Hi Friends!

Anonymous

July 26,2023 at 1:46PM UTC

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Hi Friends!

I would love your insight on 2 separate issues we have here in our office.

I am in my role 5 months! I was hired to support our COO, and when our Current EA left, was promoted to Interim EA for our Suite. There have been some changes in our suite since then, and a new Interim President has been named until we hire a New President. He already had his own EA, and has joined our office temporarily. She is not very personable or team playerish. She has been here for 3 days, and has asked how long the search was going to take because she wants to go back to her original office. Her first day she had not any of her IT equipment here, IT did not show up in time, and when he did she was very rude to him. First Impression was horrible. She also has befriended another Admin in this office, and they have been caught whispering and etc. How do you handle a person like this? What are your tips in dealing with this person for the next couple of weeks?

One of our admins in the office ( the admin who the above befriended) has a very high smell allergy. She cannot do perfumes, vanilla, etc. She is very dramatic and coughs, gags, does a lot just to go work from home. This am, she has blamed all of us for wearing vanilla and it is compromising her health. Its an every day occurrence to a point where we are all getting irritated having to take on her work when she is not here. How would you deal with this issue in your work space?

I appreciate you all!! :)

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AnonymousJuly 26,2023 at 4:46PM UTC
As for the admin and her attitude, I would be kind and professional and stay very far away from her if and when possible. It is your job to make the transition and temporary assignment she was clearly forced into work for the team. Remember thus is very temporary and she is clearly not happy about it and her boss allows her behavior.
As for the admin with the allergies. Accommodations must be made if she continues to act out. Work with the team not to wear any fragrance and lotion within reason. If this is not possible, she will most likely be required to work remotely to avoid getting sick if she wants to press it.You should always discuss these issues internally with whomever is your COO and who handles HR matters and your company policies and procedures. This may not be you.
AnonymousJuly 26,2023 at 5:16PM UTC
Keep your head down and eyes on your own paper.
None of these issues are your problem. Doesn't sound like you're responsible for IT, move on. How long will the search take: tell her to ask HR, also not your problem. Her friendships, whispering and gossip: extricate yourself, choose not to participate.
I'm guessing the admin in your office with the smell allergy can advocate for herself. You're only responsible for yourself and I don't get the sense you're showering in perfume or vanilla oils. If your workload is becoming overwhelming because of her absences, raise it with you boss and ask for help prioritizing.
AnonymousJuly 27,2023 at 5:12PM UTC
It sounds like the classic power play in the office. The smell averse gal is using her power to align with the new EA, etc. Just do your job stay positive, don't get involved in the drama and politics and if someone is rude to another person suggest that the recipient of the rudeness say something to HR and that you have witnessed it. Let HR handle it and they should put the rails in place for everyone to get their jobs done. Nothing else really matters...
rgstaffing@bellsouth.netJuly 28,2023 at 12:38PM UTC
I agree to just stay away from water cooler talk. As far as the perfume allergy, it is unreasonable to ask a whole workforce to not wear perfume. If it is applied lightly, i would suggest that the person see an allergy doctor so that she can function in an office where there is nothing wrong with wearing perfume. That is her responsibility.
Mary PoolJuly 28,2023 at 2:15PM UTC
I know several people with severe allergies, and this is not how they handle them! People with severe allergies contact anyone who could affect them individually, explain the issue, and ask for cooperation. Simply standing up and saying generically, "Oh, you (whoever you may be) are making me sick," sounds like attention-getting behavior, not real allergies. I could be wrong...
rgstaffing@bellsouth.netJuly 28,2023 at 10:32PM UTC
I agree with Mary. If it was me, I would ask the office manager to call the offender in and explain to her that over perfuming makes it difficult for people to breathe and best left for weekends. She may not be aware of it but it certainly needs to be addressed. I tell all my candidates who are interviewing--no perfume on the interview and no fragrance. People can wear perfume to work, as long as it is subtle. I think the office manager needs to handle it...
AnonymousAugust 2,2023 at 6:49PM UTC
I wish it were unreasonable but I work for a hospital system and we can’t wear perfume in the office ( which is not itself a healthcare setting.) Of all the accommodations one makes, this one isn’t really difficult. I think the real issue is that the coworker seems to be using the allergy as an excuse to work from home. I agree that HR is needed.
Mary PoolJuly 28,2023 at 2:07PM UTC
I would only add to the great comments below to stop doing her work! You don't have to take on her work, you choose to. You can politely say, "I'll let her know as soon as she returns that you have requested this." If they need the task immediately, “I’m sorry, but I simply don’t have time to do her job today.” Management will do nothing about her attendance as long as you make the impact of her absences inconsequential to them and others on the team. So, yes, I am saying throw her under the bus!
maria roseJuly 29,2023 at 9:27PM UTC
First question—was the smell allergy addressed by HR? —because if it was none of you would not been unaware of the issue and specific info about a certain scent just states that it was a known allergy. I am not saying not to wear a scent but certain varietals of fragrances are more allergic to others, especially if you wear the lower quality version ( cologne/toilet water versus the perfume). You personally may not smell what you’re wearing but if people notice your scent before they notice you then you are wearing too much and the wrong version. But the person who claims the allergy has to have requested HR accommodations and submitted documentation by a doctor of the allergy.
As for dealing with how this person interacts with the staff in the office setting both the new person and the admin staff who befriended her—you have 2 different issues. First, the new person is only supposedly there in the office a temporary spot because of changes in the personnel structure. If this changes to a permanent situation, then adjustments will have to be made as to who answers to who in delegating job duties.
Again the decision of who is the top person in charge of this office pool is not up to the individual but by company directive
Balanced372207July 31,2023 at 2:07PM UTC
If this person has documentation from her physician, under the ADA, reasonable accommodations have to be made for her allergies/sensitivities. It is illegal to discriminate based on a person's disability, if that disability is known and accepted by the employer. Too many employers get away with discrimination because employees don't know their legal rights.
maria roseJuly 31,2023 at 11:35PM UTC
No mention was made of the other person ( the one who is complaining about their allergies) having any documentation. Yes if they have documentation in place there’s no issue but this sounds more like adding details to a situation in the workplace where the bosses are undergoing changes in who is responsible for what and the office center don’t know who’s the person in charge. The post is about an individual who has been in their position only 5 months and already has complaints about their coworkers
Rosa ThomasJuly 31,2023 at 6:06PM UTC
If people are are not wearing irritants, yet she still has problems, would it help if she wore a mask?
rgstaffing@bellsouth.netAugust 1,2023 at 7:16PM UTC
A great idea
AnonymousJuly 31,2023 at 8:28PM UTC
1) The new interim EA clearly who clearly doesnt want to be there - kill them with kindness. I am serious. Due to where she sits in the org chart and if they decide to keep this President in place (it happens) you don't want bad blood. You want the only thing this person to say about you is how welcoming and collaborative you are 2) HR, document, HR, document - has anyone spoken to their manager? If someone has an allergy that is medical that is one thing, if it just irritates them sounds like they new a new job that they can only WFH I would continue as a team to document the behavior and get it filed into HR, if several people are effected by the person then you ALL need to report it in numbers
Alejandro MartinezJuly 31,2023 at 10:44PM UTC
There are two possible outcomes: that she stays or not. If she is to stay, the effort to work towards integrating her to the environment and group could be worthwhile. If she is interim for 2 weeks, any effort to befriend or integrate to the group will be futile. In any circumstance, it is better to stick to professionalim, and interact on that basis.