Vaping at work

[delta_deacon]

What are your experiences with being allowed to vape at work? I'm in manufacturing, and refrained from vaping at my desk during the day, but would vape on the shop floor. Nobody had a problem for about a week and a half, then the VP of operations got on my case because it "looked like I was smoking" (I stopped myself from saying he looked like he was "being a jack-wagon").


Anyways, we have no company policy on this, and I’ve been invited to a meeting with the company president this week to present while I believe vaping should be allowed in the shop.

My points will be:

1. There is no second-hand risk associated with vaping (I could use some data to back this up)

1. Vaping lowers health risk compared to smoking, better health for employees can mean lowered absenteeism and potentially lower health care cost.

1. Vaping on the shop floor, compared to vaping in the smoking area, will mean increased productivity (no “smoke” breaks)

1. Those attempting to quit smoking with vaping should not be forced to subject themselves to second hand smoke to vape.

I eagerly welcome any input for other ideas I can present.

Thanks.

 

[charmschool]

You actually still HAVE a "smoking area"? Good lord man, count your blessings. My company has a "zero nicotine" policy, campus wide. Smokers, dippers, chewers, vapers, all of us have to get in our cars & leave company property to imbibe.

 

[WattWick]

... firing up that diesel engine to go vape... brilliant!

My boss don't mind. And he's an ex 24/7 cigar smoker. I still go outside tho. I solve problems better when I'm not looking at them. And he knows I work like that.

 

[Kevio]

I work in a photography studio that is corporate owned, so I definitely cannot freely vape in front of customers, nor would I do so even if I could, but I do make frequent bathroom visit in order to get my nicotine fix.

 

[Kanj.nguyen]

I vape when teaching a class, nobody has any problem. Some of my students actually got curious and wanted to get into vaping, opening up the possibility of them quitting smoking. That should be a good point.

You can also argue that pure nicotine is comparable to caffeine in terms of effects on human body, and coffee is allowed in the work place.

In a debate type situation, you should also anticipate what your opponent may say. Think about what points your boss might have to say that vaping is bad in the work place. Of course, they could just be like "we just dont want you to vape", which sounds ridiculous and baseless, but they have the rights to say such things.

However, i highly doubt the company president would give such a point, especially in the face of your valid logical points. He is the president after all, and would hate to look stupid.

 

[SheSwizzy]

I vape at work all the time. I have yet to have a negative comment about me doing it. I've been awaiting some sort of comment about how I can't but its been a month now and still nothing. I started out by still going outside, but I live near chicago and it gets cold having to pop outside all the time. So until I get told no, I will continue to vape inside at work.

 

[Uncle Sam]

I think it will be a long time before vaping publically in the workplace is acceptable, if ever. Sure, there are many arguments for doing it, but the fact remains, people WILL be of the opinion that you are contributing negatively to their health. No good.

Luckily for me, I have a huge private office, so I can puff away with impunity, but I wouldn't even think of chiefing it up in front of my clients!

VAPE ON!! - but don't be a jerk about it.

 

[M-Coder]

I have my own office so I vape away, but if I didn't I don't think I'd push vaping in common areas. Like it or not, it looks a little strange to non-vapers. I'd try to find the least used bathroom stall.

 

[SheSwizzy]

I think it will be a long time before vaping publically in the workplace is acceptable, if ever. Sure, there are many arguments for doing it, but the fact remains, people WILL be of the opinion that you are contributing negatively to their health. No good.

Luckily for me, I have a huge private office, so I can puff away with impunity, but I wouldn't even think of chiefing it up in front of my clients!

VAPE ON!! - but don't be a jerk about it.

Agreed! I wouldn't even think of vaping in front of clients. And I don't just walk around vaping my little heart out either. I try to find small areas where I may be alone or with just a few co workers. I do vape on lunch in our break room, but also not while anyone is eating either. I think it just comes down to smart consideration for those around you.

