International Flavors And Fragrance Beware!

Jon Hyman of Kohrman Jackson and Krantz reports that the city of Detroit has settled for $100,000 with an employee who complained that Detroit failed to reasonably accommodate her perfume allergy after she complained that a co-worker’s perfume made it difficult for her to breathe. In addition, Detroit agreed to adopt a policy prohibiting employees from wearing scented products.

I am virtually speechless in the face of such silliness. As Mr. Bumble in Oliver Twist said: “The law is an ass.” I think, in this case, Dickens’ characterization is almost charitable.