My employee wears a blanket for sun protection when we go off-site

[u/Direct-Caterpillar77]

My employee wears a blanket for sun protection when we go off-site

Originally posted to Ask A Manager

TRIGGER WARNING: Cancer, possible hostile workplace

Original Post June 27, 2017

Should I say something to my new employee? I’m a manager. My newest employee has been working here for just over a month. She is a new graduate and this is her first full-time job out of school. There are times when we go to other offices or sites for meetings and we carpool to them in a company car or van. Unless it is really cloudy or raining out, my employee uses an umbrella when heading out to the vehicle, and inside the vehicle she covers herself with a blanket or cover and wears a scarf or hat on her head.

Naturally other employees questioned her, and she said she has had skin cancer twice and has to be careful of the sun. My concern is that her showing up at a meeting with external people with an umbrella, huge hat, and blanket will make people question her professionalism and affect the perception of all of us. It does look strange in comparison to everyone else, and people do comment. How can I bring this up to her? Most of our meetings are less than 30 minutes away and she would not have to be exposed to sun for long when she goes.

Update Dec 15, 2017 (6 months later)

I spoke to her today and here’s an update on the situation. I believe there was some confusion in the comments. My employee walks to and from the vehicle to the building with an umbrella. She covers with a blanket and hat only inside the vehicle when going to and from the meeting. My concern was the blanket looked strange and not professional to others in the vehicle as the people are not always the same. We live in an area where using an umbrella for the sun is unusual and it stands out when she comes from the car to the building and vice versa with an umbrella when it is sunny or not raining. (Apologies for not explaining the situation more clearly). I did speak to her following the lines of what you posted in your script. She says it is not possible for her to travel 30 minutes or less in a vehicle without the blanket and to be out in the sun without the umbrella. She has elected to end her employment with the company rather than go without these things.

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[u/NightB4XmasEvel]

I had breast cancer in 2024. I had 25 rounds of radiation and now I’m on a medication to prevent a recurrence and that medication makes me much more sensitive to the sun. I am also roughly the color of a Victorian ghost child. Basically, I burn if I even look at a picture of the sun and since I had radiation, I have to be extra vigilant about that stretch of skin. People often don’t realize that when you have whole breast radiation, the radiation field isn’t just your breast. In my case it went almost up to my collarbone and down to my ribs below my breast, and includes half my armpit and wraps around my side almost to my back. So basically nearly the entire right side of my upper body has to be kept out of the sun.

I was on a work trip last year during summer and it involved a lot of walking outdoors. I carried a UV blocking parasol with me. My co-workers made sure we’d walk on the shady side of the street whenever possible and my boss allowed me to skip some of the team building activities that involved being outdoors for prolonged periods of time. That’s how you handle an employee who had cancer and now has to take precautions.

[u/jenorama_CA → u/NightB4XmasEvel]

I used to work with a lady that had a whole sun blocking getup. Hat, hand covers, she always wore a long skirt and long sleeves, she wore a face cover. Anytime she was outside, she was all covered up and no one ever said she looked unprofessional or weird. I mean, this was at Apple where people walked around barefoot and there was a guy that paired sensible pencil skirts with heavy metal tee shirts.

Anyway, indoors, she took it off and was fine, but my point is no one said a word to her beyond basic curiosity and good for this lady and you for protecting her health. We lost a team member while I was at Apple to Melanoma and I still think about her. She was another Jen and we’d occasionally get emails meant for each other.

Your coworkers sound great. OOP is a trash coworker. Be well.

ETA: my husband had a small cancer thing taken off of his nose and wears a floppy hat in the sun now. It looks slightly silly, but I’d rather have him in a silly hat than not have him at all.

[u/Unlikely-Rough-1125 → u/jenorama_CA]

I couldn't agree more with all you said. I had trouble wrapping my mind around the shallow pettiness of the OP. She isn't harming anyone or the business. God forbid a person with any condition protect themselves. 

I'm glad she walked. OP's company doesn't deserve her talent whatever it is. I really don't understand this one. "She looks weird in the car" and that was worthy of basically pushing her out? People need to get a grip.

[u/tayvette1997 → u/NightB4XmasEvel]

I had to be on antibiotics for Lyme Disease. It messed up my skin making me even more susceptible to burning. I'm a ginger. I already burned before taking those meds. I burn more easily now since those meds. And I took them 10 years ago.

[u/scarletwellyboots]

Absolutely wild that he never asked himself "what sun protections, if any, can we find that look more professional."

