employee treats coworkers as if they stink

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager.

A reader writes:

I work with a group of people who are public-facing in a building (retail/public service type environment) and we rotate people on different desks on a set schedule throughout the day. I have a few coworkers who are sensitive to fragrances, and our policy was recently updated to be a “fragrance-reasonable” workplace. Our policy says that because employees and visitors may have sensitivity or allergic reactions to various fragrant products, employees should refrain from using heavily scented products.

For a couple of our coworkers who had been in the habit of using scented lotions, etc., this was a change, but overall people have been trying to be responsive to sensitivities, and we have addressed issues directly as required.

My issue is the reaction of one employee to the smells of others. I do believe they are still smelling odors from others, even though no other coworkers are able to smell anything. But their reactions to these smells are unprofessional and I want to address it directly with them. (I supervise their supervisor, so it would be appropriate for me.) This person will physically cover their mouth and nose in the elevator with other people, or fan the air vigorously with a folder when transitioning to a desk that a “smelly” person has been sitting at (that other coworkers can’t smell anything from). I had thought that the policy clarification on personal scents and our direct discussions had solved this, but just received a verbal report that these behaviors continue. This is understandably hurtful to these coworkers.

I’m trying to determine a good way to ensure I address this person’s sensitivity concerns, while also making it clear how these behaviors are unacceptable, and to set reasonable behavior expectations. (It feels weird to think of saying, “Don’t cover your nose and mouth like a child when your coworkers step into the elevator,” but do I need to be on that level? Can I “police” someone’s reactions on that level?) I believe we have done the work of ensuring reasonable compliance with the policy. Any specific language and approach you can give would be appreciated!

Yeah, they can’t be rude to coworkers.

If they’re continuing to have issues with fragrances beyond what your policy covers, there needs to be a bigger conversation about how to solve that. Would it help if they wore a mask? Do they need a dedicated workspace that no one else uses? A fan set up at any space they’re going to work in? Is the problem severe enough that they should be working remotely, if that’s possible for their job?

Those are all reasonable solutions they (and you) should consider. Visibly communicating “you stink” to coworkers is not.

That’s the conversation I’d suggest having with them. Take them at face value that fragrances continue to be an issue for them, and tell them that their current method of addressing it isn’t an option so let’s figure out what you and they can do.

If they’re not open to trying any of those solutions — or if they try them but the behavior continues — then the conversation is, “This is what our policy is. If there are specific accommodations you can propose that will help you work more comfortably, I need you to raise them with me so we can try to resolve this. But you cannot continue behaviors like X and Y.”

(But also, since you work in a public-facing environment, I’m curious whether this employee is doing this around patrons too, or only around coworkers. It sounds like it’s only happening around coworkers, which would be pretty pointed … and, presumably, controllable on the employee’s end.)