Bell Canada bans poinsettias from its largest Ontario office

[karrie]

Okay, my bad for speed reading while making dinner.
I was under the initial impression it was an inhalant issue. Residue? Who's rubbing these plants?

I think it still really comes down to management weighing the facts in this individuals case though.

 

[taxslave]

I may have a severe reaction to any GMO foods and since I never know exactly where I might end up on any given day all stores and restaurants must immediately remove all GMOs . furthermore all farmers must cease and desist from growing GMO foods.

 

[L Gilbert]

We have a similar policy in our office. The corporation has embraced shared open spaces. A colleague of mine in the US sits across from the North American head honcho. No fragrances, including plants. I'm surprised that we don't have a list yet of food allergens, considering the amount of potlucks we have for Halloween and Christmas etc.

I'm surprised Bell didn't already have a policy like this.

probably because the specialists all say the chances of a reaction are "extremely unlikely".

It's pretty well established that in the majority of cases, the symptoms are coming from psychological reactions rather than something in the person's physiology. It's complicated because there isn't a reliable diagnostic test for many odours. Even still, that doesn't make the loss of productivity from a business stand point any less real. Let's be real, that is the real reason a corporation makes a policy like 'no-scent workplace' in the first place. Loss time or less productive time go to the bottom line.

That's why I find this surprising.

There's also the butt-covering practises that companies seem to favor following. If companies would ask people to put any known allergies or intolerances in their resumes, they could lessen a lot of chances of reaction.
hehehe Woods and plastics are in the following list of the top ten allergies:
Top 10 Odd Allergies | Top 10 Lists | TopTenz.net lol
I'd imagine that's not including ragweed, milk, gluten, certain pharmaceuticals, etc.

BTW, there are loads of pet weeds with little or no scent.

 

[Spade]

Save a life; ban poinsettias. Pagan symbols have no place in an office. It's a workplace not a temple.
Seriously, the ban is not an imposition.

 

[L Gilbert]

More reason to have a pet rock instead.
Wifey has this little jumping spider hanging around this desk. Maybe live animated critters is the way to go.

 

[captain morgan]

Save a life; ban poinsettias. Pagan symbols have no place in an office. It's a workplace not a temple.
Seriously, the ban is not an imposition.

More reason to have a pet rock instead.
Wifey has this little jumping spider hanging around this desk. Maybe live animated critters is the way to go.

I wonder if this entire event isn't a strong argument for more folks working from a home office (where possible).

At the extreme, It would be near impossible to provide a workplace that didn't have some form of repercussion to someone all the way from pet dander on clothes to microscopic peanut residue left on a door handle.

 

[L Gilbert]

I wonder if this entire event isn't a strong argument for more folks working from a home office (where possible).

At the extreme, It would be near impossible to provide a workplace that didn't have some form of repercussion to someone all the way from pet dander on clothes to microscopic peanut residue left on a door handle.

Cool. A planet fulla Howard Hugheses.