It Pays to Quit Tobacco at Burger King

Williamsport Sun-Gazette
Monday, May 5, 2008

A local Burger King franchisee, AML Development Corporation, has teamed up with Clinical Outcomes Group, Inc., (COGI) a community health organization and workplace wellness service provider, to promote tobacco free lifestyles within their workforce. Burger King is concerned about the health effects of tobacco on their employees and their families. Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States killing more than 230,000 people annually. "We realize that our employees are our most valuable asset and we are extremely concerned about their health," said Diane Dorner, Director of Operations. Currently AML Corporation has a tobacco free policy in all eleven of its franchises. "This seemed like the next logical step in demonstrating our concern for our employees and their families," said Ms. Dorner. During the 2006 Great American Smoke Out (11/16/06) Burger King invited their employees to become tobacco free through the newly developed Healthy Workforce Initiative Program. AML Development Corporation provided incentives through the tobacco program, starting with a whopper coupon for completing a tobacco survey. The final incentive, $250, is given to employees who quit using tobacco and remain tobacco free for one year. During March, 2008 AML had their first employee reach this goal. Sharon Echols, a former 40 year smoker, quit tobacco and remained tobacco free for one year. In a celebration which was attended by Sharon, her co-workers, store manager, district manager, a representative from COGI, and local press representative, Sharon was presented with $125, the second installment of her incentive for remaining tobacco free for the year.

The federal government estimates that tobacco use costs the health systems 50 billion dollars annually to treat tobacco related illnesses. The Center for Disease Control estimates this cost to be $1,623 per employee, per year, for additional medical costs associated with tobacco use to employers. Sharon, a cigarette smoker since the age of ten, stated that she felt much better since quitting smoking. She went on to say that in the months before quitting, she had went to the hospital two times because she was not able to breathe and that they kept her for several days on both occasions. On one occasion her manager had to transport her to the hospital because of Sharon not being able to breathe correctly. Prior to quitting she also used inhalers to help her to breathe, three inhalers per month. Sharon now reports that she has not been at the hospital once since she quit smoking and that she has stopped using the inhalers that used to help her breathe. "This really is a win-win situation for Burger King employees and AML. Not only do employees become healthier and have a chance to get $250 for quitting tobacco, but AML Development Corporation gets the benefits of a healthy workforce" said Dorner. Clinical Outcomes Group, Inc., a community health organization and workplace wellness service provider, also provides tobacco and other wellness services to other businesses in the area. If you are interested in experiencing the benefits of a healthy workforce and would like assistance in becoming tobacco-free, call Dan Derr at 1-800-264-1290.