Hilo Hattie

To help employees begin to think about quitting tobacco, Hilo Hattie’s broached the idea slowly, letting employees get used to the idea of trying to quit long before a program began. Several months before the program was offered, a PR campaign was launched in the employee newsletter that included stories and helpful literature about the dangers of smoking. By the time the program was launched, the small group who joined said they were really ready to quit. Although just three people from Hilo Hattie’s joined the first “I Can Quit” group, all three did quit, and have remained off cigarettes for more than a year.

Hilo Hattie’s feels their support group worked because it was small and allowed people to bond and support each other. The group also drew employees from another nearby company, which meant there were only a few from each business. This created a sense of anonymity and privacy. It’s too soon to see broad company impact, however Hilo Hattie’s believes that a 100 percent success rate, however small the class size, is a strong beginning.

Their experience also suggests that any company can take a small first step without a great deal of expenditure. Each employee who joined the pilot group had to pay approximately $100 upfront for the program, but was reimbursed if they completed the program. Medications were also offered at a discount to help employees quit.