Over-use of cologne/perfume in the workplace

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Ugh I think that's the one BIL's GF uses... she DOUSES herself in it... soaps and lotions and then straight oil in her hair. They were living with FIL & MIL and she KNEW it triggered FIL's migraines and she still refused to stop using it. Bad enough leeching off them but to purposely cause pain too... oh I was SO mad.
 
I also have asthma and severe allergies and have had to deal with this a lot because I temp and "float" around to different workplaces a lot (or, at least I did when I was working). Most people were nice and accommodating about it. But, a lot of people just ignored me or labeled me a "troublemaker" if I mentioned it. Some people basically said that they love their perfume and they're not going to stop wearing it and me getting sick is my problem. They would have their "office friends" talk about how nice it smells or back them up in other ways.

I would try to get a different spot to work in some places, but sometimes there just aren't any available. And, some people's perfumes waft all over the office!

I heard, somewhere, that asthma and allergies can be considered a disability and employers must make reasonable accommodations for it.
 
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And that's when I'd be making a point of eating a lot of mexican food...

Ooops sorry, does my smell bother you? Too bad.
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And that's when I'd be making a point of eating a lot of mexican food...

Ooops sorry, does my smell bother you? Too bad.
tongue.png


Chilli WITH beans. And lots of garlic, and forget your deo, maybe make sure to step in chicken poo before going in...wow...I AM mean...who knew?
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Just plainly tell her that her choice to continue using that much cologne (or what ever) is causing a potential health hazard and opening the company up to possible litigation for workplace harrassment, or possibly a workers compensation claim. Tell her that the next time you have to warn her about this it will be in writing for endangering the health and safety of the other employees.
 
Different people have different amounts of sensitivity to detecting odors, and that is without taking individual preferences and dislikes for particular fragrances. DH and my father can barely smell anything. I know some people whose nose is the equivalent of a human bloodhound.

I react to strong odors, but mostly if I can "feel" them. I cannot use or be around any sort of aerosol; it sets off an asthma attack, but I can wear perfume or scent that is applied as a lotion or directly to the skin.
 
Just about everything we use is unscented. If scented only natural like our pine tar soap, or Some Dr Bronners soap.

We are very sensitive and live in the woods and prefer the natural subtle odors of nature. I can smell who touched my kids when they come home from school by the perfume trace. One time I could smell people getting out of their car before I even saw them. The perfume smell was so strong I could smell it 100 yards away on down wind outside!

ON
 
It is not the "scent" I have the problem health wise with, it is the chemical that sets off my asthma. There are sooooo many areosolized chemicals in the air, and on our bodies from hair spray, deoderants, lotions, laundry detergents, shampoo, conditioners and other hair products, fabric softeners, anti static products, perfumes, colognes, after shave....etc..... then when you concentrate them by enclosing all those in a small space (room or building) then add the buildings cleaners, air fresheners etc..... for those w/ sensetive or impaired respiratory function it becomes quite overwhelming. I know people have the "right" to wear the chemicals if they want to, but I can't imagine how I would feel if I insisted on my right to wear it and caused someone else to be hospitalized or die from it, which is not an over statement, every asthma attack is potential death.
 
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For me almost any strong fragrance (and somethings not as strong) give me an extreme headache, I live with a constant headache I do not like having it get worse. So if someone is wearing a strong fragrance or a store has moved their perfume/cologne to the front I will leave. And I'm sorry but if I can't breath (the more I breath a smell in the worse it gets, so I don't breath) you are wearing too much. Oh and I'm about to the point where I'm about to make a T-shirt that saying something about it, just not sure exactly how to tell idiots that you don't need to bath in a fragrance.....
 

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