially as e-cigarettes and vaping devices have added new layers to an already nuanced issue. The three samples below are fully written and ready to use with minimal customization.
1. General Corporate Workplace Smoking Policy
Large corporate environments need a policy that’s comprehensive, legally sound, and applicable across all departments and roles. This sample covers everything from designated smoking areas to e-cigarettes, company vehicles, and a structured disciplinary process.
[COMPANY NAME] WORKPLACE SMOKING POLICY
Effective Date: [Date] Policy Number: [Number] Approved By: [Name, Title]
1. Purpose
This policy establishes clear guidelines for smoking and tobacco use at [Company Name] facilities. It is intended to protect the health, safety, and comfort of all employees, visitors, contractors, and clients by reducing secondhand smoke exposure and maintaining a professional, clean work environment.
2. Scope
This policy applies to all full-time and part-time employees, contractors, temporary staff, vendors, and visitors across all [Company Name] facilities, including office buildings, parking areas, outdoor grounds, and company-owned or leased vehicles.
3. Smoke-Free Indoor Environment
Smoking and the use of all tobacco products are strictly prohibited inside all [Company Name] buildings. This includes all workspaces, meeting rooms, corridors, restrooms, lobbies, stairwells, and any other enclosed or partially enclosed indoor area.
4. Outdoor Smoking Restrictions
Smoking is prohibited within 25 feet of all building entrances, exits, windows, and air intake vents. Employees who choose to smoke outdoors must do so only in designated smoking areas during scheduled break times and must return to work promptly at the end of each break.
5. Designated Smoking Areas
Designated smoking areas are clearly marked and located at a minimum of 25 feet from all building entrances. These areas are equipped with appropriate waste receptacles for tobacco disposal. Employees must use these receptacles and may not litter tobacco-related waste anywhere on company property. Designated smoking areas are subject to change at management’s discretion.
6. Tobacco and Nicotine Products Covered
This policy applies to all tobacco and nicotine products, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, snuff, e-cigarettes, electronic vaping devices, nicotine pouches, and any other device or product that delivers tobacco or nicotine.
7. Company Vehicles
Smoking of any kind is prohibited in all company-owned, leased, or rented vehicles at all times, regardless of whether other occupants are present.
8. Enforcement and Disciplinary Action
All employees are responsible for complying with this policy. Supervisors and managers are responsible for enforcing compliance within their respective departments. Violations will be addressed through the company’s progressive disciplinary process:
- First violation: Verbal warning, documented in the employee’s file
- Second violation: Written warning
- Third violation: Further disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment
9. Visitor and Contractor Compliance
All visitors and contractors are required to comply with this policy while on company premises. Employees are responsible for informing guests and contractors of the policy upon arrival and directing them to designated smoking areas where applicable.
10. Support for Cessation
[Company Name] supports employees who wish to stop smoking or using tobacco products. Employees are encouraged to contact HR or their healthcare provider about cessation programs and resources. Information on available support may be accessed through the company’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
11. Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed annually and updated as necessary to reflect changes in applicable laws, regulations, and company standards.
2. Small Business Smoking Policy
Smaller teams need a policy that’s firm but not overly formal. This sample keeps things clear and professional without unnecessary corporate language, covering all the essentials a small business needs to stay legally protected and maintain a respectful environment for everyone.
[BUSINESS NAME] SMOKING AND TOBACCO USE POLICY
Effective Date: [Date] Issued By: [Owner/Manager Name and Title]
1. Purpose
This policy outlines the rules for smoking and tobacco use at [Business Name]. It is in place to protect the health and comfort of all team members, customers, and anyone else who visits our premises.
2. Who This Policy Applies To
This policy covers all employees (full-time, part-time, and casual), volunteers, and contractors working at or on behalf of [Business Name], as well as all customers and visitors while on the premises.
3. Smoke-Free Premises
[Business Name] maintains a smoke-free environment. Smoking of any kind, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, e-cigarettes, and vaping devices, is not permitted inside the workplace or within 15 feet of all entrances, exits, and windows.
4. Smoking Breaks
Employees who choose to smoke may do so during designated break times only. Breaks must not exceed the standard scheduled duration and must not disrupt work operations or customer service. All smoking must take place in the approved outdoor area as indicated by management. Employees are expected to return to their duties promptly at the end of each break.
5. Tobacco and Nicotine Products Covered
This policy applies to all tobacco and nicotine products, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, snuff, e-cigarettes, and vaping devices.
