As Stoptober fast approaches, smoking cessation is once again a popular topic across the media. This year, employers in Gloucestershire have a unique opportunity to lead the way in helping employees make a successful quit attempt by signing up their organisation to Healthy Workplaces Gloucestershire’s ‘Workplace Stop Smoking Support’ programme. Our council funded programme provides employees with 12-weeks of personalised smoking cessation support at work at no cost to the employee or their organisation.
Since its inception in 2012, every October thousands across the UK take on the Stoptober challenge by pledging to go smoke-free for 28 days. Public Health England data shows that those who can stop smoking for 28 days are five times more likely to stay quit for good, but, as we know, quitting is rarely easy, and the first few weeks are often the toughest.
This is where Healthy Workplaces Gloucestershire can help, providing our specialist smoking cessation support beyond those 28 days. Through this extended support from our specialist Stop Smoking Practitioners, individuals can build a solid foundation for long-term positive lifestyle change, incorporating healthier coping strategies in their day-to-day life by targeting both the behavioural and emotional aspects of smoking.
“Did you know you are 4 times more likely to quit with support from our practitioners?”
The benefits of quitting using our Workplace Stop Smoking Programme
For your employee, quitting is the most powerful step they can take for their physical and mental health, finances, and family (read about the personal benefits here). These benefits translate beyond your employee’s personal life, with reduced smoking-related illness and absenteeism combined with increased productivity translating to greater profit margins for your organisation. In short, our Workplace Smoking Support Programme is mutually beneficial to both you and your employees. Read our blog on the financial benefits to both employees and employers for more information.
Implementing a workplace wellbeing programme like ours shows genuine care and compassion about staff wellbeing, whilst simultaneously positioning your business as a responsible, forward-thinking employer. By aligning with national campaigns like Stoptober, you’re also demonstrating a commitment to public health, something that resonates with both employees and the wider community that engage with media content from your organisation.
Making It Happen
Healthy Workplaces Gloucestershire makes it easy for organisations to get involved by:
- Providing health promotion material and creating co-branded materials for engagement,
- Our support is completely FREE to access for workplaces in Gloucestershire and includes:
- 12-weeks of weekly one-to-one support appointments
- 12-weeks supply of a smoking aid best suited to the client (Nicotine Replacement Therapy; Swap to Stop scheme; medication requests direct to a GP by our team)
- The programme is flexible, fitting around business needs and addressing barriers to employee engagement.
A step towards the Gloucestershire Healthy Workplace Award
Engaging with our workplace stop smoking programme to your employees is also a clear step towards achieving our ‘Gloucestershire Healthy Workplace Award’. This award takes your organisation on a step-by-step journey to achieve accreditation that recognises your commitment to employee wellbeing. By taking part, your workplace is demonstrating that they are socially responsible and dedicated to creating the opportunity for people to thrive at work. Read more about the award here: ____ .
Get in touch!
If you are an employer or part of an organisation and would like find out more about the programme, please contact us on workplaces@ablhealth.co.uk, or call 0800 755 5533. You can also find further information on our website.
Or, if you are an individual living in Gloucestershire and would like to access our programme in the community, please visit our website https://hlsglos.org or call our office on 0800 755 5533.