Fired for smoking e cig at work?!

[digitalness]

Well ill make a long story short. I work in a Highly Recognized hospital. Of course this happened beginning tof July and unable to get clarity until Tuesday the 5th. Entered closet, seen chair, sat down, exhausted. Puffed on e cig, many heavy puffs with a good amount of vapor billowing. After about 3-4 minutes I noticed there was a camera literally 6 inches above and behind my head pointing at data rack. I have been in 30-40 similar closets without any cameras so this was a shock. As a contractor I thought nothing of it until 1 hour later when my HID ID card would no longer work on elevators or doors..... Everyone was gone for 4th weekend and was unable to get an answer... Is it possible the card has been de magnetized? It was one of those high tech cameras that will instantly email if movement is detected.. how screwed am i? Any thoughts?

 

[keyzygirl]

I would be freaked out too.Isnt there anyone you can call?I cant imagine waiting all weekend to know.

 

[Critter Man]

I doubt your card would be cancelled without notification to you. It must be a tech problem.

 

[Freddy]

Doubtful that they would just suspend your access on this. Even it would have been a REAL cig, doubtful. Smoking is not a security breach - bad judgement, maybe but not something that they immediately would kill your card. I've had the magnetic strip in my card go once because I set it next to the "key" on a treadmill (magnet) and twice just because. If your not working sit tight until Tuesday and explain if you need to and then it will probably be just a "write up" ... like I say .... just bad judgement trying to sneak a vape ... BTW ... I do it too and it is a matter of time before I'm explaining the same thing to my supervisor !!!!

 

[digitalness]

Who knows... I don't know if they had another way to contact me either..sooo or maybe they wanted to wait to break the news until after the holiday.. I will keep posted regardless.

 

[Critter Man]

Good luck to you

 

[Brad.]

Goodluck to you. Maybe technical problems like others have said

 

[Camels2eGo]

Sounds to me that the guilt got to you and my thoughts are maybe standing next to the data racks might have just corrupted your card. I can't tell you how many times i had my hotel keys get knocked out from sitting on a transformer or placing it in my pocket with my cell phone. But, till Tuesday it may be a good time to pull out your employee hand book and find ways to skate on this if they have decided some course of reprimand. Best of luck

 

[puffpuffexplode]

My wife works at a hospital.... I always smoked outside in my car waiting on her to get off work.. I have had security come and harrass me for smoking in my car... They said no tobacco use on the property... Kinda interested in what they would say about vaping in my car...

 

[WyattDerp]

Hopefully just card issues as systems could be on the fritz being holiday weekend and all. Besides, if you get any crap, just ask if they would really fire you for discharging a battery.

 

[digitalness]

Well again.. I work for a contractor and not directly for the place in question... So hard to say how I would be approached... That explains the limited contact info they would have from me. Could be the entire contractor workforce could be expelled... You never know with one of the top 10 rated in the country. There would be no explaining unfortunately, they would probably just demand I leave.

 

[digitalness]

Netbotz camera BTW.. if anyone has experience with these guys.?

 

[BiffRocko]

Three weeks ago, my work access key stopped working. Someone entered an expiration date when they set it up. The date was removed and everything was fine.

It could be as simple as that. Enjoy your long weekend and deal with it on Tuesday.

 

[Credo]

I wouldn't put it past them, but then again...unless you had to use your card to get into that closet, how did they 'know' it was 'you' and just cancel your access codes? I doubt the folks watching the camera know everyone by name, or tracked you that closely with cameras from the last point you used the card to respond that quickly on a zero-tolerance smoking policy.

I'd think they'd send someone to confront you first.

Relax and enjoy your holiday
If you're good enough to land a gig in a place like that....you'll always find work

 

[sirvapsalot86]

Electronic cigs are banned at my work. It's funny because it's included in the tobacco free workplace policy. I want to say something about it, but it'd probably be a waste of breath.

People have been caught smoking at my jobsite, and they never get fired, just written up.

 

[Critter Man]

digitalness, would your card possibly have stopped working around midnight? If it were set to expire on July 1st, it may have stopped working at 12:00 am on either the 1st or 2nd.

 

[Dwindacatcher]

Every hospital I know has a no electronic cigarette policy too. I hate to say it but you might have been suspended.

 

[Ever1ast]

Except in the movies, I've never heard of any company's method of notification of termination being a deactivation of their swipe card. Especially when you were still in the building when it happened. I'm guessing either a) you're card is bad ( rfid or magnetized strip....I've had both fail on me in the past) or....b) if some IT guy did happen to catch you on camera and snagged your ID card code from the access list, he deactivated it to keep you away from his racks. Fortunately the IT department doesn't get to make termination decisions.
I'm sure you guys have an on-call telephone number for your IT dept, even on weekends. Call them up and see if they can tell you why your card isnt working.

 

[digitalness]

Except in the movies, I've never heard of any company's method of notification of termination being a deactivation of their swipe card. Especially when you were still in the building when it happened. I'm guessing either a) you're card is bad ( rfid or magnetized strip....I've had both fail on me in the past) or....b) if some IT guy did happen to catch you on camera and snagged your ID card code from the access list, he deactivated it to keep you away from his racks. Fortunately the IT department doesn't get to make termination decisions.
I'm sure you guys have an on-call telephone number for your IT dept, even on weekends. Call them up and see if they can tell you why your card isnt working.

Ya the last is the one I'm concerned about... Id stopped working approx 1pm.

 

[dwarren]

I work in IT as well and am also a contractor. From what you are saying about a big name joint, you were seen on the camera and your card suspended until they can contact your employer directly. It looked like you were smoking, and they reacted as such. Good luck either way, but I would assume the worst in a situation like this. Be prepared anyway. I have a feeling that you will be able to smooth it over, but hospitals vehemently dislike smoking. Hope it works out for you...