My coworker is allergic to my cats. What can I do?
August 6, 2013 6:35 AM Subscribe
My co-worker is allergic to my cats. Question one: What is standard office policy with regards to this? Question two: What can I do at home to reduce the amount of allergens I carry to the office?
Info about q 1: We have separate offices but we have to work together a few times a week, which is when I notice them getting stuffy and red eyes. This is a new job for me and I don't want to be a problem.
Info about q 2: I have two cats; a main coon and a shorthair. I wash my clothes after wearing it about twice to work. I have a closet door that I could close if it made a huge difference, but it would be very inconvenient. I run an air filter in the bedroom, where my clothes are. I brush the cats maybe every two weeks, and never bathe them. They are indoor only cats and I live in a 1-bedroom apartment. I try to use a lint roller to get all the hair off my clothes when I get in to work, but I don't know how effective it is. I have the option of getting my clothes dry-cleaned for very reasonable prices, but not more frequently than I already wash them.
Info about q 1: We have separate offices but we have to work together a few times a week, which is when I notice them getting stuffy and red eyes. This is a new job for me and I don't want to be a problem.
Info about q 2: I have two cats; a main coon and a shorthair. I wash my clothes after wearing it about twice to work. I have a closet door that I could close if it made a huge difference, but it would be very inconvenient. I run an air filter in the bedroom, where my clothes are. I brush the cats maybe every two weeks, and never bathe them. They are indoor only cats and I live in a 1-bedroom apartment. I try to use a lint roller to get all the hair off my clothes when I get in to work, but I don't know how effective it is. I have the option of getting my clothes dry-cleaned for very reasonable prices, but not more frequently than I already wash them.
Best answer: Definitely close the closet door to keep the cats out. Get in the habit of having dressing for work be the last thing you do before you leave and changing out of your work clothes be the first thing you do when you get home. Attempt to not engage in kitty affection during these times, and immediately put to-be-worn-again clothes back in the closet, which you are keeping shut.
posted by jacquilynne at 6:43 AM on August 6, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by jacquilynne at 6:43 AM on August 6, 2013 [4 favorites]
This seems like largely your colleague's problem. It is very nice of you to care and make an effort, but if your colleague is so allergic that working with someone hygenic who has two cats causes him or her issues, that's really between your colleague, her allergist, and her God.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 6:43 AM on August 6, 2013 [95 favorites]
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 6:43 AM on August 6, 2013 [95 favorites]
It isn't exactly clear in your question but has your co-worker mentioned their cat allergy/dander specifically on your clothes as the reason for their symptoms? I am sympathetic to people with allergies but what you are doing is reasonable and managing their allergy is really on them.
posted by saucysault at 6:44 AM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by saucysault at 6:44 AM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
Wash your clothes every time you wear them.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:46 AM on August 6, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:46 AM on August 6, 2013 [3 favorites]
I'm really sorry but if your colleague has allergies that badly, that is his or her problem, not you being a problem. It is not reasonable for you to double your laundry load, reconfigure your apartment or add dry cleaning to your life because of these allergies. There's considerate, and then there's Alternate Universes of Considerate.
posted by DarlingBri at 6:48 AM on August 6, 2013 [18 favorites]
posted by DarlingBri at 6:48 AM on August 6, 2013 [18 favorites]
Best answer: This should be straightforward and easier if you wear suits.
Buy plastic suit carriers. You need to segregate what you wear at home with your workgear, at least between cleaning cycles. When your clothes are clean, put your workwear into the suit carriers.
If you don't wear a suit to work, then In practice this means only wearing your work clothes for the least amount of time possible at home, and better still keeping your workwear at work itself.
