Recently, I read an article in a prominent HR publication explaining the contortions that managers were expected to perform if someone claimed a “fragrance allergy” or said they had a bad reaction to fragrances. I wrote a letter which was published explaining that there are no scientific studies that I know of validating widespread fragrance allergies and, even if there were, prohibiting fragrances in the workplace wasn’t the answer.
Imagine, expecting managers (who are normally trying to sell insurance, or produce widgets, or inspect tires) to establish rules and policing to eliminate scented deodorant, cologne, hairspray, soap, skin lotion, medicinal ointments, and makeup? What about food? Doesn’t it have a fragrance?
And how do these fragrance-reactive people get to work? In a hermetically sealed bubble? Don’t they take the train or the bus, use elevators, buy coffee at Starbucks? How fragrance-free is their commute?
Refreshingly, I received scores of letters from HR professionals lauding me for my stand and supporting the fact that you accommodate one-off problems with one-off solutions (e.g., a private office or work at home) and not through demanding life style changes of thousands of people.
There is a lot of “junk science” surrounding us lately, and even more “junk HR policies” which seem intent on avoiding a complaint (or law suit) from so much as one person, even if it means discomforting hundreds of others. Someone once said that a professional association I belonged to was intent on “making everyone as successful as its least successful member.” Let’s not create a workplace which makes everyone as limited and constrained as the most limited and constrained member.
By all means, let’s try to accommodate legitimate problems and difficulties. But let’s also do so while observing everyone else’s right to their own lives.

© Alan Weiss 2001 All rights reserved.

Alan Weiss, Ph.D., CMC is the author of 16 books, including the seminal Million Dollar Consulting (McGraw-Hill) and his newest, The Ultimate Consultant (Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer). You can reach him at Alan@summitconsulting.com. Visit his web site, http://www.summitconsulting.com to subscribe to his free monthly newsletter, Balancing Act: Blending Life, Work, and Relationships.