6. Odor in the Workplace
Employees returning from smoking breaks are expected to be mindful of tobacco odor on their person and clothing. If tobacco odor is found to negatively affect the experience of customers or colleagues, management will address the matter respectfully and directly with the employee involved.
7. Waste Disposal
All tobacco-related waste, including cigarette butts and packaging, must be disposed of in the designated receptacles provided in the approved outdoor smoking area. Littering on business premises is not acceptable under any circumstances.
8. Non-Compliance
Employees who fail to comply with this policy will be addressed in accordance with [Business Name]’s standard disciplinary process. Repeated violations may result in escalating consequences, up to and including termination of employment.
9. Customer and Visitor Non-Compliance
Customers or visitors who smoke in non-designated areas will be politely informed of this policy and directed to the appropriate area, or asked to extinguish their tobacco product. Continued failure to comply may result in the individual being asked to leave the premises.
10. Health Support
[Business Name] is supportive of employees who wish to stop using tobacco products. Employees seeking information on cessation resources are encouraged to speak with management or consult their personal healthcare provider.
11. Review
This policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the business and its team.
3. Healthcare Facility Tobacco-Free Campus Policy
Healthcare environments require a stricter, zero-tolerance approach. This policy reflects the standard maintained by hospitals, clinics, and care facilities, with specific guidance for staff, patients, and visitors and no designated exceptions or smoking areas anywhere on campus.
[FACILITY NAME] TOBACCO-FREE CAMPUS POLICY
Effective Date: [Date] Policy Number: [Number] Approved By: [Administrator/Chief Executive Name and Title]
1. Purpose
[Facility Name] is committed to promoting the health and well-being of all patients, staff, students, and visitors. This policy establishes a fully tobacco-free campus in support of a safe healing environment, consistent with the facility’s mission of delivering the highest standard of care.
2. Scope
This policy applies to all employees, medical and clinical staff, students, interns, volunteers, contractors, vendors, patients, and visitors across all [Facility Name] properties. This includes all buildings, parking structures, outdoor grounds, courtyards, walkways, covered areas, and all facility-owned or operated vehicles.
3. Tobacco-Free Campus
[Facility Name] is a 100% tobacco-free campus. The use of all tobacco and nicotine products is strictly prohibited on all facility property at all times. This includes cigarettes, cigars, pipes, hookah, chewing tobacco, snuff, e-cigarettes, vaping devices, nicotine pouches, and any other product containing tobacco or nicotine.
4. No Exceptions
This policy applies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across all areas of the campus, including personal vehicles parked on facility property. There are no designated smoking areas on campus and no exceptions to this policy for any individual or group.
5. Patient Guidelines
Patients who use tobacco products will be informed of this policy at the point of admission or arrival. Clinical staff are required to communicate the policy in a respectful and compassionate manner. Patients who express a desire or need to use tobacco during their stay are to be referred to the appropriate clinical team for support, which may include nicotine replacement therapy or other cessation assistance as clinically appropriate.
6. Cessation Support for Employees
[Facility Name] actively supports all employees who wish to stop using tobacco products. Cessation support is available through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which may include counseling, nicotine replacement products, and referrals to external cessation programs. Employees seeking support are encouraged to contact Human Resources or the Occupational Health department.
7. Staff Responsibilities
All staff share responsibility for upholding this policy. Staff members are expected to model tobacco-free behavior on and off campus during working hours and are empowered to respectfully remind patients, visitors, and colleagues of the policy when necessary. Security personnel may assist in enforcement as needed.
8. Signage and Communication
Tobacco-free campus signage is posted at all facility entry points, throughout all buildings, and across campus grounds. This policy is communicated to all new employees during orientation and is made available to patients and visitors through printed materials and the facility website.
9. Disciplinary Action
Employees found in violation of this policy will be subject to corrective action in accordance with [Facility Name]’s Human Resources policies. Repeated violations may result in escalating disciplinary measures, up to and including termination of employment.
10. Annual Review
This policy is subject to annual review by facility leadership. Any changes will be communicated to all staff through standard internal channels and reflected in the updated version on the facility intranet.
Wrapping Up
A clear smoking policy is one of the simplest, most impactful things you can put in place to protect your team and keep your workplace running without unnecessary friction. The right policy does more than set rules. It signals how seriously you take everyone’s health and comfort, whether they smoke or not.
Pick the sample that best fits your organization, add your details, and make sure every person on your team knows it exists. A policy that sits unseen in a folder is no policy at all.