Lint rollers are really only a visual remedy to remove obvious cat fur although. Allergens are in the cat's saliva and dander and urine so removing fur is only so useful insofar as what is in or on the fur.
chesty_a_arthur says this is your colleague's problem, which it is. But I assume that you're asking this question because you feel sympathy for your colleague. It's also worth bearing in mind that if your colleague is that allergic, then you may be only part of the problem. Your fellow cat owners at work will also be contributors to this issue and it's unlikely they will all scrupulously manage their workwear to avoid the allergic reactions of a particularly sensitive colleague.
posted by MuffinMan at 6:49 AM on August 6, 2013 [5 favorites]
Buy plastic suit carriers. You need to segregate what you wear at home with your workgear, at least between cleaning cycles. When your clothes are clean, put your workwear into the suit carriers.
If you don't wear a suit to work, then In practice this means only wearing your work clothes for the least amount of time possible at home, and better still keeping your workwear at work itself.
Lint rollers are really only a visual remedy to remove obvious cat fur although. Allergens are in the cat's saliva and dander and urine so removing fur is only so useful insofar as what is in or on the fur.
chesty_a_arthur says this is your colleague's problem, which it is. But I assume that you're asking this question because you feel sympathy for your colleague. It's also worth bearing in mind that if your colleague is that allergic, then you may be only part of the problem. Your fellow cat owners at work will also be contributors to this issue and it's unlikely they will all scrupulously manage their workwear to avoid the allergic reactions of a particularly sensitive colleague.
posted by MuffinMan at 6:49 AM on August 6, 2013 [5 favorites]
As to what is standard office procedure, I have worked with a few people with deadly allergies and the responsibility has been on the person to manage it with a polite request to all staff to be aware of the impact on others when choosing [thing that may impact others] such as what food to bring to the office potluck/amount of scented products used etc.
posted by saucysault at 6:50 AM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by saucysault at 6:50 AM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
I am allergic to cats and have gotten allergic from other people's catty clothes before, and I have never once considered that it's the other person's problem to fix. You can't help that you live with cats. Cats gonna cat.
It's really nice of you to try to be considerate, but unless you're coming to work smelling like cat pee (which is tremendously unpleasant, allergies or not), there's really not much you need to do here. Lint rollering yourself is great, keep doing that. But this isn't your responsibility. If your coworker is getting such a reaction from you, imagine how she must go through her day: lots of people have cats.
What your coworker needs to do is go to an allergist. Going to an allergist and getting on the right drugs changed my life. If I were you I'd stop worrying about it so much.
posted by phunniemee at 6:50 AM on August 6, 2013 [17 favorites]
It's really nice of you to try to be considerate, but unless you're coming to work smelling like cat pee (which is tremendously unpleasant, allergies or not), there's really not much you need to do here. Lint rollering yourself is great, keep doing that. But this isn't your responsibility. If your coworker is getting such a reaction from you, imagine how she must go through her day: lots of people have cats.
What your coworker needs to do is go to an allergist. Going to an allergist and getting on the right drugs changed my life. If I were you I'd stop worrying about it so much.
posted by phunniemee at 6:50 AM on August 6, 2013 [17 favorites]
I thought from the first few lines that you must be physically bringing the cats with you to work! As this is clearly not the case, this is not really your problem. It is kind and thoughtful of you to want to alleviate the issues, though. Also I cannot imagine there existing any kind of standard office policy regarding this.
posted by elizardbits at 6:51 AM on August 6, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by elizardbits at 6:51 AM on August 6, 2013 [3 favorites]
How severe is the allergy? I am allergic to pet dander (which comes along with a bonus asthma trigger. hurray!) and I don't suffer any discomfort unless animals have been living in an enclosed space for some time. It may be that you have to do very little except avoid especially intimate hugs.
On preview, there seems to be little sympathy here for pet allergies. For the record, I think it is a Nice Thing that you thought of your coworker's well being.
posted by Gin and Comics at 6:52 AM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
On preview, there seems to be little sympathy here for pet allergies. For the record, I think it is a Nice Thing that you thought of your coworker's well being.
posted by Gin and Comics at 6:52 AM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
Hmm. Do you wear cologne? If so, you'll probably need to stop that asap. When I worked in a law firm that assisted disabled individuals (many clients had various environmental intolerances including allergies), standard office policy was no cologne/perfume. That also holds true for the chorus that I sing in. That's sort of your first line of defense, and I'd wager is more likely to be causing your coworker's reaction than your cats.
