Fragrance Policy in the Workplace?? - Page 3

lolabella · 05-26-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by kgargr

how bout people that put their speaker phone on in their cube to check their messages .. as if we all want to hear ... oh well .. it is a beautiful, hot day here in Minnesota .. happy Friday.

Yes, we have one of those too! He insists on yelling into his speakerphone during client calls, yet he can raise his voice to barely a whisper when he is sweet talking his wife on the phone....now those are the calls I'd really like to hear!

Our office also has the Obxnoxious Ringtone Guy. Anyone else have that? His ringtone plays circus music. Wouldn't be so bad if it didn't go off 6 times/day.

The gal next to me like to sing along and whistle to her radio...

Those are two that I can pretty much overlook though. I wear headphones alot at work...

Rissask · 05-26-2006

Quote:

also, how bout people that put their speaker phone on in their cube to check their messages .. as if we all want to hear ... oh well

So true! I cannot understand the whole speakerphone addiction with some of my co-workers...but it led to a funny incident one day recently.

I heard our purchaser (whose office is about 20 feet from me) on the phone, asking to speak to a Ron ___; I perked up because that was the name of a former BF I had dated for 6 years. I listened to them and it was him!

I haven't seen him for 14 years but knew he lived in the city and worked for a tire company, and it's where we get our tires from!
I went and told the purchaser the next time he talked to him to say hi from me.

Small world.
Well, not really- but small province.

Quote:

Our office also has the Obxnoxious Ringtone Guy. Anyone else have that? His ringtone plays circus music. Wouldn't be so bad if it didn't go off 6 times/day.

One of my co-workers has a ringtone with a breathy woman whispering his name..."Jeff? Hold me Jeff...Jeff, hold me." etc. in a sexy voice.

It's pretty funny, but the music ones I hate too.

Quote:

The gal next to me like to sing along and whistle to her radio...

Okay, that's me too.

zelda · 05-26-2006

Our scent policy goes something like this:

It is possible to be clean and fresh without strong scents. In order to accommodate staff and visitors with allergies and sensitivies, please use body products that do not have strong scents.

lolabella · 05-26-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rissask

One of my co-workers has a ringtone with a breathy woman whispering his name..."Jeff? Hold me Jeff...Jeff, hold me." etc. in a sexy voice.

It's pretty funny, but the music ones I hate too.

Okay..I confess... my ringtone is Jon Bon Jovi saying...
'Hi! This is Jon Bon Jovi...lay your hands on me. See how easy it is to pick me up?'

I ALWAYS remember to put my phone on vibrate though before I enter the office. I'd be too embarrased if anyone heard that!!

Rissask · 05-26-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda

Our scent policy goes something like this:

It is possible to be clean and fresh without strong scents. In order to accommodate staff and visitors with allergies and sensitivies, please use body products that do not have strong scents.

That sounds like a good one...but the problem with scents, is that it is so subjective....because people get used to their own smells, we can't really tell if we have 'strong scents' on...some can't tell the difference between 'dousing' and 'spritzing'.

Kind of the same thing with volume of voice or music- one person's 'low music' is blaring to the next person. Varying sense abilities play in there too.

Rissask · 05-26-2006

[quote][quote=lolabella]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rissask

One of my co-workers has a ringtone with a breathy woman whispering his name..."Jeff? Hold me Jeff...Jeff, hold me." etc. in a sexy voice.

It's pretty funny, but the music ones I hate too.

Quote:

Okay..I confess... my ringtone is Jon Bon Jovi saying...
'Hi! This is Jon Bon Jovi...lay your hands on me. See how easy it is to pick me up?'

I ALWAYS remember to put my phone on vibrate thought before I enter the office. I'd be too embarrased if anyone heard that!!

good one!
Jeff said his went off in the grocery store lineup once!

He likes the attention though...he said people were just laughing.

CalifGuy · 05-26-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by krazy4playa

You have already had the conversation with her..

I think it's a "he".

