Canadian Politics Today

Looking for your thoughts on a situation:

New girl has been working in the office for the last 2 months.  She is very much into "natural" health and believes in it quite strongly, talks about it alot.

Suddenly makes a request for a scent-free AND chemical-free workplace.

For the last 2 months there has been nothing to indicate that she has this disability.  Her desk is in the open entrance next to the entry doors - we all have our own offices.

She has no medical documentation to say this is necessary.
We diffuse natural oils in our office, which she says is fine - as long as we use only DoTerra brand oils (which she conveniently sells).
She wants the unscented soap we use in the bathrooms changed to DoTerra soap (which she also sells at $30 a bottle)
We have to throw away all our cleaning and kitchen supplies and only use DoTerra brand

She also works at the Sobey's across the street and when I asked her what accomodations they have made for her, she said none.  I asked how she manages that - she says she avoids the cleaning product aisle.

I suspect this is more of a personal preference thing than an actual disability, but we will have to treat it as such either way, to avoid a lawsuit.

I have known people who have chemical sensitivities and they had to wear a mask everywhere they went.  This girl doesn't.  I also understand fragrance and chemical sensitivities and allergies are real but I'm not sure you can be sensitive to ALL chemicals and ALL fragrances - except for DoTerra.  Usually people are sensitive to just certain things.

I agree that demanding accommodations for a specific brand of soap, etc. are unreasonable. If she has very specific requirements, then she should fill them herself. If she cannot drink from a mug washed in Dawn dish soap, then she needs to bring her own mug and wash it herself.

The issue around diffusing oils in the office can be simply addressed by not doing it. If she want's to diffuse her expensive stuff, as long as nobody else objects then fine but nobody needs that stuff so anyone can say cut it out.

But are people required to not wear perfume or scented deodorant ?

They should be anyway....   I don’t want to smell your crappy perfume.

They should be anyway....   I don’t want to smell your crappy perfume.

You have no idea what I smell like.  You would love it.

Sounds like she was unfairly put on the spot and couldn’t stand up for herself against all the staff. 

Having the person with a possible medical issue stand up and address all the staff about it is pretty screwy.  It’s workplace bullying. 

I suppose a place with only a couple staff, no HR or safety committee would solve it this way, but if it’s an office/company of any size, this isn’t a good way to deal with a person’s issue.  You people sound lovely to work with.   

Did they offer to take it to the team on her behalf ?

Workplace environment is management's job to keep productive and welcoming.

And cutting her hours because of that ?  That's pretty regressive IMO.

They didn't cut her hours.  They just didn't add any.

Agreed that a lot of our problems come from management.

Management is unbelievably shitty.  I have a trainee shadowing me tomorrow.  I had her earlier this year.  I explained how I work and she seemed stunned that nobody checked the team's comings and goings.

What are you talking about???

What did you misunderstand ?

Management is shitty ?  That's a general opinion I have of the state of management in the world today is all.