Help! Perfume allergy in the workplace?

Question

I am allergic to perfume and I work with a woman that wears it very heavily. I have mentioned it to my supervisor and he asked me if i could take medicine for it which i said no because I have heart disease. I have made it clear on several occasion that i am allergic to perfume and have even been made fun of by my supervisor with little snide remarks. yesterday i had to go into the office of the woman that wears the perfume and she told me that if i didn't like it i could stay out of her office but i have to go in there for stamps and to give her paperwork. she is not in a higher position than me but she is friends with the supervisor so she is allowed to get away with everything. i know the ADA says she isn't guaranteed the right to wear perfume and i am guaranteed the right to breathe and not be in pain but i have tried everything including ignoring it and not saying anything to anyone and it is only getting worse for me around here. what can i do?

Answer 1

A large problem. I'll bet you can't walk past the perfume counters in stores as well. Asthma suffers have had to put up or be shut in for years. There are now many municipalities passing laws to make excessive perfume, deodorant and after shave, an offence. Many bus companies are also putting posters in their buses to make people aware of how damn offencive perfume is. Especially heavy users.

Answer 2

We had a similar problem where I worked. We got together as a whole and voted on various problems we were having, not just the allergy..........but several personal habits that affect others in the workplace. After the list was compiled, the supervisor led the meeting and each item was discussed and voted on whether it deserved to be eliminated or the group could live with it. It worked very well without bringing in the ADA and the co-workers back stabbing eachother. Maybe it could work for you, I don't know but it is worth a try at being mature about the issue.

Answer 3

If she were a smoker this wouldn't fly I bet. Go to your doctor ASAP, get a "note" regarding your allergy and your inability to take meds then give it to your supervisor with a memo/meeting stating that you have the legal right to work in a place that does not cause you physical illness and should not have to even consider medicine because of their inability to establish a policy. Is there a human resource department? Make sure you take a copy of the doctor's documentation with you to HR and tell them if she doesn't stop wearing it you have no choice but to follow up with an ADA action. After working in a hospital environment it took a long time, but they finally restricted the use of perfumes, air fresheners etc because of patients with allergies (how considerate)! Be mature, be assertive and remember, the squeaky wheel gets the oil.

Answer 4

I would suggest getting a doctor's note saying just that and (make a copy of the letter) then give it to your supervisor, if your supervisor does not say anything to the person(s) wearing the perfume, go over his/head with the president of the company.

Answer 5

I agree with the previous poster. The only way that you can prove disability is to get a note from your doctor indicating that this is a genuine medical condition for you and what the consequences of exposure would be.

Answer 6

Start looking elsewhere, for one thing. I tmight ease your mind about the level of control you have in your own life.
You deserve better, period.
Then, relish in the fact that you can, if you want, report them to OSHA. Osh's not the right agency? They'll tell you who is.
Take the power back.
It's YOUR life, your health, and your mental health, too.
Good luck,
and God Bless You!

Answer 7

Write a letter threatening workplace harassment, then contact an attorney. Send the letter to your boss' boss.

Answer 8

I' d have your doctor write a note. If that doesn't work, is the job worth it? Sounds like you'll be harrassed no matter what. Can you talk to someone above your boss?