Bell Canada bans poinsettias from its largest Ontario office

[CDNBear]

I think if you had to stand and stare me in the face and say 'you have to leave because it's too hard for Marjory to give up hr ivy', you'd come to realize why employers make these concessions. There are certain scents that for whatever reason, make some people horridly ill. My brother in law gets crippling migraines from lilies. He doesnt call it an allergy. Its not an allergy. But its not a mental problem either.

I'm scent sensitive. I can't even walk into a Shopper Drug Mart without getting a splitting headache.

I realize I am but one person.

 

[SLM]

I think if you had to stand and stare me in the face and say 'you have to leave because it's too hard for Marjory to give up hr ivy', you'd come to realize why employers make these concessions. There are certain scents that for whatever reason, make some people horridly ill. My brother in law gets crippling migraines from lilies. He doesnt call it an allergy. Its not an allergy. But its not a mental problem either.

I have the same thing from perfume. It's not an allergy but I can get splitting migraine headaches.

I'm scent sensitive. I can't even walk into a Shopper Drug Mart without getting a splitting headache.

Try walking into The Bay or Sears.

I realize I am but one person.

But you're not really, that's a very common "allergy" or "irritant". They have scent free workplaces, medical clinics, public transportation and thank God they do.

There is little in my world that is worse than being stuck on a elevator with a woman who wears perfume. And she doesn't even have to wear alot of it to bother me. I can taste it in my throat and the headache comes on instantaneously.

 

[CDNBear]

But you're not really, that's a very common "allergy" or "irritant". They have scent free workplaces, medical clinics, public transportation and thank God they do.

I didn't demand it, nor would I.

 

[SLM]

I didn't demand it, nor would I.

I would. In a workplace, you're damned right I would. Why should I have to suffer through my day in pain just so someone could wear perfume? Not wearing it would not cause them pain and suffering.

It's really just about having a little common courtesy for those around you I think.

 

[CDNBear]

It's really just about having a little common courtesy for those around you I think.

I think so too.

I also think I shouldn't impose on others, like 5999+ others.

Especially since I can pop a couple aspirin and move on.

 

[Tonington]

It's a wash. New employee = no lost time, no imposition.

Not really a wash. It costs them nothing to ban products. New employee= interviews and a reduction in head count until the position is filled. In my workplace it takes a long time to find another skilled employee, and it means projects have less resource to complete the task than planned for when a person is let go. Bell maybe different, but I'm sure they have some employees that aren't easily, or rather cheaply replaced.

It makes more sense- :lol: - to look at fragrance issues on a case-by-case basis, but that again means more time for someone like an HSE manager to investigate, and likely consult with experts. More costs.

Lastly, courts don't discriminate between psychological or physiological when it comes to harm. There's plenty of cases out there with respect to lawsuits, there is even laws, and in Canada the human rights tribunals. These have also helped to expand the number of no-scent workplaces.

And, while the number of people with physiological impairment may be small, like in asthmatics, it's still a significant cost to employers.

The total ban is really the cheapest and most cost effective option. Far lower risk of encountering unexpected costs.

 

[CDNBear]

Not really a wash. It costs them nothing to ban products.

I'd like to see the break down of employee productivity and happiness.

 

[SLM]

I think so too.

I also think I shouldn't impose on others, like 5999+ others.

Especially since I can pop a couple aspirin and move on.

I can't just pop a couple of aspirin because as long as the irritant is still there, I suffer. So if it's a place I have to go to everyday, I should be able to enjoy some consideration.

As far as the plant thing goes, I really don't think it's a huge deal. They are asking that one type of plant be removed, yes because someone is likely panicking when they shouldn't be, but in the end who cares. A poinsetta is no more necessary to the workplace than perfume is to the workplace. My presence in the workplace is necessary, hence my wish for no perfumes. I don't really see it as any different.

 

[CDNBear]

I can't just pop a couple of aspirin because as long as the irritant is still there, I suffer. So if it's a place I have to go to everyday, I should be able to enjoy some consideration.

I disagree.

As far as the plant thing goes, I really don't think it's a huge deal. They are asking that one type of plant be removed, yes because someone is likely panicking when they shouldn't be, but in the end who cares. A poinsetta is no more necessary to the workplace than perfume is to the workplace. My presence in the workplace is necessary, hence my wish for no perfumes. I don't really see it as any different.

Plants reduce stress and increase productivity in the workplace

Slippery slopes.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

It's a wash. New employee = no lost time, no imposition.

Is the cost of training a new employee and laying off the one in question (I don't think flower allergy comes under justifiable dismissal so big severance/bribe to leave) easier than just writing a memo? Do that many people actually care about poinsettias?

 

[CDNBear]

Is the cost of training a new employee and laying off the one in question (I don't think flower allergy comes under justifiable dismissal so big severance/bribe to leave) easier than just writing a memo? Do that many people actually care about poinsettias?

Can you put a price on imposition?

 

[SLM]

I disagree.

So if we were to completely eliminate the possibility of banning perfumes in the workplace, I would need to be medicated 24/7 just to be able to earn a living. And I'd still likely be dealing with some suffering. And don't forget, I'm not the only one there are many other people who go through the same thing.

