STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

kenzie · Chanel

Is this bad and if so, what can I do?

crystal · Kate Spade

i would bring it up to HR, if i were u. in my building we are close to an airport & can actually smell the jet fuel. they have some team of inspectors test the air quality of our building tho to be sure it's safe. i think if u bring it up they should do something for fear of a workman's comp suit. good luck, hope u feel better!

kenzie · Chanel

The problem with a workman's comp suit is that technically, I'm not an employee here, I'm an employee of the staffing agency. Do you think that I should still mention something? It's not like I'm allowed to move away from my desk or anything. I'm kind of stuck here. I'm sick of having headaches all the time when I'm at work b/c it makes it hard to function.

crystal · Kate Spade

i would definitely mention it, at the very least to ur staffing agency. u gotta speak up, what are they gonna do, fire you for asking about possibly unhealthy fumes? no way! tell anyone who will listen that u do not feel well due to the copier fumes & they either have to fix it or move you. also, if u r working w/ a staffing agency, can't u ask them for a different assignment (if it comes to that)? i hope it works out for u, don't let them make u sick along w/ boring u to tears!!!

kenzie · Chanel

Okay, thanks. I mentioned it to the HR person here (she's very nice) and she told me to try closing the door, but I don't think that's going to work too well b/c then the room is going to be filled with fumes!!

Anyway, as far as finding a reassignment, I would only take one if it was in advertising, which I could probably find on my own. I don't want to be reassigned to another crap job. But maybe I will say something to them about looking for something else. Who knows, maybe they'll find something for me.

lynnie · Chanel

Is there any way that they can either open windows in the copy room or where you are- maybe if no windows, they could let you walk around and get fresh air a few times a day? or maybe get you a new area to place your desk?

NCshopper · Hermes

That definitely doesn't sound healthy. Can you set up a small fan to at least get air circulating? That might help.

Also, it could be eye strain from looking at a computer screen all day, especially if you aren't used to it. If your job requires you to work on a computer all day long, then every 45 min or so, stop what you're doing, look around, stand up, stretch, etc. I think if you look online there are some eye exercises you can do that might help. I'm not sure if your headaches are due to the fumes or eye strain, but by process of elimination you can probably figure out what it is that's bugging you.

Hope this helps! Man, it sounds like you're having an awful time at this new job! I hope things turn around for you quickly.

kenzie · Chanel

lynnie, the windows don't open, unfortunately. And there is no way to move my desk b/c it's 'reception.'

NCshopper, I'm used to staring at a computer b/c I had a month off before I started here and literally sat in front of the computer most of the day writing & designing. I do get up and walk around and take a break from the computer (I actually don't use it all the time---you know, when I'm busy stuffing brochures or something menial like that). And I don't think that a computer would make me lightheaded (at least I've never had that happen before).

We do have a fan set up to circulate air. I hope things get better soon, too. I'm really thinking about telling the temp agency that I hate it and I want something that's not 'reception.' I know they have marketing/advertising jobs come in from time to time. I want them to be on the lookout for me.

-- Edited by NylaBelle at 09:50, 2005-08-01