Vaping at work- did I just give them a reason to write a policy?

[autobiogphnation]

So a little background first: I work as a repair technician for electronic devices related to the machine tool industry. I'm in a unventilated warehouse that only has heat and I have two box fans for the summer when the warehouse can reach up to about 100°F or more. My only relief is to go into the office which has air conditioning. I have a desk in there, but I never use it as is rather just do everything out at my work bench.

So I quit smoking and started vaping about 8 months ago. Mainly because Chicago winters are brutal and I hated going outside to have to smoke even in the summer because the sun is always so hot and there's no shade around the building. I have vaped in the warehouse with no issues. I only vape in the warehouse, never in the offices. I try to be considerate about who is walking by my area as well and don't vape if people are near by and I don't know their opinion of it. Thus far no one has ever said anything bad, most people have been curious and ask me about it. A year or two back one of the ladies up front had a heart attack and had to stop smoking so she was vaping in our showroom (provided no one was there with customers).

Today I'm sitting at my bench finishing some paperwork and the controller comes up to me because he has something to give me back and then he asks "what are you smoking?" He didn't sound really mad or anything so I told him a ecig. He says "I don't think you're suppose to be doing that in here" to which my response was that it is not illegal and that there isn't any policy prohibiting it in our employee handbook. He didn't seem to thrilled so I followed up with that I don't do it that often (which is true, I have work to do so I don't chain vape all day) and that I pretty considerate of the others around when I do it. He walked away and didn't say anything else, didn't say that I should stop or anything.

What do you think of how I handled it? I'm the only one who vapes at my work. There are 3 people who smoke,who take multiple breaks through the day to go outside to light up. Whereas I can just keep working as I vape if I need a fix.

Anyone think I have anything to worry about?

 

[Equilibrium]

I probably would have left out the "not illegal" part but other than that I believe you're alright.

I guess time will tell what the 'higher ups' do about it.

 

[crxess]

Yep, the last thing to say in justification is - It is not illegal - instantly people assume you are up to something.

The correct answer should always start with I'm not smoking anything. I quit smoking XXX ago.
Then maybe - This is a vaporizer.
(It helps keep the cravings away)
(reduces the stress of quitting)
(XXXXXXXXXXXX)
(XXXXXXXXXXXX)

Pick one or fill in -

 

[K_Tech]

I think you're okay, since it's not officially prohibited by company policy. Hopefully they'll just let it go instead of revising their policy.

Fingers crossed!

 

[cbrite]

Guess you will have to wait and see. He probably went back to his office and read the policy statement though.

 

[cocacola31173]

Sorry to say they will probably tell you to quit. Or else the other smokers will complain cause they allow you to do that and they have to go outside.

 

[autobiogphnation]

Guess you will have to wait and see. He probably went back to his office and read the policy statement though.

He actually went back to microwave his pizza bites for lunch lol

 

[autobiogphnation]

Sorry to say they will probably tell you to quit. Or else the other smokers will complain cause they allow you to do that and they have to go outside.

The people who smoke don't complain. The all have been curious and asked me a lot of questions about vaping because they see the stuff when I have it shipped to my work, so they seem to not really care that they have to go outside. The one guy is looking into starting to vape

 

[mightymen]

Vaping is NEW though your right at this time don't buck the system and go with the flow, I wouldn't have started knowing it would cause frictions though I would take breaks like your fellow works do.

Going against popular belief and opinions right now and IMO we will lose, just look how they pass regulations and laws with Ecigs already.

 

[Despraci]

The "not illegal" comment comes off as cocky. It may not be illegal, but all it takes is to rub somebody the wrong way and it may not be illegal, but there may be a policy soon that can get you fired. And I know employees love to get bosses fired when given the chance, especially if they don't like them. It's call possibility for advancement within the company.

 

[mightymen]

I suggest doing your research and find out if anywhere you work are there new laws/regs that classify ecig with cigs in local, state laws especially in the town/county you work.

 

[WattWick]

Think I would have snuck in something about passive vaping. Or rather the lack thereof.

 

[autobiogphnation]

I suggest doing your research and find out if anywhere you work are there new laws/regs that classify ecig with cigs in local, state laws especially in the town/county you work.

Only law is the Chicago ecig ban where smoking is prohibited, but luckily I do not work or live in the city. I'm in the suburbs.

