Lingering scent of smoke in fragrence free environment

mbeam

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 03-08-04 AT 08:12PM (CST)[/font][br][br]This question has been raised a couple of times over the past few years - we have a fragrance free environment but have had complaints about the smell of smoke from the non-smokers.

Here is the lastest e-mail from an employee...

We know our handbook mentions Occurrences for "actions that disrupt work" and also "failure to comply with personal appearance and expectations". Would the offensive smell from second-hand smoke be an 'expectation' to be dealt with? Can an employee advise your office of offensive and disruptive smells? Will the person, who makes the choice of bringing offensive smells into the department, receive an occurrence or warning? Would that be within our guidelines?

We understand, we want to make sure we do not discriminate against smokers and non-smokers. Would it be worthwhile to have a short impromptu company survey to ask other associates about the smoking smell or the possibility of offering an odor eliminating spray? Is it possible to, legally, offer any alternative to help alleviate the smoke smell?

System

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 03-09-04 AT 10:47AM (CST)[/font][br][br]We had an article on this in our HR Hero Line e-mail newsletter:

"Cigarette is gone, but the odor lingers"
[url]http://www.hrhero.com/q&a/010904-smoke.shtml[/url]

James Sokolowski
HRhero.com

mbeam

Thanks - I did read the article and saw mixed reviews on what to do as it seemed to vary from state to state. Anyone from Wisconsin that can offer advice on this?

Hunter1

mbeam: Wisconsin does have a statute (111.31) regarding discrimination based on the use or non-use of lawful products during nonworking hours. (Smokers' Rights) I don't recall any cases about lingering odors, but if a person was just 'using' on non-work hours and you took discplinary action against them, I think they might have a case.
The best advice is to try to get the employees to work things out. There must be a lot of fresh air in Algoma!

Ethel

We've had complaints of cheap perfume smells, hair products with too much fragrance, etc. etc. None of these involved health complaints, just don't care for the smell. No way to police all of the various scents in the air, just move the complainer or tell them to work it out as was suggested earlier.

There comes a time for a "line in the sand".