Businesses in East Yorkshire are losing around £12m each year through sick days for smokers.
Now, more than 250 firms around the UK are joining public health experts to call on smokers to join in this year's Stoptober campaign to quit for good.
More than 192,000 people have signed up to take part in this year's Stoptober.
An event will be held in Hull city centre on October 9 with staff from Hull City Council and City Health Care Partnership using a giant seven-foot inflatable ball to attract people's attention and give them help and advice on how to stop smoking.
Stop smoking mascot Wilma will also be touring the city centre on October 16, 17 and 18 as health workers hand out information packs.
Julia Weldon, director of public health in Hull, said: "People that stop for 28 days are five times more likely to stay smoke free for good.
"We are working with businesses to provide workplace stop smoking sessions as the evidence shows employees that stop smoking have an increase in productivity and a reduction in sickness absence.
"Our focus in Hull is to reduce the harm caused by tobacco and work on preventative messages to stop people from starting in the first place."
This year's campaign is using humour to encourage smokers to swap their fags for gags in a promotion involving top comedians including Paddy McGuinness and Al Murray.
In the East Riding, health promoters will be on the streets giving out information packs to encourage smokers to give up.
Venues include Howden on October 6, Withernsea on October 14, Goole on October 23 and Driffield on October 29.
Stoptober provides smokers with a range of free tools including a new stop smoking pack, a 28-day mobile phone app, text support with daily updates, quitting advice and tips for coping, as well as the encouragement and support from thousands of people quitting together through Stoptober social media channels.
Dr Tim Allison, East Riding's director of public health, said: "Stoptober is a great opportunity to take on the serious task of quitting smoking but, this year, with a humorous background. I hope that many people will join the thousands who have already quit smoking in the East Riding."
Last year, 2,276 people in Hull and the East Riding signed up for Stoptober.
Hull businesses lose 77,400 days of productivity each year due to sick days caused by smoking while employers in the East Riding lose 57,000 days, costing £12m.
Smoke breaks also cost businesses £35m in Hull and £29m in the East Riding.
The cost of smoking to the NHS in Hull and the East Riding is also estimated at more than £33m a year.
Community dental workers are also encouraging smokers to quit during Stoptober.
Specialist dental nurse Joanne Nejrup, who works for Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, said smokers suffer from the yellowing of teeth and are more prone to gum disease.
She said: "No one wants an unhealthy smile but we can only help ourselves to prevent any damages.
"In more serious cases, smoking is the lead cause of mouth cancer.
"I would encourage anyone thinking about quitting the habit to get involved in this month's campaign."
Visit stoptober.smokefree.nhs.uk for more information and to sign up to the challenge.1,600 lives lost in three years
More than 1,600 people in Hull have died through smoking in the past three years. Smoking is estimated to cost the city £97.5m, from lost productivity at work through smoking breaks to cleaning up cigarette-related litter.
Even in more affluent parts of the city, 38 per cent of children are growing up in homes where at least one person smokes while it rises to 65 per cent in the poorest areas.
Fewer pregnant women are now smoking by the time they give birth to their babies with the numbers falling from 29.6 per cent in 2005/06 to 21.6 per cent last year.
However, more teenage boys aged 15 are picking up the habit than before, with 12 per cent smoking in 2002 compared to 15 per cent in 2012. The number of girls smoking at 15 has halved – from 48 per cent in 2002 to 24 per cent in 2012.• People who want to quit smoking can also contact the Hull and East Riding Stop Smoking Service on 0800 3 247 111, visit readytostopsmoking.co.uk or text STOPTOBER to 61825.
• Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
• Health news for Hull and East Yorkshire
The flightpath of the Antonov 12.
