Yet Again Another Do Vape At Work Thread With a Twist

[Mohamed]

In all honesty I want to know what companies...especially bigger companies that openly allow vaping. Not that "they don't have anything in the employee hand book yet"...but that openly say vaping is ok.

I know this is going to be hard and if one of you knows of away to allow a poll where usernames are anonymous I would like to know. I'm moving from a 50+ sized company to probably a 250,000+ size company a major change for me. I'd kind of like to start a list like the one below to say...see these guys are for it. If you feel comfortable posting where you work especially if it's a major company and their stance on vaping either opposed/(unsure at the moment it's allowed but who knows)/In Favor of. Even if you don't work for them but know with 99.9% certainty I'd like a post. Better yet if your shy about it a link saying they are opposed/unsure/infavor would be great too if that is on the internet. Again if you know of anonymous way of doing this let me know. I'd like to go that route as I think most people feel uncomfortable saying who they work for along with the companies opinion. It would be great if we could say Microsoft, Apple, GM, Ford, etc said it was ok...some big name companies. Not sure that's going to happen or be on the list but it would be nice.

Off the top of my head this is all I got.
Opposed:
Walmart
Start Bucks
CVS

Unsure:
?

In Favor of:
?

 

[StevenServo]

i think you will find opposition in most companies that deal directly with customers retail, banking, etc.

 

[Mohamed]

i think you will find opposition in most companies that deal directly with customers retail, banking, etc.

I would think so too...but I'm thinking of more of the accountants/programmers/payroll/it guys/ I don't know the behind the scenes type of people that aren't dealing in retail or customers on a day to day basis. I can see if it's offensive to customers that it would not be allowed. But if it's behind "closed" doors would they openly allow it? Or has the world become to PC to even allow such a thing openly? Sorry come from the days where smoking was allowed in office...just wondering if there is a chance the pendulum would swing back in that direction with vaping?

 

[JoeDerty]

Publix supermarket already has it in there hand book no vaping inside

 

[Jonathan Tittle]

I would gather to say that any company that deals with food, whether it's factory fresh (kind of a joke, I know), packaging etc - you might as well count them out. Even if the boss / supervisor is on-board, the health department isn't going to be and when it comes to corporations, the health department governs what you can do inside the workplace as far as food goes. Any potential contaminant = bad rating = lost business if they have to halt production, toss it out because of the smallest potential, etc.

Anything that deals with people, you may want to X that out too, such as and not limited to banks, insurance companies, retail, clothing (unless it's an underground store - like skate shops). I'd say tattoo parlors would be more open as most of them smoke anyway and honestly, it's their shop. If they smoke and you don't like it, they'll kindly ask you to go elsewhere. Now smoking while piercing is a different story - they should be wearing gloves and when handling sterile needles, like they're supposed to use, they shouldn't be doing anything.

Unfortunately, for now, vaping is being given a horrible rap inside buildings and it's most likely going to stay that way until people wake up.

 

[crxess]

With one respect to Business, Vaping is no different than smoking.

It interferes with productivity. In an ever shrinking economy every smart business is looking at productivity standards to maximize profitability.

 

[Jonathan Tittle]

With one respect to Business, Vaping is no different than smoking.

It interferes with productivity. In an ever shrinking economy every smart business is looking at productivity standards to maximize profitability.

Agreed. It sucks, but if you average a 12 hour shift and are a normal smoker who takes a smoke break every 30-45 minutes to an hour and the average break is 5 minutes, that's 1+ hours a day that the company you work for is basically paying you to smoke. They allow you to take them, so they're paying you for it. That's over 5 hours a week, 20 hours a month and 240 hours a year. I'm only doing the math because I'm sure companies do the same - they have to be able to, otherwise so many companies wouldn't push and force productivity standards.

So if you're a $10/hour employee (average for some factory and entry level jobs), they're paying you $2,400 a year to smoke. For a lower-pay non-smoker (~$9/hour), that's 1/8th their average income.


Since most places aren't going to allow vaping indoors, you're forced outside. Again, it sucks, but there's not going to be any way around it with some work environments. Sterile & Food is always going to be a no in this day and age. Move back 50-60 years ago, people smoked on the line while flipping your burgers.

 

[Mohamed]

With one respect to Business, Vaping is no different than smoking.

It interferes with productivity. In an ever shrinking economy every smart business is looking at productivity standards to maximize profitability.