Where cat allergies are concerned, the standard office protocol is: no cats in the office. There is really a very limited set of contortions that everyone can put themselves through in order to decrease the likelihood that they'll be acting as an allergen vector, dragging things into the office with them. Your coworker needs to be taking a daily antihistamine if this is really such an issue.
posted by jph at 6:52 AM on August 6, 2013
Where cat allergies are concerned, the standard office protocol is: no cats in the office. There is really a very limited set of contortions that everyone can put themselves through in order to decrease the likelihood that they'll be acting as an allergen vector, dragging things into the office with them. Your coworker needs to be taking a daily antihistamine if this is really such an issue.
posted by jph at 6:52 AM on August 6, 2013
Absolutely do not make this your problem until/unless your coworker approaches you about it. This is not your responsibility at this time.
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 7:02 AM on August 6, 2013
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 7:02 AM on August 6, 2013
If you really wanted to be scrupulously perfectly accommodating about this, you could plan your week's worth of clothing on a Friday and drop it all off at the dry cleaner's that morning. Monday morning on your way to work, you pick up the week's worth of outfits. You then store that clothing at work, still sealed in plastic from the cleaner's. You change into these outfits daily somewhere outside the office environment, and seal your clothing from home in a ziploc freezer bag. Home clothing must never touch work clothing at any point. The only possible zone of allergen transmission is your head and your skin, which presumably your coworker will not have bare contact with.
The example I've just described is how a coworker who had bedbugs in their house decided to personally deal with their situation a few winters ago.
posted by elizardbits at 7:05 AM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
The example I've just described is how a coworker who had bedbugs in their house decided to personally deal with their situation a few winters ago.
posted by elizardbits at 7:05 AM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I appreciate everyone saying that this is their problem, not mine - it makes me feel much less guilty.
However, it is very important to me to cultivate good-will among others in this organization. In a sense, I will be trying to sell my department's products to other departments. Would you tell a sales person "it's your customer's responsibility to manage their allergies?"
I know I can't be perfect, but this is my first time in a very professional setting, and I'd like to minimize any obvious issues when possible. Taking clothes to the dry cleaner over the weekends and changing at work are not possible, but something like what MuffinMan suggests would be.
posted by rebent at 7:10 AM on August 6, 2013 [2 favorites]
However, it is very important to me to cultivate good-will among others in this organization. In a sense, I will be trying to sell my department's products to other departments. Would you tell a sales person "it's your customer's responsibility to manage their allergies?"
I know I can't be perfect, but this is my first time in a very professional setting, and I'd like to minimize any obvious issues when possible. Taking clothes to the dry cleaner over the weekends and changing at work are not possible, but something like what MuffinMan suggests would be.
posted by rebent at 7:10 AM on August 6, 2013 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: My point is anyway (not to thread sit), I'd like to know what the standard policy in offices is, and you are being very helpful in answering that. But I'd also like to know what I can do to minimize the effect, regardless of standard policy
posted by rebent at 7:12 AM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by rebent at 7:12 AM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
Do you actually know that your coworker is allergic to cats, and more specifically, to your cats? I'm pretty reactive to most cat hair/dander and generally speaking cat hair on someone's clothing doesn't do it, unless I am wearing said clothing. (I work in a library and I think at least 65% of my office owns cats. At least.) I think it's a nice thing to be considerate about, but you might want to consider whether there's anything else in your office environment (or perfume/cologne) that might be contributing to their allergies. (Or whether they're just super allergic to something else and you only notice it when working in the same room.)