Ali · 05-26-2006

I really feel for you lolabella! Luckily (or unluckily...depends on the day of the week!) I work with mainly men so don't have the scent issue at work. More often than not however I'll get someone next to me on the underground in the morning who hums like they've used a whole bottle of perfume - and it's always one that makes me feel like retching! I feel that scent is a personal thing - I don't wear it for other people therefore I only wear enough that I can smell it....and anyone who gets close to me of course

Hope you get it sorted amicably

Andiline · 05-26-2006

Well, we don't have a scent policy but I remember that several years ago we had a cleaning woman who seemed to clean everything except herself. So in the evening when she used to come to clean the rooms on our floor my co-workers would flee from their desks, open their windows and stuff like that. You could smell her when she was still several rooms away... so one day I talked to the guy from Internal Services who was responsible and told him about this. Several days after she smelled like rose water (she disappeared shortly after this anyway though).

I wear perfume too (Eternity/Calvin Klein) but I ask the guys I share the room with whether they can smell it... there are perfumes which are very heavy and others which aren't. And some (like 'Eau de Cologne' just stink!).

xqqzme · 05-26-2006

We don't have a scent policy but we've been pretty effective with belittling others into compliance. Actually I understand your problem. I've been stuck next to someone on a coast to coast flight that took a bath in some hideous strong smelling cologne. Definitely not a case of 'more is better'.
I agree that going to your Human Resources person would be good place to start.

**denisea** · 05-26-2006

One of the ad agencies I worked for years ago had a fragrance policy... which at the time I thought was really odd. Primarily because I wore fragrance at the time. Apparently, it was in place because it just so happened that the head of HR had reactions such as Lolabella has experienced. Ironically, I now have allergic reactions to fragrances and they are also one of my triggers for migranes. I's so bad that I can't even walk through the cosmetic section of department stores without it triggering an allergic reaction... forget about stand alone fragrance stores. So I can totally relate. I've had to ask people I work with to tone it done too. Some fragrances are worse than others.

As for HR horror stories... my favorite was when an employee of mine backhanded our client upside the back of the head in front of their client!

It was meant to be a slight tap, however, it ended up being harder than intended. Unfortunately, the employee was not well liked by my client or the client's client. Fortunately for the employee, he was extremely talented... because it was the only thing that saved his job. I had one helluva a time convincing my higher ups to keep him on staff. Needless to say, he wasn't allowed to meet with any clients ever again after that fiasco.

TAPPY · 05-26-2006

A story out of my HR files from many years ago...when this sort of thing was not as big an issue as it would be today.

2 coworkers are having a fling (one married, one single)

Apparently they meet up at the office on the weekends for quickie flings.

(I guess a hotel room would be $$$ and work is a good cover for the married one)

Our dept. secretary calls me to ask me to meet her at the office on Saturday morning. (because it is REALLY spooky to go into our big dark building all alone on the weekend) She needs to clean up the board room because they had a meeting in it the day before and she remembers she left a meat tray out. (that is going to smell by Monday morning). So I unlock the boardroom and guess who is in there madly adjusting their clothes.

They apparently forgot that we have security cameras all over the place !!!

Popcorn anyone ?

BonnyW · 05-26-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by TAPPY

A story out of my HR files from many years ago...when this sort of thing was not as big an issue as it would be today.

2 coworkers are having a fling (one married, one single)

Apparently they meet up at the office on the weekends for quickie flings.

(I guess a hotel room would be $$$ and work is a good cover for the married one)

Our dept. secretary calls me to ask me to meet her at the office on Saturday morning. (because it is REALLY spooky to go into our big dark building all alone on the weekend) She needs to clean up the board room because they had a meeting in it the day before and she remembers she left a meat tray out. (that is going to smell by Monday morning). So I unlock the boardroom and guess who is in there madly adjusting their clothes.

They apparently forgot that we have security cameras all over the place !!!

Popcorn anyone ?

OMG...That was funny!

**sctx** · 05-26-2006

there should be laws against co-workers that turn the bathroom into a 6 hour olfactory bio-hazard

Ginger · 05-26-2006

another reason I'm glad my office is in my house...and I'm the only one who's in it. I can shower before work, or choose not to...I can wear loads of perfume, make popcorn, eat currey, listen to loud music, even sing! and it doesn't matter...'cause I"m all alone.

Then again I miss out on all these funny conversation pieces!

