The Modern Workplace

Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes have been in the news and are apparently growing in popularity. The New York Times recently published an online debate on the potential health benefits of e-cigarettes and their potential regulation. Other news outlets have published similar articles.  (see, e.g., here, here, and here). Many employers are wondering how to react to employees who want to use e-cigarettes  at work.

E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that allow users to inhale nicotine vapors from a heated liquid. Proponents of e-cigarettes argue that they are a safer alternative to smoking and can help some smokers quit. Detractors believe that e-cigarettes could cause more Americans to become addicted to nicotine and that, at a minimum, more research and regulation are necessary to manage health risks.

Many employers are unsure how to react. Some want to prohibit the use of e-cigarettes while others see potential benefits. The devices may detract from employee productivity and create a distraction, or they could prevent smoke breaks that cause employees to leave the workplace. 

As with so many employment issues, employers  should set aside their personal judgments regarding the wisdom of e-cigarette use and base their policies on actual effects of their use in the workplace. When considering whether to allow or ban e-cigarettes, employers should focus on employee productivity and morale and on any other actual, work-related effects of e-cigarette use. Employers should also keep their ears open for news regarding additional government regulation or research regarding potential health effects on coworkers.