Chirky

I have to say she gets points for most creative reason to leave work I have ever heard....I would tell her to have a note faxed from her doctor verifying such an odd allergy... :) See if she balks at that!

*cough*bullsh*t*cough*

Can a person be allergic to a scent?
NO. There are no allergens present in an aromatic chemical. However, if a person has an allergy to grass, for example, and smells something similar, they can react with similar sensitivities because of scent memory.
Source: http://www.naturex.ca/index.php?act=viewDoc&docId=13

Although not allergic, I can't stand the scent of burnt microwave popcorn.

Well bless her heart - I'd tell her she needs a dr's statement....fat chance she gets that one!

Oh, she does not! Sheesh.

Wow. Ten points for originality! Did she say what her allergic reaction was? Maybe hives, nausea, her throat closing up ...

And what's the cure? Medicine, Oprah, sleep, shopping ...

Just curious. :)

Oh! And the most important part: Did she leave?

I'd be a total witch about it and make it the office inside joke. Especially if she actually DID go home early.

Ummm, right ... I'm going to need you to come in on Saturday.

But I do know that a student in my kid's school is allergic to peanuts. Even the smell can start an allergic reaction.

If popcorn has ever been popped in teh office before and she smells it. I'd say she's bluffing.

~Jef

I've definitely never heard of an allergic reaction from popcorn, but when I smell perfume (any type at all) my head hurts so bad and I feel like I can't breathe and I want to scratch my eyeballs out. So...ya never know. But, really? Leaving? That seems extreme. Turn on a fan and work in another room!

I need an update! Is the temp still there?

i would have said "and im allergic to bullsh*t."

I like KaSandra's answer...

How was your VD? I had to put it like that! haha.

I use to work in an office where the owner would not allow microwave popcorn? I always just thought he was an ass? Maybe he had the same allergy?

You should have said... "Go home, take a couple of days off. Get better, because it is apparent that your productivity has dropped off dramitically because of this and we need you well if we are going to consider hiring you full time."

Might as well get her hopes up before you fire her.

I would have said "Me too" packed my bag and left for the day. :)

The nerve.

So...? What DID you do?

I have never heard of anyone being allergic to a smell. I worked in an office where the manager banned everyone from making popcorn or heating up leftover fish in the microwave. Said the popcorn made the office smell like a movie theater and the fish, well, I can't fault her on the fish ban.

p.s. I wish there was a ban on microwaving broccoli at my office . . . RIGHT NOW I WISH THAT

Well, at least as a temp she probably only gets paid for the actual hours that she is actually there, right?

make sure you double check her timecard.

What does this temp do when she goes to the movies? Are there non-popcorn theaters especially for those with allergies to the scent?

BWHAHAAHA

that was pretty creative.

Although she may have a form of synesthesia (which I have, but I've never known anyone to develope an allergy from it)

Wait! Did you let her go?!

Um, when I smell a strong scent of popcorn, I can't breathe. And I don't mean the "wow, that nasty smell!" kind of not breathing, but the "i can't get enough air into my lungs right now" version.

That said, if it hit me at work, I'd like to think I'd come up with a better excuse so they didn't think me a freak. Or I'd go outside. Or open the FREAKING WINDOW, ASSHAT.

For those of you who asked, she took a half hour break while the scent dissipated (please note this was perfectly delicious-smelling buttery popcorn, not the burnt variety) and then came back to work.