The way I look at it if someone's pleasure causes someone else to suffer, then that suffering is needless and you make allowances for that. Case by case basis of course.

Plants reduce stress and increase productivity in the workplace

Slippery slopes.

But they can have plants in the workplace. It even says so right in the article, they have a plant ban but do not enforce it. We're talking about removing one type of plant. So unless the study says that poinsetta's specifically are crucial to productivity, I still don't see the big deal. It's called a compromise, something people have to do every day in order to get along with one another.

 

[CDNBear]

And don't forget, I'm not the only one there are many other people who go through the same thing.

I know, I still disagree.

The way I look at it if someone's pleasure causes someone else to suffer, then that suffering is needless and you make allowances for that. Case by case basis of course.

I don't like being an imposition.

But they can have plants in the workplace.

Slippery slopes.

We're talking about removing one type of plant.

Needlessly. As the experts said, "extremely unlikely".

 

[SLM]

I know, I still disagree.

I don't like being an imposition.

You don't like being an imposition. How do you feel about other people being an imposition on you?

Conversely, I would hate to think that anything I ever did caused someone else grief. If someone was suffering because of the perfume I was wearing or the flowering plant I had in my office, I would remove it out of consideration for their general well being.

Slippery slopes.

Needlessly. As the experts said, "extremely unlikely".

If it was me with an allergy to poinsettas, I would just make sure I didn't handle any of them. But that's me and how I would deal with it. For all we know this person simply made a list of known allergies because it was on some HR form or something, or it simply became know to the company, and the company is simply looking to cover it's butt in case of any potential problem no matter how small.

 

[CDNBear]

How do you feel about other people being an imposition on you?

I don't like it. But I'm a realist about it.

Conversely, I would hate to think that anything I ever did caused someone else grief.

So would I, but it is what it is.

If someone was suffering because of the perfume I was wearing or the flowering plant I had in my office, I would remove it out of consideration for their general well being.

What if they weren't really?

If it was me with an allergy to poinsettas, I would just make sure I didn't handle any of them.

Bingo.

 

[SLM]

I don't like it. But I'm a realist about it.

So would I, but it is what it is.

I'm not the kind of person that imposes my will easily on others, I'll put up with a lot. But I do so in a 'pick your battles' kind of way. If I'm genuinely suffering, I'm not going to tolerate it.

What if they weren't really?

For the emotional cost of removing a plant? Yeah I would do it to give someone peace of mind. Again it's about picking your battles.

Now I would probably go home or even come here and talk about what a nutjob I think they are, but if it keeps the peace and doesn't feel like it costs me too much, what do I care?

Bingo.

Again I'd say it's about picking your battles. To me it really all comes down to what they're asking for. I will never be the person who is so attached to the plant in my office that I'd rather cause someone anguish (either real or imagined) just to keep it. It's just not worth it.

 

[CDNBear]

I'm not the kind of person that imposes my will easily on others, I'll put up with a lot. But I do so in a 'pick your battles' kind of way. If I'm genuinely suffering, I'm not going to tolerate it.

Neither am I. A headache just seems kind of small.

For the emotional cost of removing a plant? Yeah I would do it to give someone peace of mind. Again it's about picking your battles.

But the experts say there's no real danger.

I don't really care if someone is nuts.

Now I would probably go home or even come here and talk about what a nutjob I think they are, but if it keeps the peace and doesn't feel like it costs me too much, what do I care?

I care because it's a form of bullying.

Again I'd say it's about picking your battles. To me it really all comes down to what they're asking for. I will never be the person who is so attached to the plant in my office that I'd rather cause someone anguish (either real or imagined) just to keep it. It's just not worth it.

You and the plant aren't causing them anguish. Their being uneducated or mental incapacity is.

 

[SLM]

Neither am I. A headache just seems kind of small.

There ain't nothing small about my headaches! When they reach migraine intensity, that's suffering let me tell you.

But the experts say there's no real danger.

I don't really care if someone is nuts.

I care because it's a form of bullying.

I still think this is more of a corporate over reaction thing to be honest.

You and the plant aren't causing them anguish. Their uneducated or mental incapacity is.

Doesn't matter. If someone came to said "I know this sounds crazy but...." and then asked me to get rid of a plant, no problem. Whether I think they're nuts or not. Now, if they continually come back and ask/demand things then I'd start saying no. Like I said, to me it's just picking your battles.

 

[karrie]

Can you put a price on imposition?

Imposition goes both ways and people come before office decor, imo.

 

[CDNBear]

There ain't nothing small about my headaches! When they reach migraine intensity, that's suffering let me tell you.

Mine too.

I still think this is more of a corporate over reaction thing to be honest.

Possibly, but one would think that the person involved would have put a stop to it as soon as they became aware.

Doesn't matter. If someone came to said "I know this sounds crazy but...."

My answer would be...

Gimme a sec, I'll Google that...

Yep, it sounds crazy, because it is.

Then I'd show them the facts.

Imposition goes both ways and people come before office decor, imo.

5999 to 1. I know where I'm leaning. And as I've shown, plants aren't just office decor.