posted 05-24-2005 16:12               

According to my girl friend, I should only be able to smell a woman’s perfume when I’ve got my arms around her (I agree).

So my question is how can I tactfully tell these two women to tone it down a little and still keep my job? My GF says there’s no way of doing it. Any ideas?

Thanks, brad

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Check out my Sporting Clays page, CLICK HERE!!

posted 05-24-2005 16:34               

If HR does their job, they will determine for themselves whether it's a problem and decide what to do about it. HR people have the training to tactfully handle matters of this type.

Unless you are a chronic complainer (and possibly even if you are), HR will take you seriously and do an investigation.

Perfume tolerance is an individual matter. Thus, it could be that others don't have a problem and only you do. If that's the case, you may lose out unless you can demonstrate an allergy or some similar medical intolerance. However, if you are aware that others are similarly offended, you should mention that in your discussion with HR.

posted 05-24-2005 19:13               

Check out this link, maybe you can make some money off the offending perfume smells.

http://tinyurl.com/b7sll

posted 05-25-2005 02:50               

Another day a woman stood in my office doorway to ask a question. Her perfume was so strong that even after she was gone I had to open the window and leave the office for a bit until it aired out.

Do people REALLY think this is attractive?

posted 05-25-2005 04:53               

Once, many years ago, I was in the grocery store and had on one of my husband's "approved" fragrances (which I couldn't smell at all on myself)and a woman approached me out of nowhere and very loudly told me I smelled like a French w@#$%. I almost cried, I was so mortified! I guess some noses are more sensitve than others. Fast forward to this year, and a male friend asked me what that same fragrance is called, as he really liked it and wanted to get it for his wife. Only trouble was, he TOLD her how he found it, and now she and I laugh about how her husband wants her to smell like me!

posted 05-25-2005 06:26            

I also worked with a woman who wore way too much perfume. Since her desk and my desk touched it made the early stages of pregnancy quite a challenge! One day I causally asked her why she wore such a strong scent (it was actually just too much, not the scent itself, but I was trying to be tactful) Her response was she had had a tumor in her nose and therefore she had a reduced sense of smell. She had no idea she smelled so strongly. I still see her in business meetings and now she has a nice light scent. So, sometimes, you can approach the problem head on.

posted 05-25-2005 09:10               

I remember when the Polo cologne for men came out and apparently the young guys just didn't realize that a little went a long way. I had liked polo but then, after the overexposure, I just couldn't stand it anymore.

I agree, let HR deal with it - not worth the risk to you and your reputation. In a big company, it's quite likely not just you with the problem.

posted 05-25-2005 10:50               

I guess if it were me I'd want to know but be horrified.

posted 05-25-2005 11:30               

Same recommendation. Go to HR. Or in a smaller company without a formal HR person or department, go to the office manager.

We deal with this type of stuff regularly. Perfume, body odor, inappropriate clothing, excessive personal phone calls, etc. It's not a big deal for the experts (HR) to handle.

Many years ago, I had a young man work for me who didn't believe in applying "unnatural" things to his body. That included deodorant. It wasn't much fun being around him in our office environment, especially on a warm summer afternoon.

Without a formal HR department in the office, I was the bad guy and sat with him. I gave him an option. Find a way to improve his persona or else. He refused to choose. We made the choice for him. Bye-bye.

posted 05-25-2005 12:10               

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Check out my Sporting Clays page, CLICK HERE!!

ysr_racer
So. Cal. USA

posted 05-25-2005 19:52               

It was maybe 28 years ago I worked at the Bank of Canada. We would be counting treasury bills and sometimes had to sit in a vault with no air circulation. One of my co-workers was addicted to tobacco and was always smoking something - usually a pipe. It was very unpleasant and everyone complained but he didn't care and there was no rule against it.

posted 05-26-2005 15:43               

Brad,

XXXXXXX forwarded your message to me.

I understand your concern and appreciate your sensitivity to strong perfume. In cases such as this, I feel it is best to not involve Human Resources unless the situation can not be resolved between co-workers.

I suggest you politely explain to XXXXXX that you have allergies and sensitivity to strong fragrances and ask that she be sensitive to that and wear less perfume when at work.

If for some reason that conversation becomes antagonistic or the situation prevails please let me know and HR can step in at that point. If you want to discuss what you may say to XXXXXX any further please feel free to call me.

Thank you,

XXXXXX

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Check out my Sporting Clays page, CLICK HERE!!

posted 05-26-2005 15:57               

quote:

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Originally posted by Dave M:
Here are $10.6 million reasons why HR should take your complaint seriously, with no retaliation for making the complaint.

For those not wanting to go to the link, it's a jury verdict against an employer involving a situation where someone complained about a co-worker's perfume and was later fired, allegedly because of making the complaint.

---

Oh, Dave, you really are getting senile! You posted a link to the same story as Rick up above.

posted 05-29-2005 16:48               

Since HR won't do anything, how about you print out this thread (perhaps blanking out your name), and post it on the bulletin board, or leave it on the co-worker's desk?