E-cigarettes
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In the past, the topic of e-cigarettes has come up on the Forum... specifically, whether employees would be allowed to use them in areas that would otherwise be non-smoking.
I noticed the North Dakota Employment Law Letter covered the new non-smoking law in that state, and that the law specifically included a ban on e-cigarettes. Has the issue been raised with anyone here? I've had one employee talk about it in a semi-joking manner, but she's historically the type to really push the rules and I dread the day she takes one out of her purse in the lunchroom.
I noticed the North Dakota Employment Law Letter covered the new non-smoking law in that state, and that the law specifically included a ban on e-cigarettes. Has the issue been raised with anyone here? I've had one employee talk about it in a semi-joking manner, but she's historically the type to really push the rules and I dread the day she takes one out of her purse in the lunchroom.
Comments
We are based in Nevada, but have locations in California, New Mexico, and the Washington DC area. The policy is the same everywhere. **==
I know I'm spending a lot of time obsessing about a question I haven't even been asked, but it's what I do...
The question first came up in August 2011, and came up again in February 2012. Both our legal department and medical department weighed in on this issue. The Medical Director stated that, "...research indicates there could be some issues with using this product in close proximity to other people. The concern being there are chemicals within the gases that could be harmful to other[s]." Our Chief Counsel commented that they have not been proven safe therefore should be treated like other cigarettes.
I hope this helps. **==
In case anyone is still wrestling with this issue, [I]South Carolina Employment Law Letter[/I] editor Reggie Gay has written a piece about [B]e-cigarettes[/B] that was picked up and published in today's [I]HR Hero Line[/I] electronic newsletter. Hope this helps.