Why does the Public Service Agency offer a program that will help employees quit smoking?
The ultimate goal of the program is to reduce
the number of public service employees and
family members who smoke, in order to improve
overall personal health, increase workplace
productivity, and positively impact the
workplace and employee health benefit costs.
A 2004 analysis of annual operating health cost
impacts for the public service illustrated the
disability and drug costs by disease category. A
number of these link directly to smoking:
- Respiratory Diseases ~$ 10 million
- Cardiovascular Diseases ~$ 6 million
- Cancer ~$ 2.5 million
While smoking has a direct impact on an
employee’s health, there are notable and significant
impacts for employers, and for the health care
system. In August 2006, the Conference Board of
Canada reported total cost to employers per smoking
employee per year to be $3,396 in 2006. These costs
include absenteeism, health benefit costs and
productivity losses.
Smoking cessation programs have demonstrated
substantial health and economic benefits over the
short term and increased health care and benefit
cost savings over the longer term.
How many public service employees smoke?
About 9.9% of the BC public service population
smokes, which is lower than the provincial rate of
around 14.5%. Where smoking prevalence is low, more
complex multi-tiered interventions are necessary to
successfully support behaviour change in these
remaining smokers.
Who will be eligible to participate in the Quittin’ Time program?
All BC public service employees and their family
members, as well as employees and family members of
other organizations with coverage under the BC
public service extended heath plan, are eligible to
access the Quittin’ Time program.
Can I register in Quittin’ Time more than once?
Yes, you can enrol in the program as many times
as you need.
Smoking is not the only health issue. What other programs are available to address health-related concerns?
Existing programs include the cold & flu program,
and the Employee and Family Assistance Program.
Other health-related programs are in planning phases
or will be developed over time, representing
components of a broader Corporate Health and
Productivity Strategy.
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