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Office perfume complaint sparks heated HR exchange at commissioners meeting
Summary
An internal dispute over an employee wearing perfume in the county office erupted into an extended personnel discussion; staff cited prior warnings and health concerns (coughing), and supervisors described options including leaving for the day, taking a personal day, or being written up.
A staff complaint about a colleague's perfume led to an extended, emotional exchange in the commissioners' meeting. The employee said she had asked the colleague to close a window or let her leave for the day because she could not breathe; other staff noted prior warnings about wearing perfume in the office because of documented allergies.
"I have my heater on. I have an extra sweater. I asked, can we please close the window?" the employee told the board, describing her attempts to reduce exposure. Supervisors said they had notified the employee previously about the office perfume policy and offered options: go home and change, take a personal day, or be written up if the warning history continued. The board advised using HR complaint procedures and encouraged both parties to seek a workable accommodation while preserving the office's ability to function.