One thing you could check is whether your cats really love playing with your shoes. If there is a lot of cat dander/fur in the treads or fabric, you could consider swapping shoes at work or mainly wearing cleaned leather ones, not fabric. You could also have a plastic tub or another sealed container that's easy to get in and out to throw work gear/messenger bag/etc if there's something less delicate than a suit or dress shirt to save from the cat hair.
posted by jetlagaddict at 7:15 AM on August 6, 2013
One thing you could check is whether your cats really love playing with your shoes. If there is a lot of cat dander/fur in the treads or fabric, you could consider swapping shoes at work or mainly wearing cleaned leather ones, not fabric. You could also have a plastic tub or another sealed container that's easy to get in and out to throw work gear/messenger bag/etc if there's something less delicate than a suit or dress shirt to save from the cat hair.
posted by jetlagaddict at 7:15 AM on August 6, 2013
but this is my first time in a very professional setting
Ah, okay. Don't worry too much about it then, just by asking this question you have gone above and beyond the average office worker.
In the US I think this would only be a legitimate HR issue if you had remarkably poor hygiene (like summertime hobo smell) or if you were somehow carrying toxic
particles on your clothing.
posted by elizardbits at 7:16 AM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
Ah, okay. Don't worry too much about it then, just by asking this question you have gone above and beyond the average office worker.
In the US I think this would only be a legitimate HR issue if you had remarkably poor hygiene (like summertime hobo smell) or if you were somehow carrying toxic
particles on your clothing.
posted by elizardbits at 7:16 AM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'd close your closet door and keep the cats out of there, for starters. Then launder your work clothes and don't wear them around the cats. Put them on before you leave, take them off and change into something else when you get home. If you can wear freshly-laundered stuff when you know you're meeting with Allergic Colleague, all the better.
But honestly I think that's about the most you can do. Short of maybe dry-cleaning your clothes and keeping them in your office, and changing there... but that seems like a serious imposition on your time for this person's goodwill, so you'd have to decide if it was really worth it.
Also ... just a left-field though here, but are you sure it's your cats, and not something else specific to you, like laundry detergent, perfume, lotion, dryer sheets, whatever? The people I know who are terribly allergic to cats also tend to be allergic to other stuff.
posted by Kadin2048 at 7:19 AM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
But honestly I think that's about the most you can do. Short of maybe dry-cleaning your clothes and keeping them in your office, and changing there... but that seems like a serious imposition on your time for this person's goodwill, so you'd have to decide if it was really worth it.
Also ... just a left-field though here, but are you sure it's your cats, and not something else specific to you, like laundry detergent, perfume, lotion, dryer sheets, whatever? The people I know who are terribly allergic to cats also tend to be allergic to other stuff.
posted by Kadin2048 at 7:19 AM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
I have never seen a standard policy that specifically addresses pet allergies. My experience with other types of allergies has been echoed above - in most places I've worked, staff were asked to minimize use of scented products, label food for potlucks clearly with regard to the allergen, etc., but there was no official no-tolerance policy. It was mostly on the allergic person to manage, along with consideration from other staff.
I did work in one place where the clientele were likely to be sensitive to smells or food allergens and in that office we did have a no-scented-products-at-all policy.
But I sympathize. I once worked with someone on a very occasional basis who noted at one point that he always got sneezy in our office suite and wondered if he was allergic to the carpet or something, and then several months later mentioned in passing that he was allergic to cats. I immediately got worried and remained worried for the rest of our working relationship that I was affecting him with cat dander. I did make a special effort to minimize that on days I'd be working with him - get dressed right before leaving the house, do extra lint rolling, etc., but I never noticed any particular difference.
Why not just try making a small change or two, see if it helps, and then go from there? No need to jump right into keeping all your clothes at work, implementing an airlock system in your closet, plastic-wrapping the cats, or whatever the most drastic measures might be, when ultimately you are already being a good guy (or girl?) about this.
posted by Stacey at 7:21 AM on August 6, 2013 [2 favorites]
I did work in one place where the clientele were likely to be sensitive to smells or food allergens and in that office we did have a no-scented-products-at-all policy.