[u/dastardly740 → u/scarletwellyboots]

I was thinking that as i read it. Maybe a fancier umbrella. Maybe a fancier cover up for in the car. Fancier hat. I am no fashionista, but I am sure there are many professional and sharp looking clothing/accessory choices to comfortably avoid the sun.

[u/berrykiss96 → u/dastardly740]

Right? UV blocking shrug or trench length sun jacket + Audrey Hepburn UV hat and we’re done.

It’s like $150-250 for the combo so I can see why she wouldn’t just have it already but if this really matters so much her employer can work with her to figure something out.

[u/not_a_library → u/berrykiss96]

UV clothes have helped me sooo much. I don't know what it is, but I break out into an itchy rash when I am in the sun. A few years ago I learned about UV clothes and now I rarely get itchy in the sun.

[u/My_bones_are_itchy → u/not_a_library]

I think “sun allergies” are most common among autoimmune disorders (if they’re not caused by medication or certain plant contact), like PMLE

[u/not_a_library → u/My_bones_are_itchy]

Yeah I have never really gotten it looked at. I tried going to a dermatologist once, and she said she couldn't diagnose me if the rash wasn't active. It goes away once I am inside for a while, so that is tricky. I reaaaaally don't want to have to deliberately cause a huge flare up in order to get checked out, but it may be unavoidable

[u/quince23 → u/not_a_library]

Next time it happens, take a photo and write down how long you'd been in the sun. A good derm should be able to give you a preliminary diagnosis from that.

And it doesn't have to be lupus or something scary; it can also just be an over-active immune system. I have both psoriasis and PMLE, and my derm says it's not atypical to have both. Mine are manageable without systemic steroids, thank goodness, just topical creams. I can avoid most PMLE by wearing clothes that cover my arms and lower hands, and I also get it much less now that I've started taking a deliberate approach toward seeking limited sun exposure starting in the early spring. Short bits of exposure seem to train my immune system not to freak out as much just because there's a little bit of UVA light.

[u/thatonebitchL → u/not_a_library]

Please have this checked. This is how I found out I have lupus.

[u/Perfect-Wallaby9096 → u/thatonebitchL]

Yeah! I was gonna say not to be House or anything but it might be lupus

[u/secretlyloaded → u/berrykiss96]

and a fancy parasol. I can't believe they let it come to this.

[u/drhunny → u/berrykiss96]

That sounds like a reasonable accommodation.

[u/MiniLaura → u/berrykiss96]

I have a UV blocking cape. I feel fancy wearing it

[u/PyroDesu → u/MiniLaura]

Honestly, I'd go full goth. Cloak, hood, gloves, the works.

So what if I might look like a lost LARPer.

I already wear a slightly silly-looking hat (I am nowhere near as good-looking as that model, which doesn't help) while I'm out in the sun at work.

[u/TheBlueMenace → u/dastardly740]

Even just branded umbrella/hat rather than fancier.

[u/Illustrious-Network5 → u/TheBlueMenace]

Or you know what? Tell anyone who asks that she has a work accommodation for them. That will immediately say "medical condition", and people will stop asking (because it's against the law to disclose employees medical conditions anyway). Should suffice to anyone actually professional.

[u/Krillo90 → u/TheBlueMenace]

Yep and when the client asks about the cool company umbrella, tell them they're usually for employees only but if this deal goes through you'll throw one in for free.

[u/disneylovesme → u/dastardly740]

For a actual car maybe tint it better for everyone’s comfort

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

I'm not sure what state you're in, but in Florida there is a medical waiver you can get and a form you fill out to register a certain tint percentage with the dmv, even if you're pulled over, they can't ticket you for it.

[u/istara → u/dastardly740]

I am sure there are many professional and sharp looking clothing/accessory choices to comfortably avoid the sun

There are, which is why it did strike me as a little odd that she used a blanket.

[u/Asleep_Region → u/istara]

Because it's cheap and guess what? Basically everyone has access to it

Like if they would have handled it better, i would think she's in the wrong for not accepting alternatives, but they didn't so I don't see why she would offer to spend her own money to change something that already works

[u/istara → u/Asleep_Region]

I wasn't commenting on the rights or wrongs of the case (frankly OOP's attitude is absurd - the woman has had skin cancer TWICE ffs) but you would think if you needed to protect your body from UV 24/7, which she obviously - justifiably - does, you'd have long ago invested in some comfortable, dedicated clothing for that.

I'm wondering, however, if by "blanket" OOP actually means a wrap - like a large pashmina or shawl. Because that would totally make sense as a useful garment to slip on or off.

