Watford Observer article on worker sacked for vaping at work

[Dingbat]

I wonder if this will turn into a test case over the legality of vaping at work?

In the first case of its type the rights of employees to use e-cigarettes is to be examined in an Employment Tribunal after a worker was sacked for using one at work.

The waste disposal company Viridor, which had no policy on e-cigarettes, sacked 55-year-old Paul Scott who was using one while he was operating a truck in the compost area of a landfill.

Mr Scott, who had been working for Viridor since 2007, has filed a claim for unfair dismissal. He had been a 20-a-day tobacco smoker for the past 40 years before he turned to e-cigarettes.

The cigarette look-a-like products produce a nicotine vapour without the tar, carcinogens or fire risk caused by burning tobacco.

Mr Scott said: "By the time I was sacked I had completely switched to e-cigarettes. I had stopped wheezing and coughing and my breathing was a damned sight better”. However the stress of being sacked has now led him to start using tobacco again.

And you can vote on there to agree/disagree with vaping in the workplace, too.

http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/10849600.Smoking_e_cigarettes_at_work_sparks_row/

 

[frank 133]

Its a hard decision to make,was he right or wrong,if he had asked his employer if it was okay,he would know were he stood.
I don't think it is right that a vapor can just assume ,that because its not tobacco [I will use it wherever I want ]
A little common sense wouldn't go amiss.and I assume a truck with a cloud of vapor coming out would look like smoke.
Also[the stress of being sacked started him using tobacco again][why would that be]
We want to quietly vape away.not antagonise people,
If I go to a place were vaping is not allowed,it doesn't worry me I will vape outside,[with the rest of the smokers]
Maybe even get a few converts ,

 

[steffijade]

Its a hard decision to make,was he right or wrong,if he had asked his employer if it was okay,he would know were he stood.
I don't think it is right that a vapor can just assume ,that because its not tobacco [I will use it wherever I want ]
A little common sense wouldn't go amiss.and I assume a truck with a cloud of vapor coming out would look like smoke.
Also[the stress of being sacked started him using tobacco again][why would that be]
We want to quietly vape away.not antagonise people,
If I go to a place were vaping is not allowed,it doesn't worry me I will vape outside,[with the rest of the smokers]
Maybe even get a few converts ,

Hmmm. You seemingly class yourself as a smoker. Interesting that, most vapers don't identify themselves as being smokers once they switch.. unless they're dual fuelers.

I don't think there's much room for debate to be honest. If vaping wasn't covered by the company's smoking policy or it's own separate policy then the guy wasn't doing anything wrong. If there is any fault here, it lies with the company for not making policy.

I hope he wins his case and the company are forced to reinstate him alongside a formal apology.

 

[u8myufo]

Hmmm. You seemingly class yourself as a smoker. Interesting that, most vapers don't identify themselves as being smokers once they switch.. unless they're dual fuelers.

I don't think there's much room for debate to be honest. If vaping wasn't covered by the company's smoking policy or it's own separate policy then the guy wasn't doing anything wrong. If there is any fault here, it lies with the company for not making policy.

I hope he wins his case and the company are forced to reinstate him alongside a formal apology.

So @frank 133 say`s and I quote " [the stress of being sacked started him using tobacco again][why would that be] ".... " We want to quietly vape away.not antagonise people "......... " If I go to a place were vaping is not allowed,it doesn't worry me I will vape outside,[with the rest of the smokers] "

I am interested to know why you think Frank considers classing himself a smoker?

 

[steffijade]

So @frank 133 say`s and I quote " [the stress of being sacked started him using tobacco again][why would that be] ".... " We want to quietly vape away.not antagonise people "......... " If I go to a place were vaping is not allowed,it doesn't worry me I will vape outside,[with the rest of the smokers] "

I am interested to know why you think Frank considers classing himself a smoker?

I will vape outside,[with the rest of the smokers]

 

[frank 133]

Sorry I do not class myself as a smoker,nor do I think I am better than than a smoker because I have quit,
I didn't say he was right to be sacked,
How can a company policy cover everything,
The guy has gone back on cigarettes,so he wasn't a proper vapor ,[or as you say probably a dual fueller?
You are reading a news report,and on that basis ,assume you have all the facts,
I gave a opinion,if you don't like it tough.If I am on somebody else's property,I ask if its okay to use a vaping devise.
Reinstated okay ,but a formal apology [come on]

 

[Stroud Vaping]

Sounds to me like they were waiting for a reason to sack him, and decided to use this excuse.
They've stuffed themselves now though - no way he's going to lose that tribunal!

 

[u8myufo]

I will vape outside,[with the rest of the smokers]

Well sorry, but if I go to any of my friends for the evening and they smoke, I do not preach to them and I will vape alongside them. I would not however class myself as a smoker.

 

[steffijade]

Sorry I do not class myself as a smoker,nor do I think I am better than than a smoker because I have quit,
I didn't say he was right to be sacked,
How can a company policy cover everything,
The guy has gone back on cigarettes,so he wasn't a proper vapor ,[or as you say probably a dual fueller?
You are reading a news report,and on that basis ,assume you have all the facts,
I gave a opinion,if you don't like it tough.If I on somebody else's property,I ask if its okay to use a vaping devise.
Reinstated okay ,but a formal apology [come on]

Sorry, my mistake.. it just appeared that you were refering to yourself as a smoker, which I found interesting.

As to you asking about vaping on other people's property, that's your choice (I do the same as it happens).

You offered an opinion. So did I. If you don't like my opinion then 'tough' right back at you I guess (shrug).

Wasn't trying to have a pop, if it came across that way then I apologise, wasn't my intention.

 

[frank 133]

Sounds to me like they were waiting for a reason to sack him, and decided to use this excuse.
They've stuffed themselves now though - no way he's going to lose that tribunal!

If I owned the company I would then put a blanket ban on ecigs on their sites,
This would affect all vapors in their employment,
don't jump down my throat I don't own the company.
just stating what could happen.