Vaping at work may be banned...

[Silence]

would depend on the lawsuit outcome i would think... If you got fired for violating company rules then no... if the court reverses that then they could be forced to to make all kinds of back unemployment payments if i understand correctly.. now also labor and unemployment laws can change from state to state again if i understand correctly.

 

[moony]

So far vaping is not very widely known or understood. I say keep it low. I know that vaping creates lots of attention. And stupidity is ramped lately... so unless u want to shout loudly before u vape that this is vaping and show ppl facts on what it is before u do in a public place, u will always find an old %@#$ knuckle head that would make false claims, especially when they see the vapor out.
Guess what, as ppl learn more about it .. u will find those few constipated %&#@ still making claims like: it's unsightly, or it encourages smoking, or my kids can't see that as if you are displaying porn or something and they will come up with some ban. It's politics and ignorance at it's best.
Wait until some politicians in cities get wind of that and they would add it in the list of no nos.
I travelled lately. In the airport, waiting for my 5 hour flight, I vaped out in my hot cup of coffee.. didn't need the attention. My e cig, I picked black with a blue light, hold it close to my mouth, inhaled slow and puffed out pretending I am sipping my coffee. It worked even on the plane. All u need is one idiot around where u are who likes to start conflicts to start up.
Don't forget that the word Vaping was not added to the dictionary yet, so the knuckle heads will still call it smoke.

I say to the fellow who is now suspended unfortunately that he needs to get a lawyer but ONLY IF HR would not budge and rectify the matter.. After all you want to play diplomacy and remind ppl that u are not a trouble maker.
For the other fellow who was not suspended or had trouble yet to try to nicely explain to his boss what it is; give him some printed material, and then let him/her know that u will keep it low to avoid idiots.
I am lucky that I have a door to my office and I work with friendly ppl. but still U may have passers by that u need to keep at bay so I still keep it low.
Good luck!!

 

[malarkie]

like the hot coffee trick i was keeping it low. im a welder surrounded by protective blinds. there is smoke and blinding light everywhere and my face is covered....been doing for many months till an idiot turned me in.

there slow right now, not much welding or work and to me it seems there just making up excuses to get rid of me which is fine, i hate the place but im worried i may not get unemployment if im let go for violating company smoking policy. even tho i wasnt, no written e-cig rules or warrning and others are descrimanitly chosen to violate the rules and go smoke real cigs when ever they want.

 

[scion9]

I'm new to this forum and to vaping. Only been off the tobacco for 8 days and counting. I've been keeping it low profile at work as the majority of my coworkers have no idea what e-smoking is all about and I'm in a right to work state.

 

[malarkie]

im also in florida the right to work state.

im on 4 day suspention with a major disiplinary meeting monday where i'm prob gonna loose my job and be denighed unemployment for violating workplace no smoking rules with an e-cig.

 

[martha1014]

My vapor doesn't linger in the air. It dissapates rather quickly. I vape a Little Chuck which produces more vapor than most but it still is not noticeable. If I vape and blow it into my shirt you cannot even see it.

Like I said I vaped in the hospital room and it dissapated so quickly the nurses did to even see it. I did not vape while they were in the room.

 

[ladyraj]

thank you for your time and advice.

i will be talking to a lawyer. what about discriminatly choosing employees who can violate company smoking policy and those employees are allowed to smoke outside when they want.

my copy of warning report clearly says violating company smoking policy and whell alot are allowed to but i wasnt. i was vaping. nothing against it in company handbook or rules.

and no i dont want to go back there the place sucks really bad.

most importantly if i am fired over this when i go back can i still collect unemployment???

Unemployment benefits are much easier to get in this economic times. A lot depends on how long you've been there, what your performance was rated at, if you had any write-ups, etc. You actually have a case for unemployment if the company handbook does not specify using the PV is a smoking infraction.

If you're fired, file for the funds, the company will say you were fired for cause, fight it, then most funds are paid out. Good Luck!

 

[malarkie]

good reply and i feel little better.

you would think any smart company that realizes the the health and productivity benifits of non smoking employees thats easily found everywhere would want to help and encourage and support any and all methods to quit smoking real cigs not punish and suspend those successfully doing it.

