How to Run Quit Smoking Programs at Workplace

Smoking harms not only the smoker but also those around him. A smoke-free work place can improve the health of your employees and reduce your liability; it can also make your employees more productive and efficient. Once the employer decides to address to smoking in workplace, it can very well be done. Though for every office the policies would differ but some of the common ways to run quit smoking programs at workplace are listed below:

1. Create a Written Smoke-Free Policy
It is important to formally introduce a policy to address smoking at the workplace. This policy should offer instruction why smoke-free environment is required for the office, what the employees and the organization are expected to do, taking a first stand on policy; not only for the staff but also for visitors.

2. Let Employees Know the Advantages
Provide the staff with instances like how much they can save in a year by not smoking in the office and where these savings can be spent.

3. Offer nicotine replacement therapies for free
Employers who are serious about making their organization smoke free can take a step forward by offering free NRT products such as patches, lozenges, inhalators or nasal spray for free to their employees who are keen on getting rid of the unhealthy habit. Every year companies lose a lot of money because of smoking, a small investment can help them avoid bigger losses.

4. Ban those smoking dens
In every organization where smoking is ban, smokers create their own smoking shelters where they can convene socially and smoke. Such an environment encourages more employees to take frequent cigarette breaks. Employers should eliminate such areas to make their workplace smoke-free in reality.

5. Morals and Family Values
Motivate them by telling them success stories related to family values. For instance, not smoking would save them from so many health problems and this, in turn, will benefit their families.

6. Be the Role Model
It is important to lead the staff and who better can do it but the employer. Managers who have successfully quit smoking can set as a wonderful example for employees. When employees and their managers work together towards a common goal of smoking cessation, it also generates a feeling of camaraderie in the work place. This helps reduce communication gap and reduces unhealthy competition in the organization.

7. Recognize Them
Everyone loves to be recognized. You can incentivize employees by recognizing those who have managed to quit smoking at the workplace in a monthly ceremony.

8. Conduct Workshops
Conduct health camps and workshops in the office where the employees get to know the advantages of quitting smoking. Organize such workshops at a convenient time and place, so that employees stay back. You may award points for smoking control activity that the employees take. The points can be later redeemed for gifts.

9. Encourage Relaxing Techniques
Get more out of your workshops and talks by incorporating yoga and meditation. This can help those employees who smoke when work-related stress gets to them.

10. Choose strategic timing for your smoking cessation programs
You may organize your initiatives around key calendar events such as WHO’s World No Tobacco Day observed in May and around New Year Day so that people are motivated to incorporate stop smoking in their New Year’s resolution. You may also organize programmes around The Great American Smokeout held on the third Thursday of November by American Cancer Society’s. As there is media hype against quit smoking around these days, your efforts are likely to receive better attention.

There are many ways to ensure a smoke-free and healthy workplace. Use to these tips to make your workplace a healthy working environment for everyone.

Posted In: Employee and Workplace, HR Tips, Infographics-1, Tips for Employer

Tagged: anti-smoking campaign, Health at work week, Quit Smoking Programs, smoking cessation, smoking cessation programs, smoking control, workplace, workplace health, workplace outreach, workplace weight management.