Quitting smoking is one of the most effective health decisions a person can make – and one of the hardest to carry out alone. Workplace support measurably changes the success rate: people who receive support while quitting stop for good significantly more often than those without it – as a Cochrane review of workplace smoking cessation programs shows (Cahill & Lancaster, 2014).
What makes workplace support especially effective?
Smoking is a behavioral habit with a strong physiological dependence component. Anyone trying to quit is fighting withdrawal symptoms, ingrained smoke breaks built into the daily routine, and social triggers – often within the circle of colleagues – all at once. Workplace support can address all of these: information materials, group offerings with other people trying to quit, and, on request, partial reimbursement for nicotine replacement products.
How should the offering be structured?
No workforce is without ambivalence. Pressuring employees to quit loses them. Creating an offering that's communicated openly and accessible at a low threshold reaches exactly those who have already been considering it for a while. An internal information campaign plus a group offering plus the clear message 'We support you in this' – that's the right tone. The rest is up to the employees themselves. You will find more measures and how they fit in the field of action Addiction prevention.
How do you put the measure in place?
- 1Obtain the free materials on quitting smoking from the BIÖG (Federal Institute for Public Health, formerly BZgA), e.g. via rauchfrei-info.de (brochures, posters, online quit programme)
- 2Check the offers of the statutory health insurance funds (Krankenkassen): many subsidise smoke-free courses – compile the contacts
- 3Choose a time window: "Stoptober" (October) is a proven, motivating occasion
- 4Frame it sensitively: an offer of support, no moral pressure on smokers
- 5Communicate the offer confidentially and without judgement: anyone who wants to quit finds help here
- 6Make materials and contacts accessible centrally and discreetly
- 7Optionally offer a voluntary group for mutual motivation
- 8Stay with it over the weeks: regular, unobtrusive inputs and tips
- 9Normalise relapses: a failed attempt is not a failure, but part of the way
- 10Point to concrete help (counselling hotline, app, course) instead of just appealing
- 11Keep strict confidentiality – nobody should feel watched
- 12Assess the response anonymously: was the offer used?
- 13Pave the way for interested people to longer-term courses (via their health insurance fund, Krankenkasse)
- 14Keep the offer available permanently – quitting rarely happens at the push of a button
What do you need for it?
- Effort
- under 30 min
- Cost
- Free
- Setup
- 60 min
- ✓ BIÖG material (formerly BZgA) free of charge
- ✓ Important topic
- ✓ Health insurance support possible
Tax and health insurance: what is possible
Employer health benefits can be tax-free under § 3 no. 34 of the German Income Tax Act (EStG) up to €600 per employee per year — if they are provided in addition to the salary already owed and are either certified (§ 20 SGB V) or implemented within the company's health promotion process. Gym memberships and corporate fitness are not covered. For ZPP-certified courses (e.g. from Upfit), German statutory health insurers can reimburse all or part of the course fee to their insured members — then only the amount exceeding that reimbursement is tax-free. Projects within the company can be funded under § 20b SGB V, with no entitlement. Only your tax adviser can confirm the tax exemption.
How it works in EasyWHP
This Best Practice in EasyWHP: adopt it, adapt it, measure the effect
Once adopted, the measure is ready in EasyWHP — with instructions, an invitation and surveys before and after. You adapt what fits your company and see at the end what it achieved.
Screenshots with demo data, no real people.
Start this measure now
Register for free — and the measure is ready to go in your cockpit: invitation, feedback survey and appointment are already set up. First cycle, first numbers for the boss.
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Contributes to
Measure the impact with
Action field
Prevention & Early Detection →A fitting occasion
- World No Tobacco Day
Related Best Practices
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