I'm not too worried right now. I've seen the controller a few more times through the day already and he's been fine, hasn't said anything else. He's the type of guy that of he was against it he'd have said something right there when he saw it. Plus he'd never do anything without talking to the GM because the GM is a micromanager who thinks he is better than everyone so he had the employee handbook written up by a lawyer... Were a small company of about 20 people... It's stupid the way he handle things.... Doesn't really have people skills

 

[Spencer87]

I don't think he would care too much. But my opinions are that no one should care and if you try to restrict my vaping to a point that I find ridiculous.... I'm gunna tear u a new one, verbally

 

[Shootist]

First mistake.

First words out of your mouth should of been "I'm not smoking anything" because you weren't smoking.

Second words out of your mouth should of been " I'm using My personal Vaporizer". Not "An E-Cigarette". The word Cigarette carries with it the thought of Analog Tobacco cigarettes and SMOKE, Burning, Fire Hazard.

Second mistake.

Never bring up company policy or that it isn't covered in the company handbook or that it isn't illegal. There are tons of things that are completely legal that companies don't allow on their premises.


Did you cause yourself and others that may start vaping instead of smoking that now work for or will be working for that company in the future?
That depends on the person you were talking to, what they do and who they tell or complain to and what their recommendation might be about a vaping policy. Although they will phrase Vaping as "Smoking" an Electronic Cigarette because of your reference.
I say yes you might of cause some trouble.

I would go to that person tomorrow and explain what he saw you doing is not smoking, IE Nothing is burning, there is no fire hazard. What he saw was water VAPOR not smoke being exhaled by you and it wasn't a Cigarette, electronic or otherwise. it was a "Personal Vaporizer". Also state that you don't take breaks like the people that smoke cigarettes do.

 

[Shootist]

Vaping is NEW though your right at this time don't buck the system and go with the flow, I wouldn't have started knowing it would cause frictions though I would take breaks like your fellow works do.

Going against popular belief and opinions right now and IMO we will lose, just look how they pass regulations and laws with Ecigs already.

I find this completely wrong. I am not smoking anything and I will not be grouped with people that still smoke, Burn, tobacco or use tobacco in any form.

If we, as a group, a community, allow this thing of grouping us in with people that still Burn tobacco it will only reinforce the ANTZ and the general opinion that it is the same. It isn't.

Let the News media call it whatever they like but WE have to stop calling it, referring to it as, E-Cigarettes.

What I'm vaping right now doesn't look anything like a cigarette.

Of course all of the above is my opinion and how I deal with it. YMMV.

 

[twassell]

That's lame. I know I used to be able to vape at work, and I would try to not do it in front of everyone, but eventually other employees saw me and now I am not allowed to. I work at a library.

 

[TheJakeBailey]

I work in a very busy building. I would say it's part office/customer area, and part body shop. I've been told a couple of times by a direct supervisor that he doesn't care if I vape in the back while waiting for an estimate to be reviewed etc. I decline and go outside. The door is 10 feet away. Why? Other people are constantly in and out. A lot of them I know, a lot of them I don't. I work for a very large corporation, and most of the people higher than local management, I wouldn't recognize by face. The last thing I need is to have someone from HR that I don't know coming in and writing a bunch of new rules because of me. It's not that big of a deal to walk the 10 feet.

On the other hand, I vape all the time while I'm driving my company car. (I often drive over an hour to get to an inspection) We are expressly forbidden from smoking in them, and that would be a final warning. I feel that I can claim ignorance once BECAUSE we have no written policy about e-cigarettes. I would rather use my get out of jail free card in that situation (if i had to) then at the office where I can just go outside.

 

[Susan~S]

I work in a very busy building. I would say it's part office/customer area, and part body shop. I've been told a couple of times by a direct supervisor that he doesn't care if I vape in the back while waiting for an estimate to be reviewed etc. I decline and go outside. The door is 10 feet away. Why? Other people are constantly in and out. A lot of them I know, a lot of them I don't. I work for a very large corporation, and most of the people higher than local management, I wouldn't recognize by face. The last thing I need is to have someone from HR that I don't know coming in and writing a bunch of new rules because of me. It's not that big of a deal to walk the 10 feet.

On the other hand, I vape all the time while I'm driving my company car. (I often drive over an hour to get to an inspection) We are expressly forbidden from smoking in them, and that would be a final warning. I feel that I can claim ignorance once BECAUSE we have no written policy about e-cigarettes. I would rather use my get out of jail free card in that situation (if i had to) then at the office where I can just go outside.

SMART! You looked at the big picture and evaluated the best way to handle things in your situation. We all have to pick our own battles.

 

[Asbestos4004]

The guy vaping in the library cracked me up