Employees of the food-distribution firm Oklahoma Sysco, Inc., will receive a $25 bonus for every year they have been with the company if they sign up for a stop-smoking program and remain abstinent for six months, the Norman Transcript reported Oct. 22.

The company, which announced that it would go tobacco-free on Nov. 17, has given employees until Nov. 16 to sign up for the stop-smoking incentive plan. "We wanted to use a positive way to help our employees quit using tobacco," said company human-resources director Dave Martin.

A second bonus could be paid to those who stay smoke-free for a year. Sysco also has distributed stop-smoking information packets and nicotine patches and enrolled employees in smoking-cessation programs.

"Our primary initiative is to create a healthy environment for our employees, but I believe our company will also see some returns," such as lower medical costs, said Martin.

Employee response has been mostly positive, added Martin. Warehouse supervisor Paul Poole called the plan "a fantastic opportunity."

"Already I've cut my smoking in half just by changing my habits," he said. "Plus, having the support at work is great."