Vaping is Evaporating

“I know we can’t smoke at work but I have two employees that believe vaping is okay.”

Your HR Survival Tip

Vaping is the use of e-cigarettes and vaping devices that may or may not contain nicotine. This has certainly been a gray area since vaping became more popular. However, laws eventually catch up.

On 6/9/2016, a new California law related to smoking and vaping goes into effect. Regulations include:

• If an e-cigarette or vaping device contains nicotine, it will be banned in the same way cigarettes have been.
• Many of the locations that have been available for smokers to use are being banned, such as in bars, hotel lobbies, warehouse facilities and employer-designated break rooms for smoking.
• Owner-operated businesses are also excluded from allowing smoking. Yes, I believe this may include your shop even if you work alone.
• Other than active military personnel, you will have to be 21 years old to smoke or purchase related products.

Unsurprisingly, the FDA (federal Food and Drug Administration) is also extending its authority. The FDA’s reach will now include regulating electronic nicotine delivery systems (such as e-cigarettes and vape pens), all cigars, and hookah (waterpipe) tobacco, pipe tobacco and nicotine gels.

Even if you have employees using nicotine-free e-cigarette and vaping devices, it’s time to send them outside the workplace. I doubt other people can tell whether or not it’s nicotine free, which means you need a method for ensuring this if you continue to allow “smoking” inside the premises.