How Managers Can Help Employees Who Want to Quit Tobacco

Before his company implemented a smoke-free workplace policy, Jeff, a computer technician, smoked approximately two-and-a-half packs of cigarettes per day. It was easy. Whenever the urge hit him, he simply lit up another cigarette while sitting at his desk. If you do the math, Jeff smoked at least 40 cigarettes during his workday.

Times have changed. When the new smoke-free workplace policy was implemented and Jeff was forced to confine his smoking to a designated area off the company campus, it was no longer convenient to smoke. In fact, it was nothing short of a crisis because Jeff’s addiction required that he maintain a high level of nicotine in his blood just so he could function properly at his job and avoid withdrawal symptoms. This meant that Jeff would have to spend an enormous amount of time away from his workstation, or defy company policy and smoke where he shouldn’t. Something had to give.

Fortunately Jeff’s manager saw his dilemma. Jeff was a good employee but was struggling to keep his addiction to nicotine from affecting his mood and productivity. After many failed attempts to cut down his smoking, he was now ready for help.

Managers know who needs help

Managers can play a key role in helping employees who desire to quit using tobacco. Good managers are clued into the stress and personal struggle their employees encounter. While smoking does not always directly cause job performance problems, it indirectly affects performance and morale because it takes employees away from their workstation, which lowers productivity and creates the potential for conflict with nonsmoking employees. When problems arise, the diligent manager can informally educate and encourage her employees of the organizational resources that are available to help, such as the company employee assistance program (EAP).

In Jeff’s case, his manager noticed that he was distressed and unusually disorganized and simply asked him how he was coping with the new smoking policy. “Not well,” Jeff responded. This was the opening his manager needed to politely encourage and educate Jeff on available help.

Manager’s role

• Educate yourself on the EAP, specifically as it pertains to smoking cessation and stress reduction. Why stress reduction? Many smokers will admit they are stressed but won’t admit they need to quit using tobacco. A stress management approach is a reasonable alternative and good first step in helping the employee address his addiction to tobacco.
• Offer to help your employee network with other workers who want to quit or who have successfully quit.
• Direct your employee to professional educational materials on smoking and tobacco cessation that may be on your company’s intranet or your EAP provider’s Web site.
• Educate your employee about the EAP program and provide her with the contact information.
• Ask how the management could best support tobacco-using employees who want to quit. Ask what type of programs they think would be helpful.
• Bring in smoking cessation professionals to provide educational seminars and to answer employee questions about tobacco addiction.

Managers who are genuine in their support and encouragement of healthy behaviors serve the best interest of both the employee and their organization. To learn more about worksite wellness and smoking cessation look contact your employee assistance professional.

By Drew Edwards, EdD, MS
© 2005 Achieve Solutions