
In order to support its teams, Waste Management engaged the Southern Stop Smoking Service and supplied the space and time for their interested team members to attend meetings within work time. Rather than a group setting at Waste Management, coaches Jade Fraser and Liz Cadogan (North Otago) arranged to meet with the clients individually due to work shifts.
Waste Management Regional Manager Greg Nel said the company was committed to the health and well being of its employees, and has also extended support to team member’s families offering the space for them to also seek stop smoking support.
Waste Management Dunedin Compliance Coordinator Trudy Hutchison said she has been impressed by the commitment, reliability and the ease of engaging the Southern Stop Smoking Service.
Waste Management is a large company with more than 1,700 team members nationally and 52 in the Otago region at its Oamaru, Dunedin and Green Island sites. 15 of the Otago team smoke and seven have engaged with the Southern Stop Smoking Service.
Check out these fabulous staff member's stories!
Shane Welsh (Oamaru, Transfer Station Operator)
I started smoking about seven and a half years ago because all of my friends smoked. I was smoking up to 25 cigarettes a day and spending about $165 per week!
I'd attempted to stop smoking before but I had no support. I was made aware that my workplace were offering stop smoking support and I knew it was working for my co-worker Alysha. It turns out it was good for me too! I started seeing Liz Cadogan and received some NRT, but I ended up going cold turkey. It's been just over one month now and I'm feeling much better and I'm enjoying the extra money.
Being offered the support by my employer was great as it was nice to know someone else was caring for my health, and especially offering it in work time. I'm also enjoying the support of my co-worker Alysha who is going through the same programme, and the support of Greg Nel who has been checking in on me regularly.
Alysha Ryan (Oamaru, Weighbridge Attendant)
If I feel like smoking, I weed the garden or go for a walk instead!
My name is Alysha Ryan and I have been smoke free for six weeks. I'd been smoking for about 13 years but had recently started cutting down slowly on my own. I'd never been a heavy smoker - I only had about 6 per day.
So, when the opportunity of support from my workplace and the Southern Stop Smoking Service come up, I begged Trudy to let me attend. The support was fantastic and it was so great to not have to do it alone. The coach gave me patches and showed me how to use them.
It was great to know my employers supported me and great to have the opportunity to go in work hours.
I'm saving about $50 a fortnight and with that money I am buying shoes!
Frederick Garrick (Dunedin, Green Island Landfill Supervisor)
I started smoking about 15 years ago when it was "cool" and I got hooked pretty quick. I was smoking about a 30gram per week and really enjoying the habit. That was until I started suffering from some health issues.
I'd wanted to stop smoking before, I even stopped for two and a half years once but a traumatic experience led me back to it.
I decided to switch cigarettes for vaping. I've been vaping for about two and a half years now and have been cutting down the nicotine content. Now, I need help to cut the nicotine completely as I know it could cause problems in the future.
It has been a good, cost effective alternative for me, although I do intend to stop vaping eventually. When Jade came to one of our toolbox meetings it was the right opportunity at the right time. The service offered is quite different to a lot of other operators. I feel that with the help of The Southern Stop Smoking Service I can achieve my goals and I feel supported in my journey by both them and Waste Management.
Chris Macilquham (Dunedin, Driver)
I've been smoking for about eight years, but I would really like to stop.
I have recently started cutting down and have halved the amount I'd been smoking. I heard about the Southern Stop Smoking Service at my workplace and I thought it was a great opportunity! It came at a really good time as I wanted to stop anyway. It's great having the face-to-face contact with the coach. I look forward to being smoke free soon!