Homeworkers smoking more amid Covid: Should HR provide help?

Demand for cigarettes has “picked up” in the pandemic, according to Imperial Brands. It attributes the rise to homeworkers having “more opportunities to light up” as they are no longer imposed by workplace restrictions. The big question is should employers step in and encourage staff smokers to quit in a bid to improve employee wellbeing?

A new report reveals that if employers provide smoking cessation support, it could go a long way to improve employee mental wellbeing and reduce sick time off work. In fact, when employee mental health is supported by HR ‘quit smoking’ incentives, 52% see positive effects just after 4 weeks, according to the latest Quitting Smoking for Mental Health study. Furthermore, it reveals that staff want HR/company leaders to step in to help them quit smoking. In fact, the report found that 31% of ex-smokers say they could have quit faster with more support from their employers, with initiatives like a simple ban on workplace smoking.

IMPACT ON WELLBEING

Data from Public Health England shows that smoking prevalence is almost twice as high among those with mental health conditions. In fact, people with a mental health conditions account for a third of cigarettes smokers in England. Additionally, lost days through sick days and cigarette breaks can cost the NHS up to £200 million a year. Employers who take smoking cessation seriously can have an impact far beyond the day-to-day difference that they may see in the workplace.

The study highlights smoking cessation measures as one of the more tangible forms of support that a business can offer to improve employee wellbeing. Almost half of ex-smokers surveyed through companies (44%) say they have noticed an uplift in their mental health since quitting. Positive effects can be seen within weeks of policies being implemented. Around 39% of employees noticed a positive improvement during the first four weeks of quitting. This figure rose to 52% after the first four weeks of quitting smoking. This shows that active smoking cessation support can show positive results in less than a month.

HOW HR CAN HELP

“In the UK, the burden of mental health and wellbeing has fallen onto the shoulders of employers in recent years. This is something that is rarely acknowledged by businesses or the government. Moderate to severe ill health (including mental health), low energy, and/or dysfunctional behaviours are all likely to reduce productivity, motivation and engagement in employees,” pointed out Lou Campbell, Co-founder and Programmes Director at Mindfulness in the Workplace. She believes providing a targeted and intelligent wellbeing services to employees is absolutely a remedy to this problem.

“Medium to large businesses are certainly offering at least some wellbeing services to their employees. A two-pronged approach works best. Offering confidential one-to-one sessions to those who are in crisis or experiencing moderate to severe mental health issues; and awareness sessions focusing on how to maintain positive mental health, work life balance, healthy habits, whole-person health to the wider group of employees,” she explained. 

This can have many benefits. The Quitting Smoking for Mental Health study, reveals that 29% of employees stated that they have taken less time off work for mental or physical health issues since quitting smoking, including sick days and unpaid leave. Around 10.6% stated that they no longer take as many days off for mental health. Additionally, 18.6% have needed to take less days off for physical health issues. When asked about taking sick days specifically, 22.7% of respondents stated that they now take fewer sick days off work (14.3% for physical health issues and 8.4% for mental health issues). 

WHICH POLICIES WORK BEST?

So how can employers best encourage staff to stop smoking? The study highlighted three areas HR can support smoking cessation:

• Smoking ban on premises. Around 30% of ex-smokers say that a ban on smoking on workplace premises would have been the greatest help for their quitting journey. Whether government-enforced nationwide or specific to their workplace, the effects are likely to be the same.
• Funding programmes for smoking cessation tools. Approximately 32% say that greater support in funding for smoking cessation tools (such as nicotine replacement therapy/vaping) would have further encouraged smoking cessation
• Designated smoking spaces. About 39% of ex-smokers say that a designated space or allowing vaping in the workplace would have helped them to quit smoking. This finding was echoed by over a third of current smokers (34%).

NO BRAINER

“It’s clear that employers can be really effective agents of change when it comes to encouraging smoking cessation. With the right tools, an employer that’s proactive in promoting smoking cessation can make a huge difference to someone’s overall wellbeing, both mentally and physically. As well as reducing the ongoing strain that both smoking and smoking cessation services place on the NHS,” stated Dan Marchant, Director at Vape Club and founding member of the UK Vaping Industry Association.

“We’ve certainly seen evidence that encouraging employees to quit smoking not only cuts down on the number of sick days needed for physical impact that smoking has, but it also improves the individuals mental wellbeing. It’s a no brainer that companies should encourage more smoking cessation measures. Not only will it keep employees at their desks, but it will keep them at their desks and in good overall health!”

Vape Club carried out the Quitting Smoking for Mental Health study of over 1,000 UK employees in line with World Mental Health Day (10th October). It forms part of its research into smoking cessation during Stoptober 2020.