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Smoking, Tobacco, and e-Cigarettes

VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY PEOPLE EXPERIENCE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
SUBJECT: SMOKING, TOBACCO, and E-CIGARETTES POLICY
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2015

POLICY

As a premier educator, research enterprise and health care provider, Vanderbilt recognizes the effects and costs of smoking, tobacco, and nicotine use on our society. The University is committed to promoting a healthy environment for its employees and visitors without the hazards associated with these products. This policy establishes the University as a smoke free institution and includes but is not limited to cigarettes, tobacco, and devices such as e-cigarettes, pipes, vaporizers. The use of these items is prohibited in all property owned by the University including vehicles and property leased by the institution, campus grounds, parking lots, garages, plazas, courtyards, except in locations that have been designated for smoking and related devices. 1 ."

PROCEDURE

Individuals in management or supervisory roles are responsible for communicating the policy to their employees and enforcing the policy in their respective area(s). Supervisors or employees who observe employees or visitors smoking within the confines of the University campus that have not been designated as a smoking area, should inform the person(s) of appropriate smoking areas. See the campus maps for designated smoke areas. If an employee refuses to stop smoking in a non-designated smoking area, the employee’s supervisor or manager should be notified.

Staff violations of this policy may result in the Performance Management process.

RESOURCES

In support of this important policy, the following programs and services are available for staff:

Faculty and Employee Health and Wellness:The mission of Health and Wellness is to support the health and the productivity of Vanderbilt faculty and employees. Programs to support a smoke-free environment and to help individuals quit are shown below; for more detail, visit the Health and Wellness Tobacco Cessation webpage.

    • Health Plus One-on-One Coaching offers individualized support and encouragement, by phone or in person, to help you meet your goal to quit tobacco use. The Occupational Health Clinic's Quit Rx Program offers counseling and treatment services, including medication prescriptions when recommended.
    • Work/Life Connections-EAP teaches relaxation techniques and coping skills by a licensed counselor.
    • Health Plus, The Occupational Health Clinic, Work/Life Connections - EAP and the Child and Family Centers - have short Wellcasts that can be listened to on a computer or MP3 player on a variety of smoking-related topics. Access the Health and Wellness Wellcasts.
    • The Great American Smoke-out is a national event is held annually the third Thursday of November. Faculty and Staff Health and Wellness encourages all who smoke to kick the cigarette smoking habit, at least for 24 hours, on this day.

OTHER RELATED RESOURCES

This policy is intended as a guideline to assist in the consistent application of University policies and programs for employees. The policy does not create a contract implied or expressed, with any Vanderbilt employees, who are employees at will. Vanderbilt reserves the right to modify this policy in whole or in part, at any time, at the discretion of the University.

Approved by Traci Nordberg, Chief Human Resource Officer and Associate Vice Chancellor

Approved by Eric Kopstain, Vice Chancellor for Administration

1 See maps for designated smoking areas: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/info/smokingpolicy/ and Medical Center Smoking & Tobacco Use Policy SA 40-10.02