Employees may find it difficult to break free of nicotine addiction if they are accustomed to smoking in the workplace. Janet O’Neill writes that you can improve productivity and wellbeing by using the upcoming vaping ban as a tool to help those who wish to quit.
The UK has more than 1 in 10 vapers. Since the damage to the environment is so serious, the sale of single-use vapes will be banned on June 1, 2025.
Despite the fact that this is a step in the right direction for quitting smoking, a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs impact assessment predicts that nearly a third of smokers could relapse.
According to Cancer Research UK , this not only results in more sick leave, but also increases major health risks. One death occurs every five minutes.
To the employers’ benefit, more than half of vapers are motivated to stop due to concerns about their health, finances and addiction. However, their workplace habits may make it hard for them to quit. It is important to note that even after physical cravings are gone, employees will still have to change other workplace habits related to vaping.
Vaping may have been part of their coffee breaks or their only chance to talk to their colleagues outside. They may have even used it to keep them going during long work hours. Employers can play a crucial role in helping their employees overcome their nicotine addiction.
Support workers to replace the habit
Encourage employees to adopt healthier habits to help them quit smoking or vaping before the ban is implemented. By giving them permission to go for a walk or do something else active instead of succumbing to their cravings.
Encourage employees to consider how they might handle social situations where smoking or vaping used to be involved. What can they do in advance to be prepared for a situation where they want to go outside with their colleagues?
It is difficult to break the habit of putting something in your mouth. Instead, encourage them to munch on some vegetable sticks or sugar-free lollypops. The stronger the taste, the easier you will find it to break your habit.
Employers may also wish to consider offering their employees the chance to enjoy a break together without nicotine.
You can encourage employees to get together by introducing a regular fruit or tea break or a wellbeing activity at the workplace. This can boost employee engagement as well as knowledge sharing.
Encourage managers to assist
Managers have an important role to play once an employee expresses a desire for quitting. Managers can provide moral and practical support to an employee who is struggling to quit. By letting people know that it’s okay to take a break to distract them if they are struggling with a craving.
Managers can help employees think about how to handle certain situations at work in a different way. What else can employees do to relieve stress in a healthier way if they are used to smoking when they have stressful deadlines?
It is not the intention to tell them what to do, but to listen to their concerns and provide resources to help them come up with new ideas. The resources could include smoking cessation tools that the organisation offers or professional addiction assistance, whether through occupational health or employee assistance programmes (EAP).
Motivate your employees
You can also encourage your employees to find their own motivation, as there are many reasons for quitting but not all of them will appeal to everyone. Maybe they are worried about health or cost. They may want to discourage children from vaping, or simply don’t enjoy the addiction and cravings.
Encourage your employees to put their motivations on paper and place it on the fridge. This will help them stay motivated.
It can be easier to quit smoking or vaping if you decide to stop with a group of people rather than alone. Most people find it harder to disappoint others than themselves. By encouraging your employees to announce publicly their decision to quit, you can increase their commitment.
You can make the process easier for all employees by offering a workshop for a group to quit smoking and establishing support groups where they can share their tips and encouragement.
There will be difficult days, just as there are when you quit any addiction. The more people that an employee can rely on for support and encouragement, the better their chances of success.
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