employers telling people they arent allowed to vape

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HazyShades

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Chro, I'm not sure we have all the facts. There cannot be a legal reason to just willy nilly take $40 a month from your pay just because you vape or smoke unless you have or the company has some kind of rider in the insurance coverage. Just doesn't make sense to me??

Reguardless, if you are unhappy with how they have gone about things with the additional withholding, you really only have a couple choices, be your own boss or find another employer.

I agree, unless they can justify why they are charging you a nicotine fee, might be worth it to consult a lawyer??

Hear, hear! (I'd like this but my like link disappeared again)
Hire a lawyer!

Hazy :smokie:
 

Chromag9

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You aren't the first, or the last employee who has or will come on here and describe extremely *restrictive* workplace policies.
I never described this as extreme or restrictive.

However, since I have background in career coaching it's natural for me to try to empower people to find more satisfying and fulfilling jobs/careers and generally better lives as a result. If that is trolling people, then I dont' know what to say.

Sorry you're having a really disappointing experience at work. I have no answers I guess.
I'm not having a disappointing experience at work. Perhaps you should read my posts again. I found it annoying, that's all. You were obviously not trying to "help" me but trolling.
 

NOVA jon

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In most cases that witheld amount is applied towards the companies overall healthcare costs. In other words the company is paying a higher premium to offer at risk employees insurance, the employer isn't simply pocketing the deducted funds.

Right, unless I'm missing something, he said that's not the case.
 

Chromag9

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I find it annoying also. If they were applying the $ towards your insurance I could condone it
but if they aren't then they're just punishing you for using vape.
I think there's a an EOOC or your state's wage and hour division complaint to be filed.
It won't hurt to check.
No thanks. It's $40 a month. It's not that big of a deal that I'm willing to risk my job for. Supporting my family is way more important than that. I'll hop in my car and drive off site for a few minutes to get a vape in.

Self employment is a gamble. Most start ups fail. The trick is to gather your marbles
and start another game.
Well for the last 11 years I worked for my in-laws who ran a start-up. Things were great until they werent. Small company loses big contract and I'm losing my mind trying to figure out how to support my family. I decided to go back to big companies to support my wife and kids. I couldn't give a crap about whether they will let me vape on site. Was just pointing out their policies to others.
 

Chromag9

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I think he said it wasn't being applied to *his* policy. However, insurance companies charge per group as well as an individual charge at group rate.
So, hey Chro. What did you say?

Hazy :smokie:

Chromag9 said:
I still have to pay (via large monthly deductible from my paycheck) for my health insurance. I just have to take a $20 per paycheck penalty for vaping and/or smoking
I said that. Also, seeing as I work directly for the insurance company, the carrier would be the same, right? It has nothing to do with group rates or anything else. If you are employed by the company and you vape you will be payed $20 per paycheck less.
 
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Demiurgous

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I work for a local government agency that deals with healthcare, and regularly work with the tobacco cessation group on various levels.

We don't have a defined policy on vaping, either internally or as far as a public policy position.

I blow fat clouds in my office all day long, and the only comments I get are either the nice aroma or how they're happy I've switched over. Some day it will be banned. Until then, I'll go through entirely too much juice from vaping my .... off.
 

HazyShades

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No thanks. It's $40 a month. It's not that big of a deal that I'm willing to risk my job for. Supporting my family is way more important than that. I'll hop in my car and drive off site for a few minutes to get a vape in.


Well for the last 11 years I worked for my in-laws who ran a start-up. Things were great until they werent. Small company loses big contract and I'm losing my mind trying to figure out how to support my family. I decided to go back to big companies to support my wife and kids. I couldn't give a crap about whether they will let me vape on site. Was just pointing out their policies to others.

OK. I feel for you. Back in the day I was instrumental in having the company I worked for
give smokers a smoking room. Then a couple of months later they did away with it citing insurance policies.
Not health insurance but property insurance.

This was so hypocritical to me! But I understood it wasn't the company doing this but the insurance company.
When I started at this place people, especially the chief engineer would chain smoke around the equipment.
Then they decided smoke was bad for the equipment.
It sounds weird and some here will go on about how the equipment doesn't get cancer
but I know the smoke/tar/ ETC gets into the equipment, so I understood.
What I couldn't understand is that anytime a millionaire big shot client came to tour the facility
smoking their big cigar or pipe, nobody said jack about the equipment or the ops.

Their policies were applied selectively. With me that's a big pet peeve, so I went on about my business.
I'm self employed, my wife is self employed, even my 12 year old is in business for himself.

Heck, even my cats work killing rats for their Eukanuba.
Your company's policy sucks.
I suggest you start a sideline and work towards quitting.

