Information for employers
Employers in Lewisham can do their bit to raise awareness of stop smoking services and help their employees to enjoy free NHS support to stop smoking.
Lots of employers and employees in Lewisham have already benefitted from an advisor visiting their place of work- Catford Bus Garage, Deptford Green Primary School, Marks and Spencer Lewisham, Job Centre Plus Catford, Lewisham Council’s Wearside Depot and the East London Line extension to name just a few of them.
We can let staff know where they can see an advisor near to their home or place of work. If a group of staff are interested, an advisor will come to see them at their place of work. We’re especially interested to hear from workplaces where staff find it hard to get to NHS services outside their working hours.
We provide these services FREE to employers in Lewisham:
- Information on how to stop smoking and where to find free NHS ‘stop smoking’ services
- A 'stop smoking' stall at health and fitness events
- An advisor to run sessions to help staff stop smoking
- Advice and information for employers on smokefree legislation and smoking related litter
Benefits for your organisation if employees stop smoking
- Improved productivity: if your company allows smoking breaks - a person who smokes 5 cigarettes during the working day will spend the equivalent of 28 working days each year smoking
- Reduced sick leave: on average people who smoke take 33 hrs more sick leave than non-smokers each year
- Your employees make a positive lifestyle change: 70% of smokers want to quit, but only 2-3% manage to do it without help each year. Quitting smoking is the most important thing anyone can do to improve their life expectancy and health.
- Improved corporate social responsibility profile: it shows potential customers and partners that your organisation values its employees
- Reduced litter outside your premises: you could be held responsible for cigarette litter left by your employees
- Reduces risk of non-compliance with legislation: The links below will give you more information about what is recommended for workplaces.
- National Institute of Clinical Excellence. Workplace Interventions to help employees stop smoking. 2007
http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/pdf/PHI005QuickRefGuide.pdf2. - Smokefree England: Business and employers checklist
http://www.smokefreeengland.co.uk/what-do-i-do/business.html - Action on Smoking and Health(ASH)
www.ash.org.uk