 

[BobbiBilbo]

When I first started vaping, I was told not to "do it" at my desk. But, I did anyway. Not heavily, but not hiding, either. A jealous smoker complained and I was given a written warning. Not a write-up, verbal warning in writing. I was told by the supervisor that he checked with HR to confirm e-cigs are not allowed at desks.

I refused to sign the verbal saying I first wanted to see what written policy I was violating. I was again told "HR said e-cigs are not allowed at your desk". I again said I want to know why and I want to know what written policy is being violated.

Nothing was ever presented.

And for a while, I did stop vaping at my desk. Instead, I would take 4 extra restroom breaks everyday. And after a month or so, I have started stealth vaping on an occasional basis.

So far, I have not been "caught".

But I am actually afraid to push too hard for fear that a "no vape" policy will be written. I work in a building with about 800 employees and would guess about 200 smoke. I am the only one using an e-cig. I cannot convert anyone ... yet.

 

[Shortstuff116]

malarkie, you may want to contact your state labor commission. Laws vary from state to state, but the way I see it, you violated absolutely no written company policy. Naturally, to cover their butts, your company will quickly incorporate new rules to include vaping as an unwanted/illegal activity at work but they have got to show proof that you were aware of the "new" rules before you were suspended.

Your labor commission is there to help and assist you. It wouldn't hurt to give them a call and see if you have a leg to stand on with your employer.

To me it's like someone catching me picking my nose at my desk. There are no written policies against it, but it offends people so they'll suspend me for 4 days for it...

It's a free phone call.

 

[malarkie]

ive allready did that. federal and state. florida is a right to work state. you have very little rights as an employee as compared to mass. i'm from mass like you and that state has great laws to protect employees. not so in florida. i can be fired cause i part my hair on the wrong side. really bad employee laws here. yah picking my nose would be cause here in florida so im up against a wall and gonna loose.

 

[Silence]

Ok Update time on this issue.

It has been nearly 2 weeks and I have heard not another word from Management or from HR. So I quietly and continually vape at my desk. No one says anything.

 

[juggalojedi]

i work in a restaurant for the most part i go outside with the analog smokers ... but when in need stealth vape in a smoky kitchen

 

[Silence]

<---- Cubicle enviroment

 

[Bogalu]

When I get my chuck I'm gonna push my luck and see if any of my coworkers have a prob with me vaping while I work. I only have about 8 workers to an 2000 square foot room so theres a lot of open space. lol

 

[DiacetylHorror]

Hello everybody.

I live in Finland and it is sometimes less than -10F outside, but going outside for a vape is not an issue. Personally I think vaping should be done outside until company says it's ok to vape inside ("muggles" think it's smoke and long-term second-hand exposure has not been studied). Are you people not allowed to go outside for a vape (/smoke) or why are you stealth vaping or vaping in a bathroom? Sounds a bit silly to me (no intention to insult anybody).

 

[Silence]

I am only allowed outside one time a day and I smoke/vape a hell of lot more than that. My people don't care about my needs only their money and how they can sqeeze more out of it for less and if that means no breaks then thats what they do. so I decided to start vaping at my desk. BEFORE they could tell me no.

 

[Psyc]

I again said I want to know why and I want to know what written policy is being violated.

Nothing was ever presented.

I had a similar situation where I work. Non-smoker goes on a mission against vapor (more specifically, my vapor, as there are three vapers in the office) and they wanted to quietly err on the side of caution. I asked for a written rule and they refused outright to even send out a company-wide email let alone incorporate it into official policy. No one actually would talk to me in person about it, either.

I'm still vaping inside, but now also taking breaks outside. Somehow, this has kept everyone happy. It's basically a big joke.

 

[alesie]

gladly i have a little office myself at work and sneaky smoke there

 

[TaketheRedPill]

malarkie, you may want to contact your state labor commission. Laws vary from state to state, but the way I see it, you violated absolutely no written company policy.

most non-union employers are not required to have written company policies

TTRP