Smoking support in the workplace
Three reasons to support smokers to quit at your workplace
- Employees who smoke can have up to 33% more time off sick than non smokers.
- A smoker taking four 10-minute breaks each day works a month less than a non smoker in the course of a year.
- Studies have estimated that smokers can cost employers as much as US$2,000 per annum.
How you can support and encourage smokers to be smoke-free in your workplace
- Make sure smokers know where they can get support to quit.
- Remove the barriers to quitting. For example:
- Train a staff member to be a smoke-free champion to provide onsite support, or invite a quit coach to provide support onsite.
- Subsidise the costs for quitting smoking.
- Link staff with culturally specific smoke-free support.
- Allow staff to attend smoke-free support services during work hours.
- Make non-smoking the norm: make your workplace completely smoke-free. For advice on this click here.
- Develop a comprehensive smoke-free policy.
- Proactively promote the benefits of quitting smoking. For example:
- Promote World Smoke Free Day (May 31) every year.
- Display posters and resources that encourage staff to think about the benefits of quitting.
- Invite guest speakers to present to staff.
- Walk the talk: encourage Management to be smoke-free.
Give a Quit! - smoking cessation campaign
Face the Facts - a new tobacco control education initiative to inform New Zealanders about the facts surrounding tobacco use.
National Heart Foundation - Cessation Practitioner Training Programme
A new service to support Pacific smokers to quit
A new Smoking Cessation Service to support Pacific smokers in the Auckland, and Waitemata District Health Board Regions to quit, has been introduced by Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) to smokers, families and communities.
The new quit service is staffed by Pacific people who speak a Pacific language and are trained as cessation practitioners. It is provided free of charge.
Tobacco smoking is a major public health problem in New Zealand. It accounts for almost 5,000 deaths per year among New Zealanders. Smoking rates are highest among Pacific and Maori populations. Based on a Ministry of Health stocktake of Pacific people's health needs, this population 'experience barriers to accessing health services' (Pacific Health Chart 2004).
There is strong evidence which links tobacco smoking with reduced productivity. Smoke free employees are more likely to be healthier and have a higher productivity rate compared to employees who smoke.
The workplace has progressively been accepted as a strategic setting for promoting and supporting healthier behaviour change. It has been identified as a key strategic setting to reach Pacific smokers with the new service.
Efforts to support smokers' quit attempts at the workplace setting can lead to health benefits for employees and increased productivity for the employer, and a win-win situation for both.
If you are ready to quit, want to make a referral or an enquiry, contact:
Phone: 0800 TO QUIT - 0800 867 848, or Email: pacificquit@adhb.govt.nz
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