You might feel you have little control over your employees smoking but there are many ways you can support them to cut down and become smoke free:

• Create a smokefree environment
• Promote free stop smoking services – Smokefree Wiltshire to your staff
• Promote national campaigns – NHS Better Health – Quit smoking, Campaign resources
• Signpost and help staff access resources and support with understanding and without judgement
• Provide access to training for those supporting staff to quit – NCSCT Training resources
• Offer flexibility to attend smoking cessation support sessions

Quitting doesn’t have to be stressful and smokers are more likely to be successful by having behavioural support whilst using stop smoking products such as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or e-cigarettes/vapes, for support visit Smokefree Wiltshire.

Quitting smoking can be tough but with the right support, including support at work, you are much more likely to quit for good.

Don’t give up on giving up:

• Every time you try, you are a step closer to success
• Every successful quit begins with a serious quit attempt
• Many smokers do not quit on their first attempt and need several tries before they succeed
• The sooner you stop the greater the health gains but whenever you stop your health will benefit
• Getting support really boosts your chances of quitting – you are up to three times as likely to succeed
• Knowing your triggers helps you stay in control, find out more about managing cravings here.

A healthier workforce has a positive impact on the productivity and sustainability of organisations.  Employees are the biggest asset of any organisation, their health and wellbeing are central to its sustainability. An organisation that supports its employees to make healthier choices and overcome problems is more likely to prosper, through higher productivity, improved staff retention and positive engagement. (Source: BITC)

Quitting smoking has benefits to mental health, just as it improves physical health, stopping smoking also improves the sense of wellbeing. Withdrawal can be tough, but with help, smokers can come out the other side feeling happier, healthier and wealthier too.

Supporting staff to stop smoking will:

• Help reduce sickness absence
• Reduce the time lost from the need for staff to take extra breaks during the working day to smoke
• Evidence from research suggests that people who quit smoking are likely to have improved mental wellbeing, rather than feeling worse, in particular they experience, reduced depression and anxiety, improved mood and have an improved quality of life
• Smoke-free environments protect the health of others from inhaling second-hand smoke, increases quit rates and reduces the costs of cleaning and fire risk
• Save your employees money (£1,945 is the average spend per year, per smoker in Wiltshire and Swindon)

With the right education, skills, motivation, skills/tools, and social support, people can change behaviours and benefit their health.

At Wiltshire Council we are here to help you and your employees to develop a healthy workplace. Our team can provide support, answer your queries and signpost you to the latest information and guidance.

If you would like to make your workplace a healthier place to work, find out more or meet with us, please contact:

Call: 0300 0034566

[email protected]