But I sympathize. I once worked with someone on a very occasional basis who noted at one point that he always got sneezy in our office suite and wondered if he was allergic to the carpet or something, and then several months later mentioned in passing that he was allergic to cats. I immediately got worried and remained worried for the rest of our working relationship that I was affecting him with cat dander. I did make a special effort to minimize that on days I'd be working with him - get dressed right before leaving the house, do extra lint rolling, etc., but I never noticed any particular difference.
Why not just try making a small change or two, see if it helps, and then go from there? No need to jump right into keeping all your clothes at work, implementing an airlock system in your closet, plastic-wrapping the cats, or whatever the most drastic measures might be, when ultimately you are already being a good guy (or girl?) about this.
posted by Stacey at 7:21 AM on August 6, 2013 [2 favorites]
Did your co-worker specifically say "Rebent's cats are triggering my allergies?" Because chances are you have other coworkers with cats. Your coworker cannot point the finger at you unless you are known to be the only person at Company X who has cats.
You are not required to manage someone's allergies to something that you are not bringing to work with you. If someone is allergic to perfume, you should not wear it. If someone is allergic to peanuts, do not bring peanut-containing food to company potlucks. But unless you are bringing the cats to work or rolling around in cat hair before leaving in the morning, it is not your responsibility to manage your co-worker's cat allergies. That is their responsibility as a grown-ass person.
It's really nice of you to want to be considerate and all, but don't let yourself be a doormat. Some people will really take advantage of this and try to wring all kinds of concessions from naive and well-meaning people who want to be "professional" and "kind."
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 7:23 AM on August 6, 2013 [4 favorites]
You are not required to manage someone's allergies to something that you are not bringing to work with you. If someone is allergic to perfume, you should not wear it. If someone is allergic to peanuts, do not bring peanut-containing food to company potlucks. But unless you are bringing the cats to work or rolling around in cat hair before leaving in the morning, it is not your responsibility to manage your co-worker's cat allergies. That is their responsibility as a grown-ass person.
It's really nice of you to want to be considerate and all, but don't let yourself be a doormat. Some people will really take advantage of this and try to wring all kinds of concessions from naive and well-meaning people who want to be "professional" and "kind."
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 7:23 AM on August 6, 2013 [4 favorites]
In addition to what everyone else has already said - don't dry clean your clothes too much (dry cleaning is actually quite harsh on clothing and should be done only when absolutely necessary) and do not leave them in the plastic dry cleaning bags when you get them home (the bags can cause discoloration).
I change right when I get home and don't let my dogs on me once I'm dressed for work (for the sole purpose of not having to lint roller when I get to work). This plus closing the closet should be sufficient.
posted by melissasaurus at 7:27 AM on August 6, 2013
I change right when I get home and don't let my dogs on me once I'm dressed for work (for the sole purpose of not having to lint roller when I get to work). This plus closing the closet should be sufficient.
posted by melissasaurus at 7:27 AM on August 6, 2013
I have two cats. Standard practise for both my husband and I is to put our work clothes on in the morning and not play with the cats after that. Then we get changed when we get home, put the work clothes away (yes, closing the cupboard door because that's just common sense for keeping your work clothes clean in general) and let the cats fur all over our other clothes instead. This is just normal professional behaviour, going in to work with cat fur on your business clothes is not cool regardless of other people's allergies. It's also not at all difficult or onerous to do and it makes your work clothes last longer in general.
