Heavy perfume in medical facilities, or anywhere, really

I go through this even in hospital, it's heart breaking 💔

I work as a CCMA in a medical clinic, when a scent affects me, I become sick. It's starting to get worse: it burns my nose, burns my throat, sits in my chest, headache, puffy watery eyes, and nasal congestion. I just wish everyone would understand how serious this is and know I'm not making it up. I'm worried how bad this is going to become, so I'm going to my doctor on Monday in hopes of getting an Epipen and maybe a referral to a specialist. Is there anything else I should do? What are my rights?

@malindas Hello and welcome to Connect. I agree completely. I have allergic asthma and fragrances bother me and just shut down my lungs and constrict my airways. I have gone through allergy testing, but there isn't anything medically they could do about perfume because that is a chemical exposure type reaction, and wasn't a true allergy. It's definitely worth asking if an epipen works for that situation. I do know that Mayo does not allow employees to wear fragrances which I applaud.

Does your employer have an employee policy about fragrances in the work place? If patients are wearing it, there likely isn't much you could do. I do understand how serious this is. It can become a bad situation. A medical office employer should know better since this is a medical problem. Your condition can be considered a disability (like asthma) and your state my have disability laws about providing accommodations for workers with disabilities such as a Department of Human Rights. In theory that sounds like a way to get relief, but doing something like that can also cause more problems with an employer and you may be looking for another job. Have you talked to your employer about your concerns? That would be a logical first step.

@malindas

I have been in that situation. Multiple times I have talked to fellow employee in private about their cologne, both times it was a male. One was so bad I could tell if he had been in the hallway without even seeing him. This was also in medical clinic. They may of been embarrassed, but needed to be told.

In other situation not much can do, like in a bus.

Are people wearing fragrance employees, patients or visitors?

I have talked to my supervisor and she supports whatever I need to be okay. My co-workers know, but there is one who still does what she wants and it doesn't seem to affect her how much it makes me sick. I will be printing company policy, research the disability laws here and gathering whatever I need before I have to go to HR if nothing gets done.

Patients sometimes smell like they just got out of a bathtub of perfume/cologne. A couple of co-workers put the scents on which get to me. All I know is to do research and go to my doctor to see what I can do.

You have a right to request Reasonable Accommodations for a medical condition. What you have may not be an allergy as it is defined yet it IS a medical condition. Check out Job Accommodation Network (JAN) and see their recommendations for someone with fragrance & chemical issues. I've found it very helpful in advocating for myself. I have these same issues as well as some other lung conditions going on. Find some co-workers who truly get it to be your allies with those who do not. We need to form a not-for-profit group to raise awareness and make fragrance/chemicals as outcast as cigarette smoke.

@malindas I hope that HR will support your position and ban perfumes, and inform all employees of the policy. If you are disabled by fragrance exposure, it also affects your job performance which can affect your salary or job promotions. You are in a job that requires thinking skills, and need to be fully functional. This puts you in a difficult position, but you have to advocate for yourself. If you do end up seeking help from a state agency over a disability, that will put you in a legal position against your employer. I hope it doesn't escalate to that, and I do hope your employer will listen to your concerns and solve the problem.