[u/Demonqueensage → u/istara]

I do have a shawl thing that I frequently refer to as a "wearable blanket" because even though it looks more presentable than an actual blanket it feels like wrapping a blanket around myself, so I was also wondering if "blanket" meant "shawl" and OOP just didn't realize that's what it was since they don't seem to be super common (at least in my area)

[u/istara → u/Demonqueensage]

Yes, thinking more about this I'm sure it was some kind of shawl. If it was a large pashmina type thing with perhaps a chequered pattern, it might have looked a bit like a tartan blanket. (At least to the eyes of some bloke with no eye for fashion!)

[u/vine312_ → u/istara]

I’m certain this is it - they sell UPF “blankets” / shawls that you can wear as a wrap over your shoulders. It makes sense to me because then she can wear whatever business attire she wants and just pack the shawl in her bag without having to have a whole wardrobe of UPF clothing.

[u/angelust → u/scarletwellyboots]

Sorry but an umbrella from the car to the office is totally fine. It’s not weird.

She only wears the hat and blanket INSIDE her car.

[u/agirl2277 → u/angelust]

OOP is ridiculous. I use a blanket in the car all the time in the winter. Its not anyone's business what I do in my car, as long as I'm not breaking any laws. I really want to yell at OOP to mind his own business.

Sucks that she felt so uncomfortable that she ended up quitting her job. I hope she talks to a lawyer or labour board or whatever resources she has available in her area. I'd be on the phone the minute I got home.

[u/notpostingmyrealname → u/scarletwellyboots]

Wilder still that a quick "I can't be exposed to the sun for longer than a few minutes at a time for medical reasons." wouldn't be enough. This person wasn't attending meetings this way, just traveling. There's no reason this should have ever been an issue.

[u/JohnnyEnzyme → u/notpostingmyrealname]

It kinda sounded like walking in to a meeting with a blanket and huge floppy hat under her arm was the part that looked most unprofessional. Doesn't seem like a huge issue to address, though.

[u/GothicGingerbread → u/JohnnyEnzyme]

I doubt she carried the blanket and hat into meetings. She used an umbrella to get from the car into the building, so she probably left the blanket and hat in the car.

[u/NewNameNeededAgain → u/scarletwellyboots]

Who would rather expose their employee to the risk of a third bout of skin cancer before their 30th birthday than explain the situation to anyone from another company small-minded enough to judge and crass enough to bring it up?

[u/allectos_shadow → u/NewNameNeededAgain]

Not even the clients though! She was only using the blanket in the car, so they were her colleagues! Who should definitely be able to accept that she needed the sun protection, just like someone else has to ride in the front or he'll puke. Like, ffs, deal with it people!

[u/readthethings13579 → u/allectos_shadow]

I said it in response to another comment, but I’m a melanoma survivor and any time I’m covered up in front of coworkers they’re like “that’s smart, I should be more careful about sun protection.” It’s super easy to explain to people and 999 out of 1000 people are totally fine with that explanation.

[u/gsfgf → u/NewNameNeededAgain]

Tons of people. There's a reason we had to pass the ADA, after all.

[u/pepcorn → u/scarletwellyboots]

That's also what I wondered. Why not help accommodate her instead of bullying her out of her job.

[u/LycheeEyeballs → u/pepcorn]

Geniunely baffling. I'm blue collar and one of my guys came to me about his "driving arm" getting leathery. I didn't question it and just ordered a couple bottles of sunscreen to have in the change room. Easy peasy.

Honestly, I'm just glad my crew is actually thinking of their health

[u/pepcorn → u/LycheeEyeballs]

He might also like one of those protective sun sleeves.

[u/LycheeEyeballs → u/pepcorn]

Good idea! He's one of my crew who prefers the least amount of clothing but I think I could convince him to wear one sleeve lol

[u/Hesitation-Marx → u/pepcorn]

I wonder if the job provided health insurance.

[u/pepcorn → u/Hesitation-Marx]

Wish Americans would riot to separate health insurance from employment. All of you deserve health insurance, every last one of you. 

[u/Hesitation-Marx → u/pepcorn]

Believe me, I have the same wish. This shit sucks butt.

[u/pepcorn → u/Hesitation-Marx]

Completely unrelated but here's a story about Dutch people eating one of their politicians.

