Stop Smoking

Smoking And Your Company’s Bottom Line

Whether you are an employer or an employee, a smoker or a non-smoker, you may very well have a stake in promoting a smoke-free workplace.  According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), smoking costs businesses an estimated $167 billion each year in lost productivity and medical costs.  The CDC estimates that it costs companies between $1,200 and $3,800 to keep a smoker on the payroll. That is because on average, smokers are less productive than non-smokers.  American Lung Association studies show smokers take more breaks, have less energy, and are sick more often.

In today’s economy, companies are looking to cut costs wherever they can, which is why employer-funded smoking cessation programs are on the rise.   According to Jen Jorgensen, a spokesperson for the Society for Human Resource Management, “Companies are facing double-digit increases in health care costs, so preventative health measures are on the rise. Smokers, as an at-risk group, are getting particular attention.”

The success rates of employer funded smoking cessation programs vary according to the type of program being offered.  Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products, alone, seldom offer a permanent solution for the suffering addict. Research shows smoking cessation counseling is a necessary component of treatment since the addiction to cigarettes resides in the mind. According to a study presented on October 22, 2007 before the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), hypnotherapy is the number one most effective counseling modality.  The CHEST study showed hypnotherapy to be twice as effective as other programs, including pharmacological treatment.

Another factor to consider when choosing a smoking cessation program is that incentive-based programs have had a much better track record. According to the results of a recent study funded by the CDC, employers who implemented some kind of incentive to get people to quit, financial or otherwise, had a 32% higher quit rate than those without incentive programs.

Given the data we now have about the efficacy of smoking cessation programs, employers will be more likely to choose programs that offer a high return on their investment.  These programs are a win-win for businesses. The company benefits from improved financial health. Employees benefit from improved physical health. Even non-smokers benefit from increased productivity and better business strategies.