In case you missed this, a Detroit, MI city employee sued the City of Detroit after claiming the perfume a co-worker was wearing caused her not to be able to do her job. Apparently, the perfume and room deodorizer that her co-worker was using made it uncomfortable for this employee to work to the point she suffered migraines, nausea and coughing. From CBS News: Stink Over Perfume at Detroit Workplace:
“CBS News correspondent Bianca Solorzano reported on “The Early Show“ that city employee Susan McBride complained she was “chemically sensitive” and a co-worker’s perfume and room deodorizer made it difficult for her to breathe and do her job — so much so that she suffered migraines, nausea and coughing.
Ann Curry Thompson, McBride’s attorney, told CBS News, “You can’t come into a workplace loaded in one of these so-called designer perfumes that broadcasts itself across the room.”
McBride won a $100,000 settlement. Detroit city employees in the three buildings where McBride works are now being warned not to wear scented products, including colognes, aftershave, perfumes, and deodorants, or even use candles and air fresheners.
Thompson said, “When you have a stated policy in the workplace, it gives an employee something to point to.”
So, let me get this right. Employee puts on perfume so not to offend, uses room freshener, so not to offend, – employer pays $100,000 because an employee was offended?! Only in Detroit! I’m just shocked that there weren’t unions involved with something this ludicrous. Can you imagine the HR Pro in that office having to deal with this stuff? We (the collective HR Pros of the world) should come together and send this person a basket of non-hypoallergenic, non-scented, non-flavored something of some kind – she/he deserves it!
But what really gets me in this whole piece is the little jab at the end by the lawyer stating:
“When you have a stated policy in the workplace, it gives an employee something to point to.”
Really?! Is that helpful – to anyone?! Look – I don’t like people pissing on my shoes, but I’m 100% sure I don’t need to come up with a policy telling my employees it’s not OK to pee on my shoes. Well, alright, I’m 99.9% sure – but still, I’m pretty sure they get it!
In my time, I’ve had to deal with employees who stink - and not the good stink… and I’ll take Teddy in Accounting wearing a half a bottle of Polo Black any day over Body-Odor-Brad in Production. I can talk with Teddy about the difference between the conference room and the nightclub – but talk about an uncomfortable conversation though with Brad! There is no HR training in the world that prepares someone to have the Body-Odor conversation. So, to have to pay $100,000 for someone stinking in a “good” way? I’m just not sure what this world is coming to…
So now people can also make $100,000 by being offended from the normal body odor? I’m moving to Detroit!
Great stuff! Having the B.O. conversation with an employee is no fun for anyone.
Tim, I know your shtick is being kind of crass, but you’ve got to be joking. People dousing themselves in perfume is no laughing matter–it’s HORRIBLE. Especially if you get migraines–good lord.
And there’s really no excuse to come into work and start spraying Glade everywhere. If you want your home to smell like a forest meadow, that’s your choice, but don’t do it next to my cube.
I had something like this happen to me once (in Detroit!). The truth was, the two women really just didn’t like each other, and the perfume of the “offender” wasn’t nearly as strong as the complainer claimed. It was a small office and there was no way to physically separate them. I got tired of being the referee to their squabbles and finally just told them both to shut up and ignore each other.
The complainer ultimately quit and filed for unemployment – I beat that claim. Both women were very self-righteous and felt the other was totally wrong. Welcome to HR.
As an HR professional and asthmatic I’d just like to say that some employees are highly sensitive/allergic to strong smells including perfumes, soaps, etc. I personally cannot tolerate fragrances in the workplace or elsewhere without having significant breathing issues that compromise my health and ability to stay alive. It’s not unreasonable for employers to implement fragrance-free policies for the health and well-being of their employees.
“There is no HR training in the world that prepares someone to have the Body-Odor conversation.” I disagree! Try “The Practical Coach.” Now say it after me “there are times when the odor of your body offends some people. . . ”
Tim, this isn’t the first time something like this happened. Something like this was a real world case study for me in my grad school program.
Tim, as an HR professional I can see both sides of this issue. I agree that employees need to keep perfumes or any related aspects at a minimum. This is written into our dress code policy thankfully. I would also agree, that even with possible training, talking with an employee of body-order or a strong smell is uncomfortable and not a norm.
On the other side I can see how certain people who have heightened sensitivity to odors may feel uncomfortable. In my perfect world, I would hope that the employees would take the, “Simple or common sense” approach. If I have an issue with someone I work with I approach them calmly and professionally and state my concern respectfully and state the reason for my concern. Then as “Adults” we attempt to fix the issue. If an agreement does not occur then take it to the management team and HR. Don’t cry to your lawyer or to your boss. Be an Adult! Your parents would be a bit disappointed.
The last thing I want to say is that I feel 80% of the employee base in the current job market seem to gradually loose common sense and reason. I feel if people just THINK verses acting on emotion many issues would be resolved in a professional way. No one wants to be the smelly kid in class. If someone, co-worker preferably, just said, “hey.. out of respect, you need to beef up the shower taking and or deodorant.” The person would be apt to clean up his or her act and never have the issue persist. Include people and make them know you actually care about them and you will see a shift in how people react. Just my two cents!
I don’t understand how this problem made it all the way to the courts. The stench should have been dealt with before it left the office. There are certain smells that do make me sick, and I let people know professionally. Law suits in America are so ridiculous, people sue for being fat, for getting burnt by coffee. Its just easy to do and its obvious that something needs to change soon.
Hey Tim! In future forward Canada, most companies don’t allow scents in the workplace because of sensitivities. It’s a very real problem and frequently a medical one.
BTW, most people don’t wear perfume to cover a stench. Wow, imagine if people did!