Make sure you’re prepared to go smoke-free by following The Boots and QUIT Employers Guide.
- Step 1
Have the right information - Ensure that as an employer you have the right information. What will smoke-free mean to you and your staff. For regular legislation updates, register with www.smokefreeengland.co.uk
- Step 2
Consult with your employees - Do you know how many members of staff smoke and how they feel about the new laws and do they want support to stop smoking?
- Step 3
Develop a smoke-free policy - A smoke-free policy will help communicate the new legislation and ensure that employees are aware of the new requirements.
- Effective smoke-free policies
-
- Acknowledge the rights of employees to work in a smoke free environment;
- Are concise and easy to understand;
- Identify members of staff who have the responsibility for the implementation of the policy;
- Identify the outside areas where people can smoke;
- Provide information on how to obtain help to quit smoking.
- Step 4
Implement your smoke-free policy - Communicate and implement your smoke-free policy and any changes you need to make.
- Step 5
Support your staff to stop smoking - Although you, as an employer, are not legally required to help employees to stop smoking. If you do offer support, you’ll be able to benefit from a healthier workforce.
- How you can give your support
- Support will be different for each work force, but some examples
of how employers can support their staff include:
- Run a stop smoking information day/lunch break to help members of staff get the right information and support
- Providing access to the telephone during work hours so a smoker can contact the Quitline – 0800 00 22 00
- Funding NRT for any member of staff who is committed to giving up smoking
- Providing a room for a local NHS stop smoking service to run a stop smoking group for all members of staff