I am a programmer. As said I worked for a very small company 50+. I had pretty much all the job security I needed and just vaped at desk stealthy and no one said anything. I told a few people but no one cared. Being in late 50's and moving to a big company I'm not going to risk that especially since I'm going to be the new guy.

As for productivity it's 5 mins less out of every hour that I have to go outside. I would think a lot of companies would feel that way. At old job we even had a few complain that smokers got too many breaks. I explained it to boss in these terms...It's a way for me to break away from a problem and look at in a different perspective. It's even a way for me to get input from others on how to solve a particular problem. We aren't wasting time we are talking about work and collaborating on how to solve certain issues. Sure we BS from time to time...but for most part I thought smoking was productive just to step away from the puzzle and to come back with a fresh look. No sense in beating head and hands on keboard for 4 hours until lunch when 5 mins talking about it could solve the issue.

So productivity and maximizing profitability I guess mean different things depending on you look at things. Is it the pure amount of hours you spend at your desk or is it the amount and quality that you bring to the table at the end of the day?

With vaping I still go out from time to time to socialize but I also don't find the urge to go out every hour? Seems like a fine line to me?

 

[Mohamed]

I am a programmer. As said I worked for a very small company 50+. I had pretty much all the job security I needed and just vaped at desk stealthy and no one said anything. I told a few people but no one cared. Being in late 50's and moving to a big company I'm not going to risk that especially since I'm going to be the new guy.

As for productivity it's 5 mins less out of every hour that I have to go outside. I would think a lot of companies would feel that way. At old job we even had a few complain that smokers got too many breaks. I explained it to boss in these terms...It's a way for me to break away from a problem and look at in a different perspective. It's even a way for me to get input from others on how to solve a particular problem. We aren't wasting time we are talking about work and collaborating on how to solve certain issues. Sure we BS from time to time...but for most part I thought smoking was productive just to step away from the puzzle and to come back with a fresh look. No sense in beating head and hands on keboard for 4 hours until lunch when 5 mins talking about it could solve the issue.

So productivity and maximizing profitability I guess mean different things depending on you look at things. Is it the pure amount of hours you spend at your desk or is it the amount and quality that you bring to the table at the end of the day?

With vaping I still go out from time to time to socialize but I also don't find the urge to go out every hour? Seems like a fine line to me?

This may be a completely different story on a factory line where x hours = y widgets. And if your gone your making less widgets...?

 

[stevegmu]

I work for a manufacturing giant. It is a closed facility- no public on the grounds or inside. No vaping allowed; it looks like smoking. I do get a tobacco-free credit on my health insurance, though as they don't consider it a tobacco product.

If smoking were allowed and I tried to tell my bosses I would not have to leave every hour to smoke if I could just vape, Id be fired for taking unauthorized breaks...

 

[Subdivisions]

I'd say start dropping your nicotine level and get used to not vaping at work. I've noticed that I don't need a smoke break nearly as much as I did when I was smoking.

Being an engineer and doing a lot of embedded controller programming I understand what you're talking about with the stepping away. I do the same thing when I'm in a bind and find that it helps immensely with clearing your head and figuring out the problems you're dealing with, whether it's going out for a vape or taking a [edited]. I work for a small company and have my own office so I suppose I can't relate too well to what you're going to have to deal with but I wish you all the luck in your new position and don't [edited] it up Bro!!!!

 

[crxess]

either you all are the luckiest around or things just have not changed for you yet.
12hr shift 7a.m. - 7p.m.
9:50 - 10:05 First Break
1:15 - 1:55 Lunch Break
4:15 - 4:30 Last Break
At no time shall an associate stop production before the Break bell. This may be grounds for immediate dismissal.

Sadly more and more US Companies are going to more of a China model in the workplace.

For me the simplest solution has been self discipline. Not an easy task and not something I enjoy or would expect from anyone else but simply my way of dealing and retaining employment.

 

[Mohamed]

either you all are the luckiest around or things just have not changed for you yet.
12hr shift 7a.m. - 7p.m.
9:50 - 10:05 First Break
1:15 - 1:55 Lunch Break
4:15 - 4:30 Last Break
At no time shall an associate stop production before the Break bell. This may be grounds for immediate dismissal.

Sadly more and more US Companies are going to more of a China model in the workplace.

For me the simplest solution has been self discipline. Not an easy task and not something I enjoy or would expect from anyone else but simply my way of dealing and retaining employment.

