More and more people are voicing concerns about the rising epidemic of youth vaping, citing a number of Juul health risks. But the company itself is facing issues with vaping — its own employees are reportedly continuing to vape in the office despite being directed to stop.

Juul Labs Inc. spun off from the startup PAX Labs in 2017. Ever since the beginning, the company culture involved employees vaping at work. Last year, in order to comply with local and state laws, along with some lease agreements, Juul prohibited its staff from vaping on the job or in its offices.

But according to the Wall Street Journal, enforcing these rules has been an issue. The company attempted to curb employee vaping by threatening to withhold bonuses from those who persisted with their vaping habits at work.

According to some Juul employees, the vaping culture at JUUL is widespread and not limited to taking place during a smoke break in a designated area. Instead, employees openly vape basically everywhere, while working at their desks, during meetings, and even on video conferences.

And it’s not just low-level employees who are vaping in the Juul offices. Reportedly, company founders Adam Bowen and James Monsees can be seen regularly using e-cigarettes during meetings as well.

Juul Must Comply with Local E-Cigarette Ban

Juul’s headquarters are located in San Francisco, which in June became the first city in the United States to prohibit sales of all e-cigarettes.

The City of San Francisco started sending inquiries to Juul at the end of 2018. Following these inquiries, the chief executive at the time, Kevin Burns, sent an email to employees informing them that they could no longer vape at work.

“It may feel nonsensical to prohibit at-work use of the very products we work hard to create and promote,” wrote Mr. Burns. “But the bottom line is we need to comply with legal requirements the same as any company.”

After the email, employees said, people attempted not to vape in the office—or at least vape less often, or more discreetly. One woman asked to work from home because she was concerned about second-hand Juul health risks. She was moved to a different work location.

Shortly after that employee complaint, Mr. Burns issued a new memo noting the disciplinary actions that would be taken against employees caught vaping, including warnings, lost bonuses, and termination.

“We remain committed to maintaining a smoke and vapor-free workplace in compliance with state and local laws,” said a spokesperson for Juul. “We take this commitment very seriously and take appropriate actions against violations.”

Juul products have been linked with some serious side effects, including Juul seizures. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating JUUL’s marketing tactics to determine if it deliberately marketed to youth and children and, if so, to what extent.

If you or someone you love has suffered from side effects of e-cigarette usage, including seizures, nicotine addiction, and more, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Of course, filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by these complications, but it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

Join a Free JUUL E-Cigarette Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you or your child suffered seizures after vaping with a JUUL e-cigarette, you may benefit from participating in a free JUUL class action lawsuit investigation.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented 
for informational purposes only.