Last week, Juul employees at Juul Labs received some awkward news that they cannot use e-cigarettes in their office.
Juul is a hot startup selling e-cigarettes at a high valuation. Juul, which was spun out of Pax Labs in July 2017, has been successful with sleek devices and fruit-flavored nicotine pods. Juul, which raised $15 billion over the summer, is reportedly to be close to a $12.8 billion subscription agreement with Marlboro maker Altria Group that would value it at $38 billion. That would exceed the valuation of Airbnb, the private technology company. Airbnb last raised money at a mark of $31billion.
The e-cigarette company’s products have attracted teenagers and alarmed US regulators. A recent survey found the number of high school seniors who vape nicotine over the past 30 days has nearly doubled in one year, from 11% in 2017 to 21% in 2018. The survey highlighted Juul’s rapid spread among teenagers.
But back to rules of the office.
On Dec. 11, Kevin Burns, Juul’s chief executive, sent an email to U.S. employees, letting them know they could not use Juul’s products at work any longer, effective immediately, according to the report of the Wall Street Journal. Burns said the San Francisco-based company had received city inquiries about vaping in its office. The use of e-cigarettes in the workplace of California has been illegal since June 2016.
“Banning the use of the products we work have to create and promote at work may seem nonsensical,” Burns wrote in the email. “However, the bottom line is that we need to comply with the law as any company does. “
According to the Journal, Juul has about 1,500 employees. Those who are in San Francisco were invited to take their e-cigarettes outdoors to a tent that had been built specifically for that purpose. Juul also has offices in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York. According to the Wall Street journal, the new rules prohibit the use of e-cigarettes in all parts of the country, with the exception of spaces Juul rents in four unspecified states.
“We are committed to exploring options for our team members who wish to use e-cigarettes while they are working,” Burns said in the email.
Ryan
Ryan is a writer, editor and content creator who spends most of his time bringing the interesting, entertaining, original and well-written articles to vapers. He believes that vaping is not only a healthier alternative to smoking, but also a great experience of life.
