Allergic to perfume in an open plan office

ERICS_MUM

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

I think this is a tricky one for the employer. The OP has herself said it's only this specific perfume, and the employer has allowed moving desks.

I would say go back to GP and make sure it is the perfume and not something else.

easiest next step would be to ask the woman to help with an "experiment" by not wearing any perfume for a couple of days. OP will then know if the perfume is the cause of his ills.

Elle7

Is it every time this woman is around?

It seems unlikely that she'd wear the same perfume every single day, everywhere that she is. I certainly don't, and no-one I work with does either. In fact, I'm fairly sure that most people vary their perfumes quite often.

It sounds like it probably is related to her, but I'm not overly convinced it'll be her perfume.

Has he tried any medication for migraines/headaches? Do they help to either prevent or cure the headaches?

makeyourdaddyproud

I was going to say to the OP the boss might have an "open door" policy, but that might be the cause of the suffrage.

anamenottaken

Elle7 wrote: »

Is it every time this woman is around?

It seems unlikely that she'd wear the same perfume every single day, everywhere that she is. I certainly don't, and no-one I work with does either. In fact, I'm fairly sure that most people vary their perfumes quite often.

It sounds like it probably is related to her, but I'm not overly convinced it'll be her perfume.

Has he tried any medication for migraines/headaches? Do they help to either prevent or cure the headaches?

Some like to have a "signature" perfume and do use it all the time.

Brenny

Elle7 wrote: »

Is it every time this woman is around?

It seems unlikely that she'd wear the same perfume every single day, everywhere that she is. I certainly don't, and no-one I work with does either. In fact, I'm fairly sure that most people vary their perfumes quite often.

It sounds like it probably is related to her, but I'm not overly convinced it'll be her perfume.

Has he tried any medication for migraines/headaches? Do they help to either prevent or cure the headaches?

For me it isn't just one perfume. There aren't many that I can tolerate. The previous poster who said she reacted to musk based perfumes -they are the only ones I can wear! So it is very much down to what individuals can tolerate. As I said before this is so disabling so those of you who do wear perfume please don't be dismissive if someone asks for your understanding and help.

goonarmy

Buy the lady in question a new perfume that agrees with the ops oher half and disguise it as a christmas gift. Id suggest a big bottle that wont run out any time soon.

kirsty100000

personally I would have a chat with my manager and explain that it is causing headaches and allergic reactions. The manager may then come up with a solution to the issue such as banning strong perfumes.

angelbob

Irn_Bru wrote: »

It just seems a bit extreme that he's the one having to take pills, or go out of his way, when simply changing a perfume would likely resolve this issue. Its not as though its a requirement for her role, or there isn't a massive choice of alternatives out there...

but he is the one with the problem not her, why should she spend a lot of money on a new perfume because you BF believes he is allergic,
I'm allergic to lots of things, its my problem not anyone else's.


You sure it's not a excuse why your BF comes home smelling of another women's perfume

Irn_Bru_2

angelbob wrote: »

but he is the one with the problem not her, why should she spend a lot of money on a new perfume because you BF believes he is allergic,
I'm allergic to lots of things, its my problem not anyone else's.


You sure it's not a excuse why your BF comes home smelling of another women's perfume

Guess that's her thought process too, but he has to go to work and is expected to do a job, its not a requirement of the job to wear that specific perfume. This isn't an allergy that he can avoid, as it isn't something that he can control the same way as a food allergy or washing powder or something like that.

He has tried to explain the situation with his manager but got nowhere, and has been to the doctor but they don't seem to appreciate that although the medication he's got stops the headaches getting worse, it doesn't make them go away. I've told him to go back to the doctors in the New Year and passed on some of the other suggestions from the replies that I've received so thanks all.