Most business owners, managers and human resources professionals
know that it stinks to get sued by an employee. But in some cases,
it's the actual "stink" itself that leads to a
discrimination lawsuit.
Portland city officials learned this lesson recently when they
were served with a lawsuit by an employee claiming that odors in
her workplace were causing her physical problems and emotional
distress. Whether they can rid themselves of the stench of a
discrimination claim will now be decided in court and maybe by a
jury.
Julee Reynolds has been employed by the city's Bureau of
Maintenance since 2009, working in a confined office space with
other co-workers. In her lawsuit, she claims to suffer from
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), a somewhat controversial
medical condition. It's triggered by scented products like
perfumes, colognes and lotions that can cause respiratory problems,
nausea, headaches and other allergic reactions.
