Worried about shrinking bonuses and profit margins? Fret not! The Health Promotion Board has launched a new Workplace Campaign titled Smoking Costs More Than You Think!, from January to March 2009, to help your company and colleagues save more during this current economic downturn.

If you find yourself puzzled over the disappearance of your company’s unofficial ‘smoking corner’, your company might just have been affected by the extension of the recent smoking ban. With effect from 1st January 2009, the smoking ban covers all non-air-conditioned indoor public places, lift lobbies, entrances and exits to buildings, playgrounds and exercise areas.

As a result, smokers will now have to move further away from the company premises to smoke. Longer smoking breaks invariably lead to loss in productivity., not to mention that smokers are more likely to fall ill from smoking-related diseases. This will add to the healthcare costs borne by your company.

To help your employees kick the smoking habit for good, HPB will support you with a suite of smoking control initiatives, which include smoking cessation talks, on-site counselling sessions and resource materials. These talks will cover the harmful effects of smoking and equip smokers with information on quit methods, quit tips and locations where they can seek professional help.

Each company is entitled to one complimentary smoking cessation talk (with a minimum of 20 participants) and a smoking cessation counselling session (with a minimum of 10 smokers) per location. All talks and counselling sessions have to be conducted by 15th March 2009.

If you are interested to help your company and colleagues save money and live a healthier life, then this is the campaign for you!

To sign up for the initiatives or for more information, please call 6435-3010 or email HPB_Smoking_Control@hpb.gov.sg