“My workplace has a scent free policy, as many do these days. We have several staff who have sensitivities/reactions to scented products which can cause headaches, nausea, vision problems, migraines, and these reactions can impact work quality as well as potentially cause some staff to be ill for days. We have a manager in our company who continues to wear scents. It has been reported to HR several times, and we are told “She says she doesn’t wear perfume so there’s nothing we can do.” BULLSHIT. How is it that one person’s desire to smell pretty should be valued over the rights of others to be healthy at work? Every time she puts on perfume, she is deciding that someone else’s health is less important. And she’s a MANAGER. How is this ok? More importantly, what are the options to fix this issue? How can we have this rule enforced?” - Pissed about Perfume
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Pissed About Perfume, here.
Definitely not quitting my job, which I love, because someone else within the company doesn’t want to follow the rules. LOL
Not that the scent is unpleasant, I actually like it, but even if it was a reasonable amount as opposed to the massive fog of smell it feels like I just walked through, that doesn’t mean my body isn’t having a reaction to it (headache began as soon as she walked by). And I’m one of the lucky ones that doesn’t react to everything… but not everyone is so lucky.
Bottom line is, it shouldn’t be up to anyone else whether or not others get to be healthy and productive at work. That’s why the scent free policy exists.
The higher ups have been notified again… cross your fingers please!!
She says she doesn’t wear “perfume”. Perhaps this is a communication issue. I wonder if she is clear on the “scent-free” meaning (for that matter, I wonder if HR even knows, with a response like that..). Maybe she is being truthful in that she doesn’t wear perfume, but what else is she wearing? Heck, some hand litI once put on a scented hand sanitizer (that I didn’t even realize was “scented”) and the stench apparently went through my entire office. My supervisor was convinced that someone had sprayed perfume because the smell was THAT strong. “She says she doesn’t wear perfume”- really, HR?! They should be doing better.
You could complain and wait until someone else solves this. or take matters into your own hands. have a friend covertly visit your workplace and have them loudly say when said manager is in ear shot “jesus, who got da juice on b’ys? smells like a funeral parlor in here”, OR fake an allergic reaction. that will either embarrass your smelly manager or scare her into cutting out the perfume. Use your imagination.
Unless you’re easily replaceable, just find another job. You’ve got useful skills right? It can’t be the only job that you can find unless you’re a government worker drone punching the clock and keeping a desk occupied
or you could just talk to the the manager..