At Riot Labs, we’re proud to lead the charge in helping people quit smoking. But as champions of vaping, even we have to say it: there’s a time and place for everything—and midway through a work Zoom call with your boss probably isn’t it.
That’s one of the eyebrow-raising insights from our latest nationwide survey into work-from-home habits. We spoke to 2,000 adults about their remote work behaviours, and let’s just say… things got messy. From vaping on camera to burping in meetings and even taking client calls from the toilet (yes, really), it's clear that working from home has changed the game—and not always for the better.
We set out to explore whether vaping at home has blurred the boundaries of professional conduct. What we uncovered? A full-blown etiquette crisis.
The Big Puff Problem: 62% of Vapers Vape on Work Video Calls
One of the biggest revelations from our survey: 62% of vapers openly admit to using their vape during work calls—in front of colleagues, managers and even clients.
While a few people (9%) say it doesn’t bother them, the majority aren’t so forgiving:
- 82% say it’s unprofessional
- 67% find it distracting
-
32% believe it warrants disciplinary action
It’s sparked serious debate—not just about vaping, but about what remote professionalism even looks like in 2025.
Etiquette expert Jo Hayes, founder of EtiquetteExpert.org, didn’t hold back when we showed her the data. She called vaping on video calls “slobbish” and “a red mark on your professional name.”
We get it. You’re at home. You’re comfortable. But if we’re honest, this level of casualness is making us all look a bit… well, slack.
WFH = Work From Home… or Work From Hell?
Remote work was supposed to be the future. No more commuting. More work-life balance. Greater productivity.
But when we dug deeper, it turns out a lot of us are letting standards seriously slip. Here’s what respondents confessed to doing on work calls:
- Burped in front of colleagues – 73%
- Worn PJs to a client meeting – 14%
- Shouted at family members mid-call – 9%
- Taken a client call from the toilet – 14%
- Used phone instead of paying attention – 57%
-
Not brushed their teeth before work – 35%
And the worst part? People notice when you’re not keeping it together.
We See You: What Colleagues Are Clocking on Zoom
Here’s what people said they’ve seen their co-workers do on camera:
- Vaping during meetings – 41%
- Burping on calls – 69%
- Eating loudly into the mic – 20%
- Clearly distracted by their phone – 69%
-
Shouting at family members – 8%
So even if you think no one notices, trust us—they do.
The top remote meeting pet peeves included:
- Attendees not paying attention – 51%
- Tech issues (fake or real) – 49%
- Background noise from kids/pets – 39%
- Eating and drinking on camera – 27%
-
Loud keyboard tapping – 31%
And in a move we all expected: 68% admit to faking a tech issue to get out of a call.
Where Does Vaping Fit In? Our Take
We’re not here to vape-shame anyone—after all, we’ve helped thousands make the life-changing switch from cigarettes to vaping. But context matters.
We’re proud that vaping is the UK’s most effective tool to quit smoking. But that doesn't mean you should be hitting your device during your Monday team sync.
Riot Labs spokesperson David Donaghy puts it best:
“Vaping at home can make quitting smoking easier—but there’s a fine line between comfort and carelessness. If you wouldn’t light a cigarette in a boardroom, why are you blowing clouds on a video call?”
That’s why we’re recommending people bring back the vape break. Step away, get some fresh air, and treat it the same way you would if you were in an office. It’s better for your focus—and your professional rep.
Are Remote Workers Lazy? Depends Who You Ask…
The stereotypes around remote workers persist—but the truth is more nuanced. We asked our community how they view WFH employees:
- 53% say they’re productive
- 45% say they’re efficient
-
38% think they’re motivated
Still, 19% say remote workers aren’t doing proper work, and 8% straight-up called them skivers. So clearly, trust issues are still alive and well in the hybrid world.
Jo Hayes’ WFH DOs and DON’Ts (That We Actually Agree With)
To help draw the line between comfort and chaos, etiquette pro Jo Hayes dropped some solid advice for remote workers. Here are our top picks:
✅ DO:
-
Be early to meetings—not bang on time
-
Dress like you give a damn (no vests, no robes)
-
Blur your background if your space is chaotic
❌ DON’T:
-
Vape, drink, or swear on calls
-
Use your phone mid-meeting (we all see the eye-line shift)
-
Fake tech issues to get out of work (come on…)
Remote Work Is Here to Stay—Let’s Not Ruin It
Whether you love it or loathe it, remote work isn’t going anywhere. But if we want to keep the privilege of flexible working, we all need to raise the bar.
That means showing up. Paying attention. And yes—taking that vape break off camera.
