‘Word of the Year’ Has HR Pros Perplexed

The Oxford Dictionary has again issued its annual list of words that have been “significant” for the past 12 months. And this word is one that may have HR pros perplexed, not that the definition is going to help clear up the confusion.

The word is “vape,” and the issue of e-cigarettes and other noncombustible electronic devices in the workplace has generated lots of questions. The word was chosen, according to the Oxford Dictionary blog, because its use has increased dramatically in the past 2 years in both print and electronic media.

According to the blog, “vape” is an abbreviation for “vapor” or “vaporize,” and can be used as a noun or a verb. It can also be used to create new, compound nouns such as “vape lounge” and “vape juice.”

Why does this word have people confused? “Vaping” was first touted as being a safe and healthy way to wean tobacco smokers off of cigarettes. One company had even offered to pay for e-cigarettes as a wellness benefit so employees who smoked could quit!

Then the media began reporting that, even though there is no smoke produced, many devices vaporize liquids containing nicotine, and some reports say that even without nicotine, the vapor produced sometimes contains harmful substances, especially if the vapor is highly flavored or scented.

Another point of confusion for HR is whether the devices can be used where the use of regular cigarettes is prohibited by law—for example, in the workplace—and whether these devices fall under existing personnel policies on smoking. Add to this employees’ complaints to HR that no, they are not “smoking when using e-cigarettes,” but “vaping.”

There is no federal law regarding smoking, and only a handful of states (New Jersey, North Dakota, and Utah) and the District of Columbia have passed legislation against the use of e-cigarettes. Some counties and cities have stepped in and issued local ordinances prohibiting their use indoors.

A BLR® poll earlier this year showed that only 19 percent of respondents’ companies have adopted a policy on vaping, while 50 percent of respondents’ companies have not addressed e-cigarettes yet—and 31 percent haven’t even thought about it.

So HRSBT agrees with the Oxford Dictionary that this is a good choice for word of the year, considering all the controversy. But maybe by next year, use of the word may have gone up in smoke.