Get your employees to take The Great No Smoking Day Challenge and increase morale and productivity

No Smoking Day, 12 March 2008, is encouraging employers to help their staff who smoke to take The Great No Smoking Day Challenge and quit smoking for good.

Smoking accounts for 34 million lost work days in the UK. Cigarette breaks and increased absenteeism through illness mean smokersí productivity can be reduced. Morale amongst the whole workforce can be affected as non-smokers feel they do more hours for the same pay as those taking cigarette breaks.

Give your employees help and support to quit smoking for No Smoking Day by carrying out an event on the Day and help them feel healthier, fitter and better ñ not to mention increased productivity in your workplace.

Show your staff you care by giving them time to visit their GP or a local stop smoking service, perhaps even get a stop smoking advisor into your building for a group quit attempt. Another incentive is to provide patches or gum to get them through the day.

Smokers who are serious about stopping can look forward to these benefits:

Improve your smile. Smoking can cause yellow teeth, gum disease and bad breath

Smoking can create hormonal imbalances which decrease libido ñ so giving up smoking could improve your sex life!

Giving up 20-a-day is like a 36 a week pay rise! In six months you could save around 936 ñ that is a luxury holiday!

The benefits start quick, and within just 2 days of stopping youíll start to have more energy and feel fitter

Dan Tickle, Chief Executive for the charity No Smoking Day said:
ìGive your staff an extra incentive by providing help and support through their quit attempt. Stopping smoking not only benefits your employeeís health, well-being and pocket but it could also increase morale and productivity in your workforce.

ìWhy not choose No Smoking Day (12 March 2008) as the day you help your staff makes a dramatic change in their lives.î

To find out where your local stop smoking service is log onto www.nosmokingday.org.uk (including free quit packs) or call 0800 169 0 169