Implementation of Smoke Cessation Programs in the Workplace

There was a time, in the 50s, when cigarette smoking was an epitome of coolness & glamour- but today, we know better.

As is the case, tobacco use poses a serious threat to one’s life.

The minute you start enjoying a puff offered by your fellow mate, it is just a matter of time before tobacco takes you over on a dangerous ride- a journey you cannot easily escape from.

What is secondhand smoke?

Secondhand smoke is nothing but the smoke exhaled by smokers.

Also known as passive smoking or environmental tobacco smoke, this smoke is harmful to the people present within the smoking person’s environment.

Just a few #cigarettes a day, occasional #smoking, or exposure to #secondhandsmoke increase the risk of heart disease. If tobacco users take immediate action and quit, then their risk of heart disease will decrease by 50% after one year of not smoking. See https://t.co/kZnLLEABFD

— Tobacco Free Finland (@TobaccoFreeFin) September 23, 2020

If you have people who smoke in front of you, it is quite common for you to inhale secondhand smoke as you cannot tamper with the air quality.

Breathing in a tobacco smoke-filled environment is not just unpleasant but damaging too. The non-smokers can develop a situation of lung cancer when exposed to such unhealthy smoke.

According to several studies, secondhand smoke is more toxic, potentially threatening and is considered a Group A carcinogen, the most dangerous level of carcinogen.

Do you allow smoking at your workplace?

As much as it is bad news already that one smokes, smoking in the workplace makes it no better.

You would very much witness employees going out on a 2-minutes break for smoking. Many even say smoking in a workplace helps one bond with one another.

Even if you do not smoke, your colleagues might ask you to accompany them.

Along these lines, you either expose yourself to secondhand smoke or start smoking yourself under the influence of your peers.

Thus, you put yourself at risk.

However, these days, you will see a large amount of the population choosing to quit smoking as they realize its consequences.

People can & do quit smoking.

Quitting is not only good for you, but also for everyone else in your vicinity.

So I decided to quit smoking, so I can live longer for my dog🙃❤

— Lexie Nikole (@Lexie_Nikole) December 27, 2016

According to reports, in 2018, 55.1% of adult smokers in the US have attempted to quit smoking & 7.5% of adult smokers have successfully quit smoking in that same year.

How would you feel if you could help 30% of your employees get rid of their serious health issues?

Great news: you actually can.

I can help anyone quit smoking by spraying them with hair spray as they light their cigarette.

— PieGuy (@ilovepie84) March 11, 2013

That's somewhat cruel.

Nevertheless, there are better ways.

All you have to do is introduce Smoke cessation programs in the workplace.

It will improve the health conditions of your employees and also contribute to reducing health costs & increase productivity.

With the workers smoking in the workplace, they are adding to the cost of the employers for the health insurance affects the revenue of a company.

And smoking is bound to take a toll on health and make smokers vulnerable to sickness which again hampers the efficiency, in terms of work.

Hence, the healthier the staff, the merrier for all.

What are Smoke Cessation programs?

As per CDC reports, the smoking rate has dropped from 42% in 1965 to 15.1% in recent times.

Workplace smoking has been quite prevelant and it often leads to sloppy behavior and poor performance of the staff.

That being so, to prevent workers from smoking in workplaces, there are certain strategies.

For one, you can put a serious smoking-ban regulation within office premises.

[1st day at work]
BOSS: Erm..we..have No Smoking rules here

ME: That's great Alan [blows out smoke] most places have loads of smoking rules

— Jon (@ArfMeasures) March 16, 2015

Not sure whether how effective that would be? No worries, for there is a more constructive solution to this- Smoke cessation programs.

Smoke cessation programs are nothing but arranging a whole set of activities in workplace, to encourage the workforce to quit smoking. These programs have proved to be very helpful in sustaining smoking cessation.

Also, organize several campaigns to spread awareness and ask the employees to take health tests in order to realize their personal health risks.

The wellness programs of the organization should be aligned in a way to address such risks.

Smoke cessation programs also include interactions longer than 10 minutes and more than 5 sessions. Practical counselling takes place, and of all, person-to-person counseling proves to be the most successful. These interactions can happen through phone calls, personal or group sessions.

Various skill training in cognitive and behavioral techniques help curb the cravings and learning sessions to make one think about stressful situations in a light manner.

These training sessions develop behavioral relaxation and coping components within each attendee.

Nicotine replacement therapies are one of the most commonly used medications for quitting smoking.

It decreases withdrawal feelings by offering one with a small quantity of nicotine- none of the other chemicals found in smokes.

Along with keeping the urges in check, it helps satisfy the cravings.

Nicotine gums and patches being two of the examples.

Conducting such sessions and therapies in the workplace work towards the well-being of your employees.

Besides smoking restrictions, therapy sessions and campaigns in the workplace, there are several other arrangements employers can provide to its employees for them to bid adieu to tobacco products-

• Support groups- social group sessions where everyone can talk about the health risks associated with smoking and help one another, thereby promoting tobacco cessation.
• Availability of pharmaceutical treatments
• Spreading regular information about the smoking related health threats in the form of newsletters, promos, ads, payroll stuffers, workshops.
• Provisions of financial quit tobacco incentives

Moreover, The American Lung Association gives access to affordable smoke cessation programs.

Wrap Up

How well do you know your employees?

Probably, way too much. In that case, if the employees are prone to harm in the form of smoking, it is always better to resort to smoking cessation programs and keep everyone away from danger and maintain a healthy fresh air environment.

Working in a place where employees and their habits are taken care of together with providing solutions is a much-needed work atmosphere in today’s world.

If employees are not well, it directly affects the growth of the organization.

With so much stress inflicted on people, these days, getting rid of such harmful practices is not a piece of cake.

However, implementing the smoke cessation programs is quite a workable job as long as you intend them to work.

All you have to aim for is a healthier, safer, cleaner and more productive workplace.