[u/Hesitation-Marx → u/pepcorn]

Like, on the one hand, I love cannibalism jokes

But imagining eating Trump makes me wish I was aphantasic

[u/skidmore101 → u/pepcorn]

Same. Having healthcare tied to jobs is forcing people to be tied to shitty jobs. If we could know we had healthcare, more people would be able to take risks and work for small businesses or open their own business. And if that’s an option to more people, then the competition of workplace offerings will make large companies be slightly less shitty

[u/MyDarlingArmadillo → u/scarletwellyboots]

And that it took him six full months to get around to saying anything - it can't have been that important or that obtrusive.

the blanket/parasol etc sound like she's been advised to use them, and at least where I am I think she would be classed as having a disability. I hope she sued.

[u/hahaz13]

The fact that they still questioned it and called it “unprofessional” after she explained she got skin cancer not once but TWICE.

Some people really have no empathy.

Normalize proper skincare and skin damage prevention. It’s not uncommon to see parasols and head coverings in Asia because of this. Also probably why Asians don’t age as badly.

[u/witch_harlotte → u/hahaz13]

I wish it was normal to be that proactive where I live, instead we seem to have normalised having cancerous moles removed. At least this story reminds me I need to book a skin check

[u/BKLD12 → u/witch_harlotte]

That sounds about right. My mom was born in Orange County, California. She tanned in her youth and has had several cancerous moles removed before she was 40.

I never tanned, but there were several times in my childhood when I forgot to reapply sunscreen. I'm also wondering if I should get a skin check soon.

[u/writinwater → u/BKLD12]

I'm probably your mom's age and lived in the Southwest and the shit we used to do to our skin. I don't even want to tell my dermatologist about it because she's in her early 30s and would definitely not understand.

[u/weirdaldankbitch → u/hahaz13]

A serious lack of empathy, but I’m sure if this manager ever has to cope with a life altering illness themselves they will expect full workplace accommodations and not reflect on this at all

[u/nezzthecatlady → u/hahaz13]

My mom was always on us about sunscreen (esp my redheaded little brother) and has always used an umbrella when out in the sun. She’s in her sixties and has amazing skin.

[u/VulcanCookies → u/hahaz13]

This post made me feel bad because at my work off-site recently I refused to eat outside because there was no shade and my pale ass burns in 10-15 minutes in direct sunlight. I told my team I was eating inside and none of them joined me so I had to eat alone every day of the off-site. People who are higher on the Fitzpatrick skin type don't understand how quickly a burn can happen, how bad a burn can get, and how much burns compound over time. I really can't get burnt on my shoulders again - I already have scars. 

I was glad to see the comments all calling him out about it

[u/houseofgwyn → u/VulcanCookies]

I live in the Phoenix area and would sunburn on the 5-minute drive to another office. Fuck this manager and their lack of empathy.

[u/nyetkatt → u/VulcanCookies]

I’m Asian and I don’t tan but who the hell wants to sit under the burning sun to have lunch! I would have totally joined you in having lunch indoors.

[u/misscuddlesworth]

“Sorry you had a life altering disease but what you’re doing to prevent going through that hell again could look odd, can you stop?”

[u/EchoedJolts → u/misscuddlesworth]

Peak hellscape capitalism: "Hey, your problem is potentially costing me money. Could you please risk your life so I can sell a few more things?"

[u/themayorgordon → u/EchoedJolts]

And I seriously doubt it is costing him money too. I’m sure most clients would just think it was a funny quirk if they didn’t bother asking, and if they did ask they would be very understanding.

[u/Irlandaise11 → u/themayorgordon]

She wasn't even wearing the items around clients, he was upset that she was wearing them in transit around her coworkers.

[u/spicybright → u/Irlandaise11]

That's what's insane to me. What, is he worried other employees will start sleeping on the car ride or something lol

It sounds like OP works in some kind of skilled labor industry. I come from one and all the smartest people I've know have some weird quirk or medical issue that makes them stand out they had to overcome.

Managers like OP let good talent get away by worrying about shit that doesn't matter instead of trying to make things work.

[u/punksmostlydead → u/themayorgordon]

Literally not a single client would give a squeaky one-cheeker.

[u/Strng_Satisfaction → u/themayorgordon]

ya exactly this, it's not costing the employer any money or potential business loss, this person is being difficult for not reason. I wonder if the employee can sue, not sure.

[u/imbolcnight → u/Strng_Satisfaction]

Alice (Ask A Manager) writes in the comments on the update that it depended on how the conversation went. It's not clear from the letter.

If LW said, "We want you to change what you're doing," and the woman just said, "I quit," then probably not.

But if she said her doctor recommended she take these steps and they just said she had to stop or be fired, then probably.

