Using these vapor cigs in the workplace

[lilypie13]

Hi looking for some advice

I'm a manager in a healthcare setting and I was told in confidence about another staff member using a vaper cig on business premises during working hours.

I support the fact that they are trying to quit smoking but I think this is overstepping the mark abit, I need to contact hr tomorrow but just wanted some opinion on whether I'm just being unreasonable ?

Vaping in the workplace isn't allowed where I work as it 'appears to normalise smoking in the workplace, may make those who DO smoke feel discriminated against & the fact that some e-cigs look like 'normal' cigarettes may make it look to others that smoking is allowed'.

Defo not unreasonable. How daft of them to think that is ok.

Just to add - some of our staff weren't vaping to quit. They were doing it so they COULD 'smoke' in work - or so they thought.

Thank you , as a non smoker I was worried I was being ott but the more I think of it the more I am cross that they thought that was ok !

I don't think its unreasonable to say it isn't allowed but I think being cross about it is a bit OTT unless you already have a policy saying it isn't allowed. Which I'm guessing you don't? You need to put a policy or at least send a team email saying that it isn't allowed with immediate effect.

Seeing as I believe they're legal to use in enclosed spaces then if they haven't been told they could currently argue that they couldn't be expected to know.

isn't allowed were I work.

I will get a policy sorted first thing tomorrow.

Useful guidance from ASH here.