The biggest difficulty is stopping the cats from burrowing into the clean laundry and pre-furring it, and even that just involves putting my shit away instead of leaving it lying around the place which is pretty basic adult behaviour too.
posted by shelleycat at 7:40 AM on August 6, 2013
The biggest difficulty is stopping the cats from burrowing into the clean laundry and pre-furring it, and even that just involves putting my shit away instead of leaving it lying around the place which is pretty basic adult behaviour too.
posted by shelleycat at 7:40 AM on August 6, 2013
As a person with severe allergies - including cat allergies - your coworker needs allergy shots, because they cannot expect other people to go to huge lengths to manage their medical problems. I used to have huge problems with pet hair and perfume at work, had to take my inhaler every four hours, etc....and then I got allergy shots, because I couldn't ask people to change their lifestyles when there is something I can do to fix it.
Regarding your question: do you meet in a conference room? Ask the office if you can get an air filter in there - a good one can make a huge difference for pet hair, seriously.
posted by goodbyewaffles at 8:10 AM on August 6, 2013
Regarding your question: do you meet in a conference room? Ask the office if you can get an air filter in there - a good one can make a huge difference for pet hair, seriously.
posted by goodbyewaffles at 8:10 AM on August 6, 2013
If you drive to work, you're going to have to keep your car scrupulously clean as well; assuming you're planning to take on this responsibility.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 8:24 AM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by SuperSquirrel at 8:24 AM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Unless the person says to you "I get an allergic reaction when I'm in an office with you, and nobody else sets this off," you shouldn't do anything. You definitely shouldn't mention it at work. Nobody wants to have it noticed t they have red eyes and a stuffy nose. I know you mean well, but you're running the risk of coming across as odd and/or anxious.
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:54 AM on August 6, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:54 AM on August 6, 2013 [3 favorites]
Out of curiosity, are you 100% sure that it's your cat dander/etc that is triggering coworker's allergies? Coworker could be sensitive to your perfume or something else.
posted by radioamy at 9:43 AM on August 6, 2013
posted by radioamy at 9:43 AM on August 6, 2013
Response by poster: No, I'm not sure. I don't wear perfume or cologne, and I've seen this response in people before, so I assumed it was. They haven't said anything about it.
posted by rebent at 9:59 AM on August 6, 2013
posted by rebent at 9:59 AM on August 6, 2013
At work, ask the company to get HEPA-certified air filters for conference rooms. Lots of people have cats, spend time outdoors getting covered in pollen, wear cologne. Lots of people are allergic to cat dander, pollen, cologne.
If I were allergic to a co-worker's cat dander/ pollen/ cologne, and that co-worker asked me about it, and ways to mitigate the allergy, I would be really impressed with that person.
posted by theora55 at 10:39 AM on August 6, 2013
If I were allergic to a co-worker's cat dander/ pollen/ cologne, and that co-worker asked me about it, and ways to mitigate the allergy, I would be really impressed with that person.
posted by theora55 at 10:39 AM on August 6, 2013
Try the allergen reducer version of Fabreze as an experiment, assuming it won't ruin your clothes? I really have no idea how much this actually works, particularly on pet dander, but it is worth a shot. Otherwise, eh, not really your responsibility.
posted by Young Kullervo at 10:53 AM on August 6, 2013
posted by Young Kullervo at 10:53 AM on August 6, 2013
Contrary to the others, I believe you have an obligation to do anything reasonable to reduce your allergens as a member of society. Allergen shots can have side effects and it is always better to avoid medicine when possible.
I view reasonable things as:
1. Do not let the cats touch clothes you will wear to work before washing
2. Keep the cats separated from where the clothes are stored
3. Vacuum the driver's area of the car every so often
I would view unreasonable as:
1. Having to change at work (unless your clothes can be smelled from 3 feet away by a non-cat-owner)
2. Frequent dry cleaning
posted by flimflam at 11:25 AM on August 6, 2013 [3 favorites]
I view reasonable things as:
1. Do not let the cats touch clothes you will wear to work before washing
2. Keep the cats separated from where the clothes are stored
3. Vacuum the driver's area of the car every so often
I would view unreasonable as:
1. Having to change at work (unless your clothes can be smelled from 3 feet away by a non-cat-owner)
2. Frequent dry cleaning
posted by flimflam at 11:25 AM on August 6, 2013 [3 favorites]
I agree with the other mefites that say your coworker's allergic reaction could be caused by something other than your cats. Your coworker could have season allergies or be allergic to something in the office.