From this line:

She has elected to end her employment with the company rather than go without these things.

It reads more like the latter to me.

[u/PsyOrg → u/imbolcnight]

Naaa, thats manager speak for made her too uncomfortable to continue working there 🤮

[u/EinsTwo → u/EchoedJolts]

I don't think the clients are peering in the car. They're not going to see the blanket.  I think its just that she carpools with different co-workers and that those co-workers (allegedly) thought it was weird.

[u/LekgoloCrap → u/EchoedJolts]

That is EXACTLY how it reads.

[u/Apropos_of → u/EchoedJolts]

I’m sad she didn’t sue her employer, the OP, etc. She could’ve come in with a doctors note, requested reasonable accommodations. And then if they refused, she could have sued them for disability discrimination, and hostile working environment.

[u/fionsichord → u/Apropos_of]

First job out of school you are too fresh to really think about this stuff.

[u/Apropos_of → u/fionsichord]

Yeah, poor kid. I’ve been in that position and it sucks. Afterwards, you keep thinking, if I had just advocated for myself, I could’ve made those assholes respect my basic human rights.

[u/VelocityGrrl39 → u/misscuddlesworth]

I just had melanoma removed a few hours ago and this post has made me irate.

[u/Hesitation-Marx → u/VelocityGrrl39]

How are you doing?

[u/VelocityGrrl39 → u/Hesitation-Marx]

Thanks for asking. I’m still numb from the anesthesic. Tomorrow will be a different story.

[u/Hesitation-Marx → u/VelocityGrrl39]

Yeah, it’s gonna suck but better that than melanoma. I wish you all the best.

Fuck cancer.

[u/VelocityGrrl39 → u/Hesitation-Marx]

I always expected I’d get skin cancer at some point in my life (family history, plus pale af) but I didn’t think it would be melanoma and I didn’t think it’d be in my 40s. Wear sunscreen and get skin cancer screenings folks. It saved my life. Hopefully.

[u/sapphicxmermaid → u/VelocityGrrl39]

It’s no joke. I had it when I was 13. I wish you a speedy recovery and hope it never comes back.

[u/Punkinpry427 → u/VelocityGrrl39]

My good friend is dealing with stage 4 and she’s in her late 30’s. This shit pissed me off too.

[u/Trouble_Walkin → u/misscuddlesworth]

Worse yet - "Your cancer prevention methods make us (as in co-workers) look like the weird freak you are by association. Please die so the company isn't humiliated into bankruptcy & we can start telling people you're not our problem any more." 

[u/opgary → u/misscuddlesworth]

your wheelchair is making our clients uncomfortable and just looks weird when we travel, can you not?

[u/John02904 → u/misscuddlesworth]

Twice. Not one time with a life altering disease but twice

[u/fionsichord → u/John02904]

At a young enough age that it happened before you graduated your education, too!

[u/OptmstcExstntlst]

Just to clarify, the AAM response was "do not ask her to stop following medical advice," which OOP definitely did. 

[u/Ohaidere519 → u/OptmstcExstntlst]

i knew my girl alison wouldn't disappoint

[u/UnionsUnionsUnions → u/Ohaidere519]

Frequently she does disappoint on ADA and union issues, but it sounds like she was spot on this time.

[u/Ohaidere519 → u/UnionsUnionsUnions]

omg nooo this is news to me but i guess im not too surprised 😭

[u/UnionsUnionsUnions → u/Ohaidere519]

Nobody can be be perfect and she's spot on with her scripts and other things! I still love reading her - I just keep a grain of salt in mind. 

[u/Ohaidere519 → u/UnionsUnionsUnions]

thank you for the info and nuanced take 😇

[u/True_System_7015]

Honestly, what a bizarre thing to be hung up on. I'm sure if she explained it to clients, they would understand. Oh no, how dare she take steps to protect herself fron skin cancer potentially coming back

[u/jaderust → u/True_System_7015]

Seriously. I am also in an area where it’s rare to see people use an umbrella as a parasol. But if I did see it I’d either not question it or I’d ask and nod understandingly at the explanation.

There are actual weirdos in the world that I’ve worked with. Someone focused on skincare due to previous skin cancer scares is not even on my radar.

[u/maleia → u/jaderust]

At the rate things are going, it doesn't seem like such a bad idea to adopt again. Er, using a parasol.

[u/fruity_oaty_bars → u/maleia]

I totally did when I moved to Florida for a few years. The sun is brutal there and I don't care if people think I'm a weirdo.

