A Decision On a Vaping Policy at a UK Workplace

[Estima]

I initiated discussions with my employer on the use of electronic cigarettes. I asked genrally about looking in to a vaping policy and then it went out of my hands. It went for discussion at a meeting that I had no invite to and the people involved at the meeting had not spoken to any vapers to garner any information about them. So the meeting had representation from HR, Property Services, Health & Safety and the Health and Wellbeing Committee. All representatives being non-smokers/never smoked people. The Health and Wellbeing Committee are tied in to our 'Attendance Strategy' and believe me, what they claim to do to support the strategy is completely at odds with having a closed meeting to decide on a policy amongst a handful of ill informed people who wouldn't engage or discuss with any vapers.

As a result of the meeting they decided that they would, to quote, "treat the product in the same manner as normal cigarettes". They seemed to have tried to make a concession in that saying we were allowed to use them in the grounds, BUT - away from opening windows, and must be to rear of the building. So given the layout of the place, that basically means if it's raining then you have to use the smoking shelter.

I've written a response to the outcome of the meeting, detailing the discprencies in their knowledge and their decisions based on their inaccurate information. Again, they fail to engage, despite claims in the attendance strategy to engage with staff. This decision came out two and a half weeks ago. Frankly, I've still nopt calmed down.

 

[Sicarius]

I share your frustration, but hey at least you can stealth vape. A lot of companies also welcomed the smoking ban and extradition to the shed simply because it didn't fit into the company image. Unfortunately vaping simulates smoking visually so you always going to have a hard time there. I guess this will be a problem for a long time as it is a lot easier to unsettle one rather than disjoint a group. Well I say it is their right to not allow vaping in the workplace until the law says otherwise, but since stealthing creates no smoke ... there must be no fire. Suck on that (whoever you work for).

Don't be scared to drop a few things under your desk once in a while.

 

[sebt]

As a result of the meeting they decided that they would, to quote, "treat the product in the same manner as normal cigarettes".

Good on you for trying your best to make a change. I think you've been up against pretty impossible odds. Namely, stupidity (against which, according the quote, even the Gods can't win). The phrase bolded sums it up: rather than actually think about what's involved in the issue, it's much easier to go with the most obvious, conservative, kneejerk reaction. People are terrified not just of their own stupidity, but of it becoming apparent. Hence decisions like this, no doubt soon to be dressed up with a whole load of specious justification.

Have you considered talking to one of the pressure groups? I'm quite new here so don't know of a UK group, but there's a campaigning group heavily featured on the forums (which may be more US-based). Perhaps a courteous, informative letter from such a group to the company, pointing out things they don't know, and offering them any information they may be concerned about, would make a difference? If not to your work situation right now, then perhaps in making it more likely that the people involved will think a little more next time?

 

[Warren D. Lockaby]

There's an old saying the point of which is, "It'll be easier to get forgiveness than to get permission." Seems to me this will usually hold true in matters regarding the use of e-cigarettes. If we just use them discreetly, as if we were using, say, an asthma inhaler or something, the Powers That imagine themselves to Be might be more reluctant to make an issue of it. OTOH if WE make an issue of it we will have declared it fair game... "Open Season on Vaping", sort of... and we know those Powers will hate to pass up a new target.

I'm thinking, I'd rather be quietly right and prevail alone than loudly amass a large (also right) following and get all our butts whupped. But hey, that's just me.
Happy Vaping!

 

[KevinT]

Most people just don't understand what vaping is. I also tried to address this issue with my employers, didn't even get the courtesy of any sort of deliberation or questioning. Was a flat out no.

Also stuck outside...at least I got a warm jacket!

 

[calvinweber]

I went with the Stealth Vaping Method... a L88B is a great stealth device and use an eGo in the car and a Jazz Cartopipe at home

 

[Midcoast]

Yup, stealthings the way to go- I do vape at work, but I have my own office, and my supervisor is not on site- I have not ever asked permission, and I know what the answer would be-

 

[KevinT]

I can sometimes get away with it in the washroom if I need a quick fix, but I really dislike the feeling of having to do so.

 

[DummyMe]

I'm in the US. I live in New Jersey, they don't allow indoor vaping at all. They banned it before I ever heard of ecigs. So, I'm stuck out in the cold myself. They'll probably never change the law to allow it, but they'll think of a way to restrict it more & tax it. (They managed to make this state the state with the highest property tax in the country.) Sorry for the mini-rant.

 

[Triumphantblonde]

I work for the NHS.... haven't even bothered asking them if I can vape. I have however received a great deal of support from my line manager who is the lead nurse for our organisation who is very pleased that I have given up the cigarettes for this more healthy option with the intention of weaning myself off nicotine addiction. I can generally make it through to lunchtime without a fix but have found that sneaking off to the toilets and exhaling into a tissue doesn't set off the smoke alarms

 

[kren]

I didn't even ask. I work at a big NYC company, big midtown office, open floor plan, and I think my bosses are just happy I don't get up and leave my desk every couple of hours and come back reeking. I vape at my desk, blow the smoke down under the desk, and nobody beyond my immediate podmates is the wiser. My podmates, including one who just quit smoking a couple of months ago, are quite supportive. My bosses know of the vaping in a peripheral way, but I think as long as nobody else gets in a tizzy, they're going to practice benign indifference.