 

[RosaJ]

Here's a link to the result of Dr. Konstatinos' study of ecigs and its effect on cardiovascular system: Dr. Konstantinos Farsalinos at ESC2012 - The Effects of Electronic Cigarettes on Myocardial Function - YouTube

There is also another study made of second hand vapor that I don't have on hand, maybe someone else has it and can post a link to it. Also, CASAA has a pamphlet and other documents on vaping and ecigs.

Good luck to you! I don't think this issue will be put to rest until someone takes their employer to court for forcing them to return to cigarettes or to exposure to second hand smoke.

 

[jfalbanese]

legal channels are always the most painful road to take. but when these become mainstream you can bet some savvy lawyer will take up just this kind of case. class actions against the government are definitely coming. and the great thing about this family we have, we are getting organized by being involved with these forums. as a group we all can be a voice for positive change. and get involved with spreading the word. joining lawsuits, and staying informed. thats why i became a supporting member the first week.it's been a long time coming since there was something that gave me hope for a longer life. these things can completely change the demographics of the medical industry, and hit big tobacco right where they belong. they do share responsibility for killing us, and our family's.

 

[Tonyctitan]

My boss gave me a hard time but I switched to flavored liquids and and I was puffing away on blueberry from altsmoke. She seems to like the fragrance.

 

[Marc Dixon]

Just be stealthy and hold it in till there's no vase on an exhale. I work in a small laboratory of three so I just vape away. I cape on the NYC subway and I vape in the street. It's great. No one cares.

 

[gcvt]

I have my own office which makes it easier. My boss has seen me vape and he doesn't seem to care. Never bothered to check if there was a company policy dealing with this. The only policy I know of is that smokers must go outside to smoke.

 

[frosting]

I think it comes down the nature of your work, if your boss cares or not. Few places even have no policies. My job explicitly states anything tobacco related on the job can get me instantaneously fired unless a family states their personal approval often in a formal letter of such permission. However I'm involved in the medical field so I expected this entirely getting involved with in home care. At times I can scoop out to my car briefly... so I will survive.

 

[thisbebakes]

I would think as long as your place of employment doesn't already have a policy prohibiting the use of tobacco and you're courteous to others needs then you should be alright. But the arguments you provided along with some of the points others have shared should get you through that meeting with your company president.

 

[djm320005]

I work in a small engineering group and I have never had a problem with vaping in the office. I do keep it in my cubicle and blow my vape downwards so as not to have big billowing clouds rolling out of my area tho. Almost everyone I work with has seen me vape and they have all reacted to it very positively.

 

[blueish]

I work retail, but in a management position. I vape freely in my office with my bosses permission. But I do not vape anywhere else in the building.

 

[Series2]

Here in the UK, the (shortened) word of the law is that smoking is "the burning of tobacco, or tobacco-like substances". I've found most pubs/bars don't object, my current employer allows vaping in the warehouse and office areas as long as co-workers don't object, but not in the canteen or toilet areas. This seems to be a responsible attitude.

 

[lladnar550]

I vape away at the office. Didn't ask the boss when I started, but waited for him to see me doing it. Knew he wouldn't care. He caught on to the fact that I was vaping, not from seeing me vape, but from not smelling tobacco on me everyday. Asked me about it, told him that I had switched, and he was more than happy to let me vape on in the office. Mean fewer smoke breaks, and more productivity in his eyes, plus my doc has classified me as a non smoker, meaning in another 3 months my insurance rate (which the company pays 100% of) will drop. He even pushed me to try and introduce the few other smokers at the office to vaping. (I have had limited success in this, none of them have completely given up analogs).

At customer sites (I am a network analyst, so I am often at clients) I only vape when I know they have a policy that permits it. One of my customers is a cigarette company that still allows smoking indoors. Oddly, they have given me the hardest time about it, jokingly calling me a traitor. lol I do stealth vape in restrooms in sites that don't allow or frown on the practice of vaping. I keep several cards with me from different sites that I order supplies from that explain what vaping is. When someone asks me about it, I explain it, and drop a card with them.