Do you interact with this coworker outside of your meeting? Does he/she demonstrate the same allergic reactions under other circumstances?
If it really is you, I doubt its going to be your cats. I suggest checking whatever toiletries you use on a daily basis (such as hair spray, hair gel, deodorant, make up, etc.) Check for perfume and other common allergies.
posted by emilynoa at 11:44 AM on August 6, 2013
Do you interact with this coworker outside of your meeting? Does he/she demonstrate the same allergic reactions under other circumstances?
If it really is you, I doubt its going to be your cats. I suggest checking whatever toiletries you use on a daily basis (such as hair spray, hair gel, deodorant, make up, etc.) Check for perfume and other common allergies.
posted by emilynoa at 11:44 AM on August 6, 2013
It's not good for clothing to be stored in plastic garment bags. If you are going to use garment bags, you should get canvas or cotton bags that let the fabric breathe. I suspect that closing the closet door would actually be the most effective remedy.
posted by jaguar at 12:15 PM on August 6, 2013
posted by jaguar at 12:15 PM on August 6, 2013
If the person hasn't mentioned it, then yes, you are being very very odd about this.
You have ZERO proof this person has an allergy to your cats.
You have ZERO proof this reaction is an allergy and/or an allergy related to anything in your control.
I appreciate how eager you are to make a good impression, but this isn't the way to go about achieving positive work relationships.
Focus on the work. Dial back your concerns about other people's personal conditions. This is none of your business and could be perceived as unprofessional.
Be friendly, but don't make friends with your coworkers. Keep your private life private and separate from work. Try to maintain balance, don't be a pushover.
Enjoy your new job. Good luck!
posted by jbenben at 1:10 PM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
You have ZERO proof this person has an allergy to your cats.
You have ZERO proof this reaction is an allergy and/or an allergy related to anything in your control.
I appreciate how eager you are to make a good impression, but this isn't the way to go about achieving positive work relationships.
Focus on the work. Dial back your concerns about other people's personal conditions. This is none of your business and could be perceived as unprofessional.
Be friendly, but don't make friends with your coworkers. Keep your private life private and separate from work. Try to maintain balance, don't be a pushover.
Enjoy your new job. Good luck!
posted by jbenben at 1:10 PM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
They haven't said anything about it.
Then you are taking personal responsibility for something to a degree that is slightly bizarre.
Would you tell a sales person "it's your customer's responsibility to manage their allergies?"
Well, yes.
I know I can't be perfect, but this is my first time in a very professional setting, and I'd like to minimize any obvious issues when possible.
See #1. The issue is not obvious, and in fact takes assuming responsibility for something to a degree that seems unhealthy.
posted by DarlingBri at 1:53 PM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
Then you are taking personal responsibility for something to a degree that is slightly bizarre.
Would you tell a sales person "it's your customer's responsibility to manage their allergies?"
Well, yes.
I know I can't be perfect, but this is my first time in a very professional setting, and I'd like to minimize any obvious issues when possible.
See #1. The issue is not obvious, and in fact takes assuming responsibility for something to a degree that seems unhealthy.
posted by DarlingBri at 1:53 PM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
Contrary to the others, I believe you have an obligation to do anything reasonable to reduce your allergens as a member of society. Allergen shots can have side effects and it is always better to avoid medicine when possible.
