I work at a place that is vaguely smoker friendly. Our CEO is a smoker, and provides an indoor air conditioned/heated smoking room (that really, really smells bad, despite exhaust). Out of 1500 employees, there is perhaps less than a hundred smokers at our company. I have been vaping for 11 months with zero cigs, and remain a big proponent of vaping.
Our official smoking policy is spelled out as "no tobacco products", and is intended to mean smoking and chewing. I vape openly in a room with four cubes, with the blessing of my boss and co-workers, all non-smokers. My boss's boss is also very happy I have quit smoking, and he has suggested to one of his smoking friends he should check into it.
I have considered several times contacting HR, to see if we could have it officially a policy that it is OK to vape. I have thought about speaking to the CEO directly about it. I understand that people that don't know about it think you are smoking, when they see exhaled vapor. I never have, because "it's easier to ask forgiveness, than to ask permission". I vape away happily in my own little corner of our company, and still visit the smoking room because I have friends there.
Today, the same head of HR announced smoking cessation classes to be held at work, sponsored by our county health department, and the largest local hospital. They are promoting NRT, and are going to be handing out 8 weeks of free gum and patches. If the head of HR thinks that NRT is a 'good thing', I am now wondering if I should attend the classes, for two reasons. One would be to promote vaping locally in our company, with thoughts towards having vaping written into our official policy. At the same time, I understand that the vast majority of people consider smokers weak addicts, and misunderstand that vaping is still smoking. Perceived reality is just as real, for them.
The other reason, is that I am personally curious about speaking with proper "smoking cessation" professionals, and see what their take on vaping is, and to promote it to them. I know I could do this without doing it during their sessions here. I have had a good improvement in my general health since I quit smoking. I have spoken with four doctors about it, and they all said that it is great, keep it up.
If they are promoting NRT now, this could be a chance to make a big step for vaping locally. Our whole town went non-smoking a few years ago, and there was a lot of dispute about it (there was no vote, city fathers just decided it for all businesses). My employer is one of the larger ones in our city.
I will *not* be passing out pamplets during their classes, I just see this as a possible way to make a difference. If it goes bad, I could be getting vaping officially written into company policy as being banned. It's easy to sit back and quietly vape in my existing comfort zone.
Should I consider this? Should I talk to the CEO first (50-year smoker, perhaps high chances that he will be sympathetic)? Or should I just shut up and vape?
Our official smoking policy is spelled out as "no tobacco products", and is intended to mean smoking and chewing. I vape openly in a room with four cubes, with the blessing of my boss and co-workers, all non-smokers. My boss's boss is also very happy I have quit smoking, and he has suggested to one of his smoking friends he should check into it.
I have considered several times contacting HR, to see if we could have it officially a policy that it is OK to vape. I have thought about speaking to the CEO directly about it. I understand that people that don't know about it think you are smoking, when they see exhaled vapor. I never have, because "it's easier to ask forgiveness, than to ask permission". I vape away happily in my own little corner of our company, and still visit the smoking room because I have friends there.
Today, the same head of HR announced smoking cessation classes to be held at work, sponsored by our county health department, and the largest local hospital. They are promoting NRT, and are going to be handing out 8 weeks of free gum and patches. If the head of HR thinks that NRT is a 'good thing', I am now wondering if I should attend the classes, for two reasons. One would be to promote vaping locally in our company, with thoughts towards having vaping written into our official policy. At the same time, I understand that the vast majority of people consider smokers weak addicts, and misunderstand that vaping is still smoking. Perceived reality is just as real, for them.
The other reason, is that I am personally curious about speaking with proper "smoking cessation" professionals, and see what their take on vaping is, and to promote it to them. I know I could do this without doing it during their sessions here. I have had a good improvement in my general health since I quit smoking. I have spoken with four doctors about it, and they all said that it is great, keep it up.
If they are promoting NRT now, this could be a chance to make a big step for vaping locally. Our whole town went non-smoking a few years ago, and there was a lot of dispute about it (there was no vote, city fathers just decided it for all businesses). My employer is one of the larger ones in our city.
I will *not* be passing out pamplets during their classes, I just see this as a possible way to make a difference. If it goes bad, I could be getting vaping officially written into company policy as being banned. It's easy to sit back and quietly vape in my existing comfort zone.
Should I consider this? Should I talk to the CEO first (50-year smoker, perhaps high chances that he will be sympathetic)? Or should I just shut up and vape?
I've been smoke free for year already but for them it doesn't matter.
