The Impact of Smoking on an Individual

Smoking remains one of the leading causes of preventable disease and death in Australia. It affects almost every organ in the body, contributing to:

  • Respiratory conditions like chronic bronchitis and emphysema
  • Cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack and stroke
  • Reduced immunity and longer recovery times from illness or injury
  • Increased risk of many cancers
  • Decline in overall energy levels and physical performance

Quitting is challenging due to the addictive nature of nicotine, but with the right support, success rates improve dramatically.

The Benefits of Quitting for the Individual

The good news is that the body begins to recover almost immediately after quitting. Benefits include:

  • Improved lung function and easier breathing within weeks

  • Lower blood pressure and heart rate just 20 minutes after quitting

  • Reduced risk of serious diseases like heart attack, stroke, and cancer over time

  • Increased energy levels, better sleep, and improved sense of taste and smell

  • Better mental health, with many people reporting less stress and anxiety after quitting

  • Financial savings, with the cost of smoking adding up to thousands of dollars each year

These improvements can lead to a higher quality of life – both at work and at home.

The Cost of Smoking to Your Business

Smoking doesn’t just impact the individual—it can affect the entire workplace. Some of the key business-related consequences include:

Lost productivity:

Smokers are more likely to take frequent breaks and experience longer absences due to illness

Higher healthcare costs:

Businesses often bear the cost of increased medical claims and workers’ compensation

Workplace morale and cohesion:

Visible disparities between smokers and non-smokers can affect team dynamics, especially around break times or shared responsibilities

Fire and safety risks

in certain workplace environments

How to Support Your Workers to Quit

As a business, you’re in a unique position to influence positive change. Here are some strategies to support your workers on their quit journey:

1. Create a Supportive Environment

  • Offer smoke-free zones or a completely smoke-free workplace policy

  • Provide access to free or subsidised nicotine replacement therapies (NRT)

  • Allow flexibility for quit-smoking appointments or counselling sessions

2. Educate and Empower

  • Share resources about the health benefits of quitting and practical steps to get started

  • Run awareness campaigns around World No Tobacco Day or National Quit Week

  • Invite former smokers to share their stories

3. Partner with Professional Health Providers

Employ Health offers tailored Health and Wellness Programs that include:

  • Smoking cessation support through one-on-one coaching or group programs

  • Access to onsite or remote health assessments, identifying risk factors early

  • Behavioural change strategies integrated into broader wellness initiatives

  • Ongoing support through digital health tools and employee engagement materials

Our goal is to create healthier workplaces by providing practical, evidence-based support that empowers workers to make lasting change.

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