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Dust mites or are you crazy?
posted at 5/14/2013 12:41 PM EDT
on Workforce Management
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Posts: 4
First: 4/3/2012 Last: 5/15/2013 |
Ok, i know i have to be serious on this but what an issue this is getting to be. The staff person claims that she has allergies to dust mites. Which she has provided doctors note accordingly. She claims our carpet is infested with them and she itches and scratches all the time. While i do admit our carpet is in bad shape and it is scheduled for cleaning this month. But she started spraying her cubicle area with lysol and then put rubbing alcohol and some tree oil mixture on the carpet. We have several staff sitting close together and of course two happen to have asthma complications. So i instructed her not to spray anymore. Now she put plastic trash bags over her chair because she claimed dust mites where everywhere and she could feel them biting her all over. She is taking half days until they clean the carpet. At this time that is not a concern, but it's only for a few days. But i can't allow that afterwards. What if the cleaning doesn't help? I don't know if we are infested as bad as she says or if it's one of her many medications that she states she is taking causing the itching. How do i prove it's either dust mites or all in her head? What steps do i take? I'm at the end of my rope trying to accomodate and don't know what should happen. |
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Re: Dust mites or are you crazy?
posted at 5/14/2013 3:00 PM EDT
on Workforce Management
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Posts: 216
First: 9/20/2011 Last: 5/15/2013 |
l would start by assuming you have the mites. Have the entire floor treated or since the carpet is in such bad shape why not replace it?? It sounds like it is time to so anyway. It is also possible you have something else that is biting. Simultaneously I would ask her to see your company assigned physician. I assume you have one that does pre employment physicals and have them look to see if she actually has bites and see if they can confirm that they are due to dust mites. Have them also review all mediations to see if any of them could cause a similar reaction. If yes have them contact her primary physician and discuss. You of course cannot get involved with her personal medical information but you are responsible for a clean workplace. I am sure others will have suggestions. |
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Re: Dust mites or are you crazy?
posted at 5/15/2013 10:53 AM EDT
on Workforce Management
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Posts: 222
First: 9/29/2011 Last: 5/15/2013 |
You might want to take 15 minutes or so and do a little online research into dust mites. Based on what I saw, it's possible that your employee's problems with allergies to dust mites are real, but it's also possible that there's a screw loose there as well. Dust mites don't bite people - even if they did, they're too small to be felt. They feed on dead skin flakes from people and pets. So your employee's assertion that she's being bitten and can feel the bites is rather delusional. However, there can be allergies related to dust mites. According to WebMD, dust mites can't survive in temperatures below 70 degrees or in atmospheres with less than 20% humidity. Rather than spraying, spreading tea tree oil (seriously?), etc, you might want to just periodically have your employees wear a sweater to work and crank down the air conditioning to 65 degrees for a couple of days. That's if, of course, you have a dust mite problem to begin with. |
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Re: Dust mites or are you crazy?
posted at 5/15/2013 12:16 PM EDT
on Workforce Management
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Posts: 4
First: 4/3/2012 Last: 5/15/2013 |
Some good advice! thanks. The changing of carpet would be nice but doubtful. With our recent budget cuts it would be unlikely. As the Supervisor, i'm working with HR to resolve the issue. We will have the carpets cleaned, but i got this sinking feeling that she will come back and complain they didn't use the right mixture or special dust mite killing shampoo. Guess i'll deal with that when and if it comes. By the way, for several years i have enjoyed this site and have gotten tons of great ideals and a wealth of HR knowledge from you all. thanks again! |
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