05-26-2006	#42 (permalink)
TAPPY añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Louisiana Posts: 15,277	A story out of my HR files from many years ago...when this sort of thing was not as big an issue as it would be today. 2 coworkers are having a fling (one married, one single) Apparently they meet up at the office on the weekends for quickie flings. (I guess a hotel room would be $$$ and work is a good cover for the married one) Our dept. secretary calls me to ask me to meet her at the office on Saturday morning. (because it is REALLY spooky to go into our big dark building all alone on the weekend) She needs to clean up the board room because they had a meeting in it the day before and she remembers she left a meat tray out. (that is going to smell by Monday morning). So I unlock the boardroom and guess who is in there madly adjusting their clothes. They apparently forgot that we have security cameras all over the place !!! Popcorn anyone ? Last edited by TAPPY; 05-26-2006 at 07:54 PM.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

05-26-2006	#33 (permalink)
zelda way into it Join Date: May 2004 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Posts: 248	Our scent policy goes something like this: It is possible to be clean and fresh without strong scents. In order to accommodate staff and visitors with allergies and sensitivies, please use body products that do not have strong scents.

05-26-2006	#38 (permalink)
Ali life=playa Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: London, UK Posts: 717	I really feel for you lolabella! Luckily (or unluckily...depends on the day of the week!) I work with mainly men so don't have the scent issue at work. More often than not however I'll get someone next to me on the underground in the morning who hums like they've used a whole bottle of perfume - and it's always one that makes me feel like retching! I feel that scent is a personal thing - I don't wear it for other people therefore I only wear enough that I can smell it....and anyone who gets close to me of course Hope you get it sorted amicably

05-26-2006	#39 (permalink)
Andiline añejo Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Cologne, Germany Posts: 7,707	Well, we don't have a scent policy but I remember that several years ago we had a cleaning woman who seemed to clean everything except herself. So in the evening when she used to come to clean the rooms on our floor my co-workers would flee from their desks, open their windows and stuff like that. You could smell her when she was still several rooms away... so one day I talked to the guy from Internal Services who was responsible and told him about this. Several days after she smelled like rose water (she disappeared shortly after this anyway though). I wear perfume too (Eternity/Calvin Klein) but I ask the guys I share the room with whether they can smell it... there are perfumes which are very heavy and others which aren't. And some (like 'Eau de Cologne' just stink!).

05-26-2006	#40 (permalink)
xqqzme Bi-Coastal Beacher Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Las Vegas and St George Posts: 4,842	We don't have a scent policy but we've been pretty effective with belittling others into compliance. Actually I understand your problem. I've been stuck next to someone on a coast to coast flight that took a bath in some hideous strong smelling cologne. Definitely not a case of 'more is better'. I agree that going to your Human Resources person would be good place to start.

05-26-2006	#41 (permalink)
denisea Forum Goddess Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: On the road to ruins... Posts: 7,025	One of the ad agencies I worked for years ago had a fragrance policy... which at the time I thought was really odd. Primarily because I wore fragrance at the time. Apparently, it was in place because it just so happened that the head of HR had reactions such as Lolabella has experienced. Ironically, I now have allergic reactions to fragrances and they are also one of my triggers for migranes. I's so bad that I can't even walk through the cosmetic section of department stores without it triggering an allergic reaction... forget about stand alone fragrance stores. So I can totally relate. I've had to ask people I work with to tone it done too. Some fragrances are worse than others. As for HR horror stories... my favorite was when an employee of mine backhanded our client upside the back of the head in front of their client! It was meant to be a slight tap, however, it ended up being harder than intended. Unfortunately, the employee was not well liked by my client or the client's client. Fortunately for the employee, he was extremely talented... because it was the only thing that saved his job. I had one helluva a time convincing my higher ups to keep him on staff. Needless to say, he wasn't allowed to meet with any clients ever again after that fiasco.

05-26-2006	#44 (permalink)
sctx Reality Skeptic Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Body in San Marcos Tx....Tankah in my mind Posts: 28,604	there should be laws against co-workers that turn the bathroom into a 6 hour olfactory bio-hazard

05-26-2006	#45 (permalink)
Ginger none Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 10,169	another reason I'm glad my office is in my house...and I'm the only one who's in it. I can shower before work, or choose not to...I can wear loads of perfume, make popcorn, eat currey, listen to loud music, even sing! and it doesn't matter...'cause I"m all alone. Then again I miss out on all these funny conversation pieces!

register to remove these adverts