Even though e-cigs were created to aid combustible cigarette smokers in quitting smoking since these intuitive devices first hit the market, manufacturers and vapers have faced discrimination and strict regulations; even more so than the smoking population. Despite the fact that the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom promotes and supports the use of e-cigs as a means to quit combustible cigarettes and as a successful harm reduction method, hard-working members of the population reported in a recent e-cig study survey that they have lost their jobs for vaping while at work, while their smoking counterparts have not.
The study
Vaping retailer E-cigarette Direct carried out a nationwide survey entitled, “Vaping in the Workplace Study” which analyzed the reports of over 1900 respondents, 224 of which claimed to face discrimination because of vaping at their workplace and 13 reporting job termination.
The average member of society will spend a third of their waking lives at work, and the environment they work in, the people they work with, and the rules they work under have a huge influence on their health and happiness, explained James Dunworth, chairman of E-Cigarette Direct.
The results
In contrast to smoking, in the UK people are legally allowed to vape inside or employers must provide them with an outdoor environment that’s smoke-free. The e-cig study reported that over 75% of vapers were not allowed to vape at work unless they used the designated smoking area, which undermines their ability to remain smoke-free and, of course, exposes them to all the harmful side effects of secondhand smoke.
Key findings from the results:
- Most vaping restrictions are imposed on those who work in finance, banking, and insurance (88 people) followed by government, health, and education (86 people), and then construction (44 people).
- Most of the reported job terminations were within the government, education, health, and defense sectors.
- 17% working in the real estate sector have considered changing their job because of vaping restrictions and bullying.
- Of the 224 reports, men were more likely to report being discriminated against.
- Almost 1 in 5 vapers said that vaping restrictions would make it more likely for them to return to smoking
What did you find most interesting about the above data? Does it reflect how you or vaping colleagues are treated in your workplace? Drop a comment below to share with other readers.
