To not speak to my team member who is spraying perfume in work bathroom?

[Fedupcolleague]

I manage a small team, unfortunately there’s a couple of them who despite being grown adults always seem to find various child like gripes which they ask me to get involved in sorting.

The latest one is today. In one of my teams 1:1’s they said they have witnessed a named colleague spraying perfume in the air in the bathroom whenever they have been to the loo. They say they are uncomfortable raising this themselves and asked that I speak to them and make clear it was an anonymous comment to me.

I find this ridiculous and haven’t committed to mentioning it. Would I be unreasonable to tell her I won’t be saying anything?

The ableism on this thread has been high level.

But then, it is Mumsnet.

I did used to work with someone that would empty a can of Lynx Africa every morning after taking off his coat. I’m not that bothered by smells, I would much rather smell perfume than poo, but the lynx really did get up my nose due to the sheer volume
of it. How much perfume are they spraying? If it’s a little spritz to make themselves smell nice I don’t see the issue, if its half a bottle that’s a bit different

These people are everywhere though, someone complained to my sisters manager because she was sneezing too loudly.

Could be a particular perfume. They all contain different ingredients natural or not and could trigger allergies/reactions. I wear perfume, and even though I find some more pleasant than others I could never say I was intollerant to them. Until that day the woman on the bus sitting in front of me was wearing a really strong perfume and, for the first time in my life, I thought I was going to throw up there and then. Had to stand up and go to the end of the bus. Has never happened since. But since that day I am more mindful when I wear my own and wouln´t be a twat and spay it in the bathroom as airfreshener.

It sounds more like a turn of phrase to me. I’ve just commented and said someone spraying used to get right up my nose. It just means it’s strong. Doesn’t mean it’s affecting my health. I think the complainer is just being a bitch to be honest, she’s confirmed there is nothing wrong with her. Give her some extra work to do to keep her busy. Clearly has too much time on her hands if all she is worried about is a few sprays of perfume.

@Soontobe60

cant go to the theatre or get on a bus. Those are luxuries not available to people like me.

work exclusively from home

when I have to go to the office, people are asked not to wear fragrance. Isolation and exclusion defeats the purpose of traveling in by personal vehicle.

have to use fragrance free doctor’s offices.

I’m sure ‘perfume policing’ isn’t part of her listed job description.

I work in a very small office with one shared toilet. If I knew one of my colleagues sprayed perfume after they'd been, I would just wait for a bit until I go to the toilet. How often do they both bloody use the loo?

It sounds more like a turn of phrase to me.

And to me as an asthmatic it does not sound like a "fun phrase". She hasn't confirmed nothing is wrong with her - she's confirmed she doesn't have a diagnosed medical condition. Doesn't mean that someone perfume bombing the public lavs can't have an adverse effect on her health.

This thread is chokka with the sort of people who squeal like stuck pigs on airplanes when asked not to eat peanuts for the duration of the flight.

I sympathise. My late sibling had severe and life-threatening asthma and allergies throughout their life. A 'normal' childhood was simply beyond their reach.

Luckily for a lot of posters on this thread, they died long before they could enter the workforce and pose a problem for the sort of people who think their right to perfume bomb the public toilets trumps the responsibility to behave like a decent human being.

My daughter has anaphylaxis to fragrances.

Approximately 32.2% of the general population across the US, Australia, the UK, and Sweden report adverse health effects, or fragrance sensitivity, from exposure to fragranced consumer products. (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11869-019-00699-4#:~:text=Fragrance%20sensitivity%20prevalence%2C%20fragranced%20product,to%20air%20fresheners%20and%20deodorizers.)

I think you need to clarify if it is a dislike or a medical issue. It would be a reasonable adjustment for her to request the area is not fragranced if this causes issues for her health.

If she doesn't like it, I would still be thinking about how this might impact her at work, will she be less engaged or more distracted? Might she leave? If so, how much detriment would this cause?

I personally wish perfumes could be put into room 101!

I’m sorry for your loss.

we have a family history as well, though thankfully in earlier generations.

I’m still alive because of heavy lifestyle restrictions and the invention of biologics.

people just don’t understand at all.

If there is neither an extractor fan nor a window that can be opened, surely the facility is unfit for its purpose and needs upgrading?

The complainant is clearly a mumsnetter. Never in the real world is anyone triggered by a squirt of perfume. Only Mumsnet.

Yes you should speak to the person spraying the perfume in a windowless room. Some people struggle with smells and should not be forced to breathe in someone else’s perfume.

I agree. Aerosol really sets my chest off. Perfume isn’t ideal but shouldn’t cause too much of an issue.
some perfumes are revolting though and can give me a headache instantly, so I can see why she might not like it. I doubt I’d ever take it to management though.

You can tell from the replies the people who have managed a team and those thst haven't!

1. if your team member doesn't feel comfortable raising this then you've got a wider team issue in terms of communication that it is your job as manager to try and amicably resolve.

2. as many people have said, spraying perfumes and other sprays can have effects even on those without allergies or specific lung issues. I find a lot of sprays catches in my throat, I followed my friend after she finished in a friend's loo the other weekend and she'd sprayed the air freshener because she'd had a little 💩 and I rushed in and by time I was sat on the loo I realised the amount of spray was choking me - and I actually threw up! It really does effect people.

What’s really the issue here!? It sounds like team member complaining has a hygiene issue. Sorry but you can’t stop someone from spraying perfum after or before another person to make the toilet more usable!

Perfect!

Can't you do what seems prevalent in workplaces where only adults are and put up a sign 'please refrain from spraying perfume'?

Can't you do what seems prevalent in workplaces where only adults are and put up a sign 'please refrain from spraying perfume'?

Can't you do what seems prevalent in workplaces where only adults are and put up a sign 'please refrain from spraying perfume'?

Can't you do what seems prevalent in workplaces where only adults are and put up a sign 'please refrain from spraying perfume'?

Can't you do what seems prevalent in workplaces where only adults are and put up a sign 'please refrain from spraying perfume'?

Can't you do what seems prevalent in workplaces where only adults are and put up a sign 'please refrain from spraying perfume'?

Can't you do what seems prevalent in workplaces where only adults are and put up a sign 'please refrain from spraying perfume'?