Office Ban?

[tonto]

I've been vaping at my desk in my office for over 6 months, today I was told it is no longer allowed. The only reason I have been given so far, is it "looks bad". No clients ever come into our office. My immediate colleagues were curious but supportive as I had quit smoking after 14 yrs. I can only think top brass are scared (for some reason, imho they should back the employee and be happy his health has improved) of impending legislation.

My query is, is a ban on vaping any more legal than say, a ban on eating cheese in the workplace? It isn't law, and I am respectful of my colleagues. A cheese eater probably chews loudly and litters. A vaper is more productive without cig breaks, and will live longer.

If my bosses uphold the ban I can see myself being reduced to normal cig habits. I need to throw everything I can at them, please help.

Thanks x

 

[HunterSeeker]

I eat cheese but I dont litter. Well maybe sometimes. Sounds like your kinda stuck, I believe the have that right/power.

 

[MorpheusPA]

+1 Above.

They can ban anything they want to. One place I worked banned pizza. Reason? It's "unhealthy." Apparently more unhealthy than the pastrami sandwiches that were brought in. Whatever.

Their place, their rules.

I'm going to be taking somebody to the hospital for minor outpatient surgery tomorrow. Said hospital bans cigarettes, e-cigs, or even thinking about nicotine while on the premises.

I'll be stealth-vaping in the bathroom.

 

[tonto]

I eat cheese but I dont litter. Well maybe sometimes. Sounds like your kinda stuck, I believe the have that right/power.

I respect your right to eat cheese...

 

[Pentarth]

You're only recourse is to take bathroom breaks and stealth vape in the stall.
If anyone asks why you're taking so many bathroom breaks you put one hand on your belly and tell them .... "musta been that Anchovie Pizza I had last night"

 

[tonto]

{edit}

The stealth vaping or hiding in the bogs isn't really a viable option, I've been doing it for a long time so I can't exactly hide it, if I am forced out of the building the last place I want to vape is where people poo.

What I am going to do is find out exactly who this directive has come from, and educate them. My response will depend on theirs.

Any links that might help would be appreciated. I can see myself turning militant over this. A life saver being prohibited, it's disgraceful.

 

[Bud Man]

I respect your right to eat cheese...

LMAO me too ha for some reason this cracked me up

 

[Erncig]

Its crazy to know that not too long ago in the late 80s/early 90s employees where still allowed to smoke cigarettes indoors at work and the world survived.

I hate this "it looks bad" views, who gives a .... and the ones who do, well screw them up their PC asses.

Unfortunately there will be more of this crap.

Society has changed into whinging soft Politically correct *insert name here* and for those who once dreamed about a world where we could all vape indoors turned out to be just that a.......a dream.

 

[pkj]

You will find some good info here:
CASAA - The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association

Sorry to read about your office issue.

 

[sonicdsl]

Since you're in the UK, try this link: Welcome to ECITA - The Electronic Cigarette Industry Trade Association . They have great information there, and doc's you can print out here: Documents available to download.

 

[Bookworm]

{edit}


Women HR staff have long memories and are vindictive?! Sounds like someone had a bad experience. But that doesn't seem like a very fair statement. The way things are in your workplace isn't the way things are everywhere. Thank goodness.

You're right about the nothing he can do part. I second the bathroom break idea, and I would also take regular breaks outside. Go back to your original habits and they can see how much less work you get done.

 

[dave8944]

I started vaping at work years ago, and no one seemed to mind at first. Then someone read the FDA propaganda report and demanded that I stop vaping in meetings. I think the problem was the visible vapor. Anyway, I did stop for a good long while, but I'm back to vaping without the visible vapor. I'm not real stealthy about it, but I don't exhale visible vapor. People see me sucking on my little stick but that's all. I do cover the light, but I don't try to hide. The guy that complained has never said a word to me about it again, and I vape in every meeting. So, you might have the same luck. They are against you vaping b/c of the visible smoke. Let it go for a while and then see if someone says anything to you when they just see you suck on a tube every once in a while, but never exhale any vapor. It might work for you too.

I'd wager it is someone in your office that complained to HR. They probably didn't just decide one day to make a new rule without prompting.

 

[Berylanna]

I have a lot of managers teasing me because my mod "looks like a b..." -- in California, where we've had medical you-know-what longer than e-cigs, pretty much. If I were at headquarters instead of an engineering facility I could see being told to quit, even outdoors. (At which point I'd go stealth.)

So it might matter a LOT what the visible view is. For some, looking like an e-cig would be a plus (it's not federally illegal....yet) and for others a minus (looks like a combustible.)

I've noticed the least-negative reactions I get are if I vape a cig lookalike with a bright bright light that is green, blue, or purple.
But the battery life sux, so I'm putting up with the teasing.

My newest answer to "that looks like a b..." is "No, it's a Sonic Screwdriver."

 

[PRIMER]

diy MOD time.

 

[Wrangler00]

I wouldn't push the issue if you value your job. We must remember to follow smoking laws even though we don't smoke. Remember 1 bad apple can ruin it for the bunch.

 

[JollyRogers]

In the lab, I just go out to my car and check my cell/e-mail or go out near the smokers if the weather is nice (because I have my bike then). In my office I close the door and vape away. Course my boss and my fellow employees could care less.

 

[Renolizzie]

You are kind of stuck with the rules although going in and asking about the reasoning behind it is definitely an option.

I would get some higher mg nic for y breaks so that a little vaping would go a long ways.

 

[tonto]

I wouldn't push the issue if you value your job. We must remember to follow smoking laws even though we don't smoke. Remember 1 bad apple can ruin it for the bunch.

UPDATE, smoking is completely different and does not follow the same laws.

My work agree, after an entire half hour of wrangling, I got my own way. I may have blinded them with science a bit, but I am now able to vape away at my desk on the proviso I don't do it in training sessions or meetings, which is fine by me. Since, 2 more people in my office have now quit smoking and taken up vapes.

It was one bad apple chonging away in a training situation that ....ed it for us all in the first place.

Job done, quick win, minor victory, whatever you wanna call it, a good outcome.

 

[PVPuff&Stuff]

At my last job the Personnel people were starting to give me a hard time, they relaxed when I told them it was zero nicotine. It wasn't, but they didn't need to know that.

 

[TomCatt]

At my last job the Personnel people were starting to give me a hard time, they relaxed when I told them it was zero nicotine. It wasn't, but they didn't need to know that.

Hmmmm, will have to keep that in mind . I've been vaping away at my desk for the past two years; but while I don't have a door, I don't have anyone around to see me. But if the powers-that-be decide to make a policy, then this is a good option - 'hey, there's no nicotine in this; just PG, VG and some flavoring'