For the luckiest I tend to agree. I see a lot of people on here saying they can vape at work. As for the rigid timeline structure you outline that may apply to your type of work and I'm not sure what line of work you are in...but most environments I've been in it's pretty flexible when you take a break. Matter fact some people show up between 6 and 9 and leave accordingly when they get their time in. Most of the people in my line of work are salary and not hourly. The company expects you to meet deadlines regardless if that takes you 40 hours or 70 hours a week. Most of the time it's 40-45 but a few times out of the year they expect that urgency and 70 hour work weeks. Being salary you don't get paid any more or any less it's just expected. That being said most of those type of jobs give you a little more flexibility in when you get in and when you leave and when you can and can not take breaks.

EDIT: For the most part they don't care how many hours you are putting in...they care that you are getting the job done and getting that job done to high standards.

 

[Cptfunpants]

I would imagine any restaurants would not allow it either.

 

[Mohamed]

I guess this thread is getting slightly off topic from what I had intended. I was actually hoping some of you that work for a company or know of company that openly allows/supports ecigs to post that especially if they are bigger type company like Afliac, McDonalds, ExxonMobil, etc...one of the big ones out there. In my initial post I know of 3 that outright ban it on their premises...was just hoping for a list that openly supports it...maybe none of the bigger companies openly support it all?

Even if it's a "Yeah the smokers have to go 100 ft from building...but they allow vaping just outside the side door" type of thing.

 

[Koudotai]

I work in a corporate office for a Bank with at least 1000+ employees in our building. It's treated pretty close to smoking with a little bit more freedom. We can't vape anywhere indoors. Have to wait for our appointed breaks. The upside is that the smokers are limited to only two designated smoking areas outside on the property where as those who vape can freely do it anywhere outside. Honestly, i feel it'd be a bother if the guy sitting next to me was constantly blowing clouds anyway.

 

[ScottP]

Well I work in Houston, Tx. My immediate supervisor, lives in Italy. His manager lives in Austin and her manager lives in California. I work from home a lot of the time. Bottom line, I have no idea what if any policy there is.

 

[Mohamed]

I always held it in and almost no vape came out. I was in a situation where each person had there own cubicle with a only a "door-way" type entrance. So if you attempted to be stealthy no one would know.

I haven't been to new place yet but from what I hear it's a bit more of an open environment 10 or to a sectioned off cubicle walls rather than one person per cubicle so probably not appropriate there.

I'm kind of curious with the hourly vs salary issue. I assume hourly people are maybe subjected to you break at 10:00 1:00, 3:00 etc. Are any of you in the salary world subjected to such rigid breaks or was I just truly lucky at my old job? I guess I'll find out on Monday when I start my new job where I fall as I moved to hourly due to about a 50% bump from my salary job...assuming I work the average 45 hours I have been doing.

 

[stevegmu]

I am on salary( I always get paid for 86.7 hours twice a month) , but I do get paid for overtime- time and a half over 40 hours in a week and double time on Sundays; pretty sure most people in manufacturing these days are- at least for large companies. I have to leave the property to vape. I usually take my 30 minute break whenever I can get someone to watch my line or If I am between orders and my 10 minute breaks whenever I get a chance. No set break times.

 

[Mohamed]

I am on salary( I always get paid for 86.7 hours twice a month) , but I do get paid for overtime- time and a half over 40 hours in a week and double time on Sundays; pretty sure most people in manufacturing these days are- at least for large companies. I have to leave the property to vape. I usually take my 30 minute break whenever I can get someone to watch my line or If I am between orders and my 10 minute breaks whenever I get a chance. No set break times.

At old salary job there was no such thing as overtime. You did what you had to do to get the job done on time. As said most weeks that's 40-45. But sometimes that's 70 hour weeks. I guess it wasn't a matter of how many hours you put in but a matter of if you got the job done that mattered. To them they didn't care if you worked through your lunch or you took an hour and half lunch. At the end of the day if you got your job done they were happy and you kept your job.

Also if you came in at 6 and left at 3 or came in at 7 and left at 4, 8-5, 9-6, 10-7, etc they didn't care. You were hired and expected to get X done. If you didn't get X done you were canned. Why I said sometimes you spent 70-80 hours to get X done...it was just expected. You don't get paid more or less it was just expected. If you take a 5 min smoke break or a 30 min smoke break most people didn't care. It was the hourly people that alway's seemed to gripe about things and make it more difficult for breaks.

I don't see it every happening but maybe if we paid people on what they accomplished and what they got done rather than on hours we would see more productivity.

Again this thread is derailed all together At this point I'm assuming no major company has openly supported vaping.