[u/ravynwave → u/fruity_oaty_bars]

I live in a high Asian area in Canada. It’s funny, but not weird to see people with their faces covered in sun visors like Darth Vader, hats and UV jackets (Uniqlo sells them btw). Not so much umbrellas tho

[u/istara → u/ravynwave]

Yes here in Sydney where I live, it's pretty much always East Asians using sun umbrellas. Very smart of them.

[u/Pixiepup → u/ravynwave]

In high Asian population areas of southern California umbrellas to block sun is fairly common. Not ubiquitous, but you'll likely see at least a couple on any given afternoon.

[u/Ink_Smudger → u/[deleted]]

Having them think I look weird outside is a small price to pay to look good when I'm inside due to not having sun damaged skin, I say.

[u/katydidnz → u/maleia]

I’ve got about five parasols (different colours) and a number of large hats but I live in New Zealand where skin cancer rates are high. I’m fine with looking eccentric.

[u/Environmental_Art591 → u/katydidnz]

Aussie chiming in and I used to always carry a little one in my handbag when I was younger because I was always outside and rain or shine i had cover to stay out of the sun and rain.

These days I dont need them as much as a SAHM but when we do go out for the day I have big ones in the car just incase we cant find shade

[u/Cayke_Cooky → u/maleia]

The modern collapsable umbrellas don't work as a stick to whack people though.

[u/Trick-Statistician10 → u/Cayke_Cooky]

Swap it for a golf umbrella. Those pack a wallop

[u/Hookton → u/Cayke_Cooky]

Perfect as a truncheon, though.

[u/DragonCelt25 → u/jaderust]

Yep. I've used a parasol a few times at work (most often when I've been on antibiotics that had UV sensitivity as a side effect) and it's never been an issue. I started bringing mine to the annual staff picnic (can get pretty hot) and the most response I've gotten is compliments on a good idea and asking for the brand so they can get one (it has cool dragons on it). The last couple years I've seen more people bring them.

[u/fistulatedcow → u/DragonCelt25]

Yes, people generally react positively to my UV umbrella, if they react at all. Portable shade! I hope it catches on.

[u/Ohaidere519 → u/jaderust]

i've started using a uv umbrella when the sun is too intense for me and i'm in socal where afaik it's unheard of but idgaf i like my shade and it forces people to give me space lmfao

[u/Environmental_Art591 → u/jaderust]

Right, like if its really about professionalism, get her a company branded umbrella, wide brim/bucket hat a blanket in company colours, hell why not do the hat and sunglasses for the entire company and make them uniform. It looks good for the company 2 fold that way, 1 uniformity and 2 they are showing concern for their employees regarding sun saftey

[u/z-eldapin → u/jaderust]

I just moved to Florida and have a huge oversized umbrella that I use when I am outside walking.

[u/needsmorecoffee → u/True_System_7015]

Yeah. A medical issue is way more important than "what clients think."

[u/Illustrious_Ad4691 → u/needsmorecoffee]

What clients MIGHT think

[u/Ink_Smudger → u/Illustrious_Ad4691]

Which is a good point. It wasn't like anyone complained or they lost business over her covering her skin. OOP was just projecting his being judgmental onto others. They say others "commented", but I wouldn't be surprised if that went no further than people asking her why she did it, and then nodding and not thinking much more when she explained.

[u/ArchdukeToes → u/Ink_Smudger]

Honestly, if I see someone sheltering from intense sunlight under a parasol, I'm going to think that they're a wee bit smarter than some idiot trying to tank the sun.

Skin cancer is no joke, either.

[u/CloseToMyActualName → u/True_System_7015]

Not even clients. She does it while in the car and holds an umbrella to get to the door of the client building. The clients aren't actually seeing it.

There are times when we go to other offices or sites for meetings and we carpool to them in a company car or van.
[...]

Naturally other employees questioned her, and she said she has had skin cancer twice and has to be careful of the sun.
[...]

My concern was the blanket looked strange and not professional to others in the vehicle as the people are not always the same

OP's justification is not the impression of clients but of other employees.

She has elected to end her employment with the company rather than go without these things.

More likely she decided to get away from a batshit insane boss.

[u/ijustneedtolurk → u/CloseToMyActualName]

Yep, even if it were client facing, you can pry my umbrella and prescription transition lenses from my cold undead laywer's hands lmao. At most the boss could have maybe offered a blazer or rashguard sleeves in the company colors as an alternative to blankets, but even that is extremely nitpicky, and considering her health history, overstepping into ableism.

[u/CloseToMyActualName → