Can I work in a vape shop while pregnant?

[Poppymailaw]

Hello!

So I've recently started working in a vape shop, and I've just found out I'm pregnant! I really need the money and want to continue working for as long as possible + I'm not entitled to maternity leave yet because I've only been there a month...

They don't vape too much in the building but they do sometimes for trying new flavours ect... and I do vape as well because I have recently quit smoke 40 odd a day.... looking to stop everything soon though!

I'm worried when I tell my employer I'm pregnant they will sack me because it could harm my baby, but if I don't stay working there I won't be able to provide for my baby...

Basically is it safe?

I don't think anyone really knows the answer to this yet. My OH works in a vape shop and if a costumer asks about vaping while smoking he says it's not a good idea and its better to be safe than sorry. I doubt having a few costumers vape occasionally will affect you but I'm not a medical person

Vaping while pregnant* 😂

Also you don't have to tell your employer until your 25 weeks

There's not enough research on vaping in pregnancy as it's not been around long enough and it's obviously unethical to research on pregnant women. However, if you told your midwife you smoked then vaping is recommended over smoking. Obliviously neither would be best, but vaping is (currently) seen as the lesser of two evils.

@NotSoThinLizzy @littlemissalwaystired thank you guys, I'll keep that in mind! I will try and hold off telling them yet but will also try and stay away from vape as much as possible!! I'll also talk to my midwife about it when I go next week :)

As the others have said really but I wanted say congratulations on your pregnancy and on cutting down from 40 cigarettes a day, that is an enormous achievement.

The best current advice on vaping in pregnancy and passive vaping can be found on the Smoking In Pregnancy Challenge Group website.

Among other things, there's a very straightforward leaflet for pregnant women endorsed by Royal College of Midwives, ASH, Tommy's and Lullaby Trust.

You can't be fired legally for being pregnant, no matter how long you have worked there. Additionally, your employer is required to conduct a risk assessment as soon as you tell them you are pregnant. If they can't remove a risk they are required to provide alternative work and if they can't do that they are required to allow you to stay at home on full pay. This page outlines your rights.

Congratulations on your pregnancy and on quitting the fags

@EntirelyAnonymised thank you so much!!! And I'm super proud of myself but a healthy baby is worth way more than a cigarette!!!

@PencilsInSpace thank you so much I'll have a look through that, and thank you! Super excited !!