Smokers may face a surprise when they return to work after their holidays. On 5 July 2025, the amended Act on Health Protection against the Consequences of Tobacco Use and Tobacco Products entered into force. In addition to traditional tobacco products and e-cigarettes containing nicotine, smoking nicotine-free e-cigarettes is now also prohibited in workplace premises.

The amendment makes life much easier for employers, who had previously pointed out the difficulty of determining whether e-cigarettes used by employees contained nicotine, which allowed some to bypass the ban.

Smoking nicotine-free e-cigarettes in the workplace will only be permitted in designated smoking areas, just like tobacco products and e-cigarettes containing nicotine.

A violation of the smoking ban in workplace premises constitutes a breach of health and safety regulations and justifies the employer imposing a disciplinary penalty, or even terminating the employment contract.

Find more articles in PRO HR September 2025.