Employers can do a lot in helping their employees with smoking cessation. First, they can get an estimate of how many employees would be interested in attending such a program. Do a poll of a representative section of employees in your location—10 percent of a large group, for example—and find out how many of them smoke, and of these, how many want to quit smoking and would attend such a program. Usually employers pay for the programs, but find out if the smokers would be willing to pay a small amount out-of-pocket, just in case that’s the only way to bring one in. Nicotine Anonymous. Using a 12-step program similar to that in Alcoholics Anonymous, NA helps members cease using tobacco and nicotine products and develop a more enriching life. Or, if that still seems too formal, just schedule an open meeting for smokers who want to quit and smokers who have quit supporting one another. It can be a forum to discuss the benefits of different methods and products designed to quit smoking. Regular meetings—once or twice a week—and frequent encouragement by one another during the other days will help everyone stay smoke-free.
