Hi, I've been offered a permanent part-time job at a place where I've worked occasionally as a freelancer for some time.
The pay is good and it's a nice office, where I get on with everyone and the work is enjoyable. I've struggled financially for a while as a freelancer and this security, albeit part time, will really help.
I was there in recent days and a colleague was sitting across the desk from me vaping. I am asthmatic and I started to cough and it triggered a mild asthma attack. I still don't feel right today. This colleague was the person in charge for the night, and I didn't know what to say to him, so I just suffered in silence.
I rang a friend saying I was thinking about bailing out of the job offer because of this. He is not the big boss but the deputy supervisor and he is a really nice bloke and I get on with him well. I don't want to get him into trouble either or be the office "grass" and have everyone hate me!
My friend suggested talking to him about my health issue and saying that I would need to sit a distance away from him if he is vaping at his desk. She said this would be better than going straight to the more senior boss who's offered me the job and saying that this is an issue for me.
I know for a fact that it is not company policy for people to vape inside the office but it seems to be tolerated in this department.
What would you do?