If you're a similar office bee, I suggest trying the "don't ask, don't tell" approach. It's working for me.
<crosses fingers>

 

[TinyTimberGal]

I work for a small company (20 full time, 20 part-time employees). Last March my boss heard that I'd quit smoking using a PV, and congratulated me. I never asked permission, but I have vaped in my office from day one, I do however take care not to let customers see me. I also still go outside on occasion with the only remaining smoker. Last week we were outside when my boss returned from lunch. As she walked by she looked at me she said "Uh oh....". I showed her my PV and she said "Oh, good". I don't know if she assumes I vape in the building or not. It seems like more of a 'don't ask, don't tell' type of situation for me. I feel very fortunate.

 

[nanovapr]

To the OP, if you had been able to attend the meeting and inject some fact, it could have gone better. Non-smokers deciding on a policy they know nothing of sounds like it never had a chance.

I am fortunate that I work in a privately-owned company that is fairly sympathetic to smokers (the founder and CEO smokes in his office). We have an indoor smoking room. They have exhaust fans, but it's still pretty smelly. I still go there a few times a week because of 1200 employees, I have some 'smoke-room friends' that I would rarely see otherwise.

Our official company policy is "no tobacco use". My immediate co-workers and boss are fine with me vaping at my desk and at our meetings, happy I quit smoking. They are all non-smokers. I saw a recently-retired co-worker outside of work recently, he asked about what my vaping was. He asked if I had consulted HR (no). He said that "if there's nicotine in it, they'll never go for it". There are a few stealth vapers that I know of.

I had been considering approaching the CEO and show him, and try to specifically get a pro-vaping policy going. Yet, like the OP, if it is a decision made without anyone that knows about it, it stands a good chance of being shot down. I haven't brought it up, and continue to vape at my desk. If it gets discussed and banned, easy enough to stealth a few. I would have wished I had taken the initiative, then.

 

[Rainielu]

Recently one our vapers at work was "caught". I can't say she is very stealthy - she loudly states it's not illegal so she can do it. So, now someone has complained and it's been sent to the director to decide. In our favor, one of our line supervisors vapes and was able to arm the assistant director with pertinent information and made sure she was aware that our on staff health clinic has been promoting vaping to help smokers quit. It's been about 3 weeks and we have not heard anything, which I take as "vape at your desk but be smart about it" and that's exactly what I've been doing all along. IF there's a decision to ban it in the building, I'll probably continue since I'm a pretty stealthy stealth vaper. LOL

 

[rolygate]

@Triumphantblonde
ECCA's Fiona says she blows it down her top. We asked for a demo on the video chat at the meeting tonight, but strangely she declined. Spoilsport.

 

[13F10]

I didn't even ask. I work at a big NYC company, big midtown office, open floor plan, and I think my bosses are just happy I don't get up and leave my desk every couple of hours and come back reeking.

When I do have to go into the office to work, same thing. My "boss" is just glad I quit. I prefer not to vape at my "sometimes" desk, unless it's a lil hit now and then. 90% of the time, I work from home, not an issue and the house smells like carmel.

 

[Taniger1]

I stalked the Doctors and PA's at work :0). Waited until I KNEW they would be at a "thinking" time in their day, then let them "catch" me vapeing! The nice thing bout a Reo is it doesn't LOOK like an analog. So they started asking questions. I answered as truthfully as I know, and actually got asked a question I had no answer for (flavorings and the chemical make up) but could point out we do ingest them through eating!

The "grapevine" at work is now buzzing with the posibility of letting personal vaporizers into the facility!!!! It will take forever and a week, but well, I'm HOPEING it will happen! Keep your fingers crossed folks, if my place of work allows it, others just might fall into line (I work for the state of Washington!)

 

[jdrewry]

I'm in the US. I live in New Jersey, they don't allow indoor vaping at all. They banned it before I ever heard of ecigs. So, I'm stuck out in the cold myself. They'll probably never change the law to allow it, but they'll think of a way to restrict it more & tax it. (They managed to make this state the state with the highest property tax in the country.) Sorry for the mini-rant.

Yeah, NJ didn't waste any time banning e-cigs in a lot of places. Fine by me; I'll take my "smoke break".

 

[Patrick21]

Go to the toilet and have a cheeky vape for 5 minutes

 

[Estima]

Some interesting points of view, some reassuring anecdotes, and some posts where I can sense the frustration.

Yes, I could stealth vape and yes, I could have asked for forgiveness rather than permission. I think my problem is, that because I meet friends down the smoking shelter (cancer shack as we call it), I still want to get away from the desk and meet these people. Now I've converted a lot of people and it would be nice if I could take a vape with them somewhere outside of the cancer shack. More than anything, I viewed it as a massive opportunity for my work colleagues to ditch smoking in favour of vaping. Or health and wellbeing people have run smoking cessation classes before now so think that's their duty over and done with. A friend of mine quit on this programme but then went back to cigarettes. I quit smoking 30 a day after 23 years, no cutting down or anything, but stone dead overnight. I thought there's a massive opportunity here for others to be able to do the same. To be honest, I find that a committee of no smokers (or ex smokers) making a decision and refusing to engage or listen/read any facts quite arrogant. For them to say 'well we offer smoking cessation classes now and again' and for them to assume that's their work done, is short sighted. They don't live up to the commitments that they say they will in the attendance strategy. They've made a decision based on inaccurate information, based on a few beliefs they have and the advice of a health and sfaety practioner who says that they are unlicensed. My understanding is that they are not licensed by the Medicines and Health Regualtory Authority as a nicotine replacement therapy product, but that doesn't mean to say they are banned for sale. The UK's largest retailer sells them for crying out loud. Anyway, my blood is boiling ago. I'm off for the ten minute walk to the cancer shack, a ten minue vape, then a ten minute walk back.