I view reasonable things as:
1. Do not let the cats touch clothes you will wear to work before washing
2. Keep the cats separated from where the clothes are stored
3. Vacuum the driver's area of the car every so often
I would view unreasonable as:
1. Having to change at work (unless your clothes can be smelled from 3 feet away by a non-cat-owner)
2. Frequent dry cleaning
Seconding. You ought to take reasonable steps (outlined nicely above), but don't have an obligation to perform supererogatory acts like constant dry cleaning or stashing clothes at the office.
posted by jpe at 2:07 PM on August 6, 2013
I view reasonable things as:
1. Do not let the cats touch clothes you will wear to work before washing
2. Keep the cats separated from where the clothes are stored
3. Vacuum the driver's area of the car every so often
I would view unreasonable as:
1. Having to change at work (unless your clothes can be smelled from 3 feet away by a non-cat-owner)
2. Frequent dry cleaning
Seconding. You ought to take reasonable steps (outlined nicely above), but don't have an obligation to perform supererogatory acts like constant dry cleaning or stashing clothes at the office.
posted by jpe at 2:07 PM on August 6, 2013
Do you have a trusted non-cat-owning friend that you could ask, who would honestly tell you if you (or your clothes or your hair) smell like cats? I know that once people get used to a smell, they can seem to stop being able to smell it. If that cat smell has permeated your clothes/car/closet/one-room-apartment/clothes-dryer... washing the clothes may not do much to get rid of the smell (if your clothes are just going right back in the closet three feet away from where your cats are napping).
I had a friend growing up who's whole house smelled of cat, and thus he and his clothes always had that smell as well. It wasn't until he moved out (of that 3-bedroom, one-cat house), that he lost the smell. I've also gotten back borrowed books from smokers that had to be thrown away, so smelly they had gotten just by being in the smoke-permeated apartments.
So, all that's to say: yeah, if your co-worker has an allergy this bad, they'll want help from a doctor, but just the same, you may be giving off much more cat-smell than you might imagine.
posted by blueberry at 2:16 PM on August 6, 2013
I had a friend growing up who's whole house smelled of cat, and thus he and his clothes always had that smell as well. It wasn't until he moved out (of that 3-bedroom, one-cat house), that he lost the smell. I've also gotten back borrowed books from smokers that had to be thrown away, so smelly they had gotten just by being in the smoke-permeated apartments.
So, all that's to say: yeah, if your co-worker has an allergy this bad, they'll want help from a doctor, but just the same, you may be giving off much more cat-smell than you might imagine.
posted by blueberry at 2:16 PM on August 6, 2013
> if your co-worker has an allergy this bad
That "if" needs to be stressed. The OP has absolutely no reason to think the co-worker has a cat allergy.
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:35 PM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
That "if" needs to be stressed. The OP has absolutely no reason to think the co-worker has a cat allergy.
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:35 PM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm allergic to dogs and cats. Less so than I was when I was a kid (because I did cat shots for years and because the antihistamines are better than they were). I still sometimes react to someone's clothes on public transportation.
If your colleague has allergies this awful, s/he is frankly accustomed to dealing with and working through this level of misery. I don't hold other people responsible for my allergies if they're not actually bringing animals in to work or demanding that I sit in their homes or cars. I appreciate your good intentions, but I think you should focus on doing whatever it is your job is as well as possible, rather than on trying to address your colleague's allergies.
(Also it's not the hair - it's saliva and dander. You can be bandbox-neat and still a terrifying allergen source.)
posted by gingerest at 1:16 AM on August 8, 2013
If your colleague has allergies this awful, s/he is frankly accustomed to dealing with and working through this level of misery. I don't hold other people responsible for my allergies if they're not actually bringing animals in to work or demanding that I sit in their homes or cars. I appreciate your good intentions, but I think you should focus on doing whatever it is your job is as well as possible, rather than on trying to address your colleague's allergies.
(Also it's not the hair - it's saliva and dander. You can be bandbox-neat and still a terrifying allergen source.)
posted by gingerest at 1:16 AM on August 8, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
Is it predictable which days you will need to work together? If so, can you wear freshly laundered clothes on those days?
posted by jeather at 6:37 AM on August 6, 2013 [2 favorites]