Again, Peace

Hazy :smokie:
 

HazyShades

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I said that. Also, seeing as I work directly for the insurance company, the carrier would be the same, right? It has nothing to do with group rates or anything else. If you are employed by the company and you vape you will be payed $20 per paycheck less.

OK, I'm right about what you said..I think. So it gets back to your company is screwing you and methinks what they're doing is illegal.
If vaping was illegal and juice a controlled substance they could make it a policy to not hire you because you tested positive.
But it isn't. If you signed a pre-employment contract where vaping was specifically prohibited as a condition of employment
then you're ....out of luck. But if you didn't sign such a monster then you may well have a case.

However, be prepared to pack your desk if you file suit.

Hazy :smokie:
 

sub4me

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I said that. Also, seeing as I work directly for the insurance company, the carrier would be the same, right? It has nothing to do with group rates or anything else. If you are employed by the company and you vape you will be payed $20 per paycheck less.


Which is almost the exact amount others get deducted from their checks that work for other companies who offer insurance. Its not uncommon to have to pay that extra plenty, many people are doing the same.
 

stevegmu

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In most cases that witheld amount is applied towards the companies overall healthcare costs. In other words the company is paying a higher premium to offer at risk employees insurance, the employer isn't simply pocketing the deducted funds.

Exactly. Where I work, we get a discount for checking a box stating we don't smoke or chew tobacco. $50 discount/month. I only pay $92/month for my health, vision, dental, prescription, life, disability insurance. My employer contributes $742/month. The $50 extra smokers pay helps offset their contribution...
 

EvilGenius

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today the janitor or maintenance guy whatever he is, told me today I was too close to the doors and vents in the building's wall and not to stand so close when I "smoke" I said i'm vaping! anyways some smokers came up to me later and said he told them to not smoke in a non smoking area like the parking lot because they saw him bothering me

this guy sounds like a total douche!

tomorrow I should vape with my baretta m9 showing! jk.. maybe ;)

anyways I stand far from the smokers because I don't want to smell or inhale their smoke and I honestly got ...... that he said I was smoking when he knew damn well I was vaping, he even said oh yeah I know, when I said I'm not smoking, I'm vaping!

idiot!
 

HazyShades

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Nice. I'm being trolled by someone with over 8k posts on this forum.

Chro, racehorse is NOT a troll. I read you say this a couple of times now.
racehorse is a well meaning colleague doing the best to assist you in a friendly manner.

That someone says something that you don't want to hear doesn't mean they're a troll.
There are certainly other people here more worthy of being called a troll, and they're all my buds.
Please, Sir. Have a little respect. Just a little.

Peace...if you want it.

Hazy :smokie:
 

HazyShades

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Exactly. Where I work, we get a discount for checking a box stating we don't smoke or chew tobacco. $50 discount/month. I only pay $92/month for my health, vision, dental, prescription, life, disability insurance. My employer contributes $742/month. The $50 extra smokers pay helps offset their contribution...

Aren't you the lucky dog? We mentioned O care the other night. If my HMO deal had been purchased through the market place
it would cost me over twice as much as it does now as an individual plan purchased independently.

I hope you lied in that application..Wait, you don't lie...you're on nicotine!

I need to do my income tax soon. I don't think I need to do the 1095 form 'cause my healthcare doesn't go through O care
but I've talked to several tax preps who say they have to charge much more because of 1095 and subsidy credits

Hazy :smokie:
 

stevegmu

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Aren't you the lucky dog? We mentioned O care the other night. If my HMO deal had been purchased through the market place
it would cost me over twice as much as it does now as an individual plan purchased independently.

I hope you lied in that application..Wait, you don't lie...you're on nicotine!

I need to do my income tax soon. I don't think I need to do the 1095 form 'cause my healthcare doesn't go through O care
but I've talked to several tax preps who say they have to charge much more because of 1095 and subsidy credits

Hazy :smokie:

Oh, yeah, the company I work for believes providing good benefits makes for happier, more productive employees...I called up and asked about e-cigarettes and was told only smoking cigarettes, cigars or chewing tobacco is considered tobacco use. They don't test for nicotine. It's on the honor system. Oddly, the company I work for trusts its employees...
 

HazyShades

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Oh, yeah, the company I work for believes providing good benefits makes for happier, more productive employees...I called up and asked about e-cigarettes and was told only smoking cigarettes, cigars or chewing tobacco is considered tobacco use. They don't test for nicotine. It's on the honor system. Oddly, the company I work for trusts its employees...

Oddly..like I said, You lucky dog. Ya still have yer youth, are polylingual, have a zillion hotties after you,
AND yer insurance is mostly paid for. Cheesus, man Let's trade places.

Hazy :smokie:
 
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