ADA Accommodating Sensitivity to Odors

Accommodating Employees' Sensitivity To Odors In The Workplace 

The City of Detroit recently settled a lawsuit brought by Susan McBride, a city planner who had claimed that due to lifelong chemical sensitivities she was allergic to her co-worker's perfume, making it difficult for her to breathe. The settlement of her claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) included a substantial monetary payment to the employee, as well as the adoption of a "no-scent" policy asking employees to refrain from wearing scented products, including perfumes, colognes, after-shave, hair sprays, and similar items.