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?

Non issue - what next, policing perfume and body sprays worn in the office.

someone clearly doesn’t have enough work to get on with…

Suggest to the complainer that they supply and keep stocked, that poo spray stuff you spray on the water.

I’m really surprised that any grown adult in the workplace needs to be told not to spray perfume at work. It’s really entitled and selfish behaviour.

i think it is perfectly reasonable to ask people not to spray perfume in a shared space. Lots of people clearly have health issues that are triggered by it and I can’t believe how inconsiderate many of the responses here are.

Why do people keep mentioning allergies and medical issues? The complainant hasn't said she has either!

Because they are surprisingly common and even though this individual might not be a sufferer, it is highly likely someone else in the office has issues. There is absolutely no reason for air fresheners or perfumes to be used in the office unless you are a perfume company. In that scenario, the person with an allergy or intolerance would not be able to work there. Everywhere else, they should be free to come to work without worry.

Ask complaining colleague if she is affected by things like reed diffusers or those gel type air fresheners that constantly release a smell. If she isn’t then maybe buy some of them for the toilets. Send out an email to all staff asking them to refrain from spraying perfume/aftershave/deodorants etc in communal areas due to health issues reported by another member of staff. Including male toiletries will make it more anonymous. If she has a health condition, such as asthma then this should be included in her risk assessment.

What is entitled about spraying perfume? The sprayer is doing it in the bathroom, not at their desk.
Honestly, some individuals just want to impose their demands on everyone. How does the complainer cope if they are sitting on public transport and someone sprays thenself? (I've seen this happen many times)...Or in any other public bathrooms? At the cinema? In a restaurant? It's not reasonable to expect to control the public air around oneself.. unless there is a specific medical rationale for doing so. And in this example there seems to be no actual medical condition which would necessitate it.

Is it actually clear that the perfume user is doing it to cover bathroom smells? She may just like topping up her own perfume during the day?

You really can’t work it out? You would be imposing your demands and desires on everyone else who just has to put up with it?

Well there’s either something wrong with her or there isn’t, it can’t be both. She’s been asked by her manager and she has told that manager there is no impact on her health…so yes, she’s being a cow for the sake of it. If it was really impacting her health she would have told her manager and/or gone to doctors about it. She’s done neither, just complained. You get these kind of people everywhere, just try to cause problems for others by making petty complaints.

You being asthmatic has absolutely nothing to do with this situation so stop the woe is me nonsense.

This seems like a situation practically begging for one of those ubiquitous, laminated signs beginning: "Polite notice".

https://pourri.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoq76k6tP166yH00xP_CooFnkqcbdQ6yqI7eQNfLKujz6-Jfthlu

Poo Pourri might be a better option.

This is very "I'll do whatever I want and sod everyone else even if it intrudes on their comfort - but if anyone complains they are the cow" 🤔 A very entitled and blinkered perspective.

Is spraying perfume necessary for anyone's health?

No.

Does aerosol spray including perfumes cause minor (and occasionally major) health issues such as allergies and headaches, and less often serious issues like asthma and breathing issues in some other people?

Yes.

Is it therefore the act of an arsehole to spray perfume in a small unventilated public space which colleagues cannot avoid going into?

Yes.

People who make a conscious choice to intrude their entirely optional strong smells, aerosol particles and unnecessary intrusive noise into enclosed public spaces which those made uncomfortable by those things can't easily avoid show a very special type of unpleasant selfishness. Presumably they are the same people don't see why they should use headphones when watching social media "reels" at full volume on public transport, or covering their nose when they sneeze...

For god sake, just stop. This specific woman does NOT have an allergy. Stop trying to make this thread about you and your issues, it is not relevant and you’re projecting.

If it affects the colleague's breathing then you do need to spek to the perfume sprayer.

People spraying perfume often triggers peoples' asthma or causes migraines.

As a manager you need to address this.

I don't have these health issues - I'm just not completely asocial.

We've had this issue at work with air-freshners purchased independently by employees and sprayed in bathrooms used by our client group, one of whom had a reaction requiring an ambulance, after which there was a review of the issue generally and a lot of issues raised.

I'm not sure why you feel you're entitled to tell me to "just stop" posting on a public forum but I presume it's because you are also one of those people who does what you like including when your entirely unnecessary actions done just because you feel like it have the potential to cause other people health problems or discomfort.

Just because this particular woman might just be complaining doesn’t mean that the office isn’t creating a dangerous situation by allowing the perfume spraying to continue. A manager is now aware the problem exists and doesn’t want to intervene. Likely this manager is like many people that think perfume allergies are not serious issues.

Some day it could be a person with a serious condition and this manager will have a history of ignoring the problem.

No, you stop.

Air fresheners and sprays really do create issues for a lot of people. They don't affect me, but they did affect my mum - very badly.

When I go to work I put perfume on before I leave the house, not in the toilets at work because I am considerate of other people's needs.

“Some day it could be a person with a serious condition and this manager will have a history of ignoring the problem”

What does this mean in reality? You think some day someone will die from an allergic reaction to perfume and the coroner will point out the company had been warned about rogue perfume spraying previously? Not likely is it?

managers can’t lead if they’re so terrified that every decision might have a future life or death impact. That’s not how corporate life goes.

What does this mean in reality?

Potentially, a severe astham attack requiring hospitalisation.

My mum reacted very badly to perfumed sprays.

I'm really disappointed at the number of posters on this thread who think that people make up allergies/reactions to perfumed sprays.

More likely a cultural shift where people realize this is no different than smoking in the office. It’s the general attitude of disbelief and derision from the manager that is a sign that when problems do arise, they may run into issues.

It’s the general attitude of disbelief and derision from the manager

That shows she shouldn't manage people.

But that is incredibly unlikely right? From someone spraying perfume?

we have very good health and safety in this country, which takes a risk based approach. It’s surprising it’s not already in guidelines if presents any sort of significance in risk

A lot of posters on this thread have said that it does affect them though, so while it is reasonably unlikely it doesn't mean that it will never happen.