4 ways to enforce smoke-free policies for a healthier workplace

Introduce modern tobacco-free alternatives in the workplace

Since most employees may be hesitant to quit tobacco due to cravings and withdrawal symptoms, it’s up to employers to introduce modern tobacco-free alternatives to help them overcome cravings without risking slip-ups and relapses. Among the emerging options are nicotine pouches, which a Tobacco Control study notes to have a modest level of awareness (29.2%) and adoption (5.6%) among adult smokers. 

Since pouches deliver nicotine directly via the oral cavity, they can be discreetly used in the workplace to ease cravings. Moreover, the nicotine pouches on Prilla demonstrate their accessibility not just via pharmacies and convenience stores but also online retailers. The retailer offers tobacco-free pouches in a wide range of flavors, strengths, and brands like ZYN, VELO, and On! to suit workers’ varied nicotine needs and preferences.

Consider traditional nicotine replacement therapy

Although more traditional than next-generation alternatives, the role of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in successful smoking cessation has been widely documented. Oral types of NRT, like Nicorette gums and lozenges, are the most popular for immediate relief.

However, NicoDerm CQ patches, which supply nicotine directly through skin application, can also be effective for gradually curbing cravings throughout the day. These transdermal patches can deliver anywhere from 7 to 21mg of nicotine over 24 hours, allowing employees to relieve smoking urges even during work hours. Since NRT can be costly, whether prescription or over-the-counter, employers can help subsidize the costs for higher cessation rates.

Promote behavioral interventions

Since tobacco dependence isn’t just physiological but also affects employees’ habits and patterns, it also helps to promote behavioral interventions that help them quit by teaching them how to address and cope with withdrawal symptoms. In the age of health technologies, Pivot’s digital tobacco cessation program can be useful in providing behavioral change support through evidence-based interventions.

Specifically, Pivot’s FDA-approved, easy-to-use app provides users with access to tobacco specialist coaching, NRT, and online community support to ensure they abstain from smoking in the long term. The platform’s randomized controlled trial also found that compared to a cold turkey approach, this behavioral support contributed to an increase in quit rate at 26 weeks (38%) and 52 weeks (44%).

Incorporate rewards and incentives for employees

Lastly, employees can benefit from a workplace that encourages and motivates them to make progress throughout their cessation journeys. Such rewards can come in the form of financial incentives or workplace benefits like vacation days, making sure these increase incrementally the longer employees stay smoke-free. 

These workplace strategies can then be synchronized with local laws that enforce smoke-free workplaces to reduce health and fire hazards. Human resources departments are also responsible for monitoring and evaluating these approaches to ensure they make progress in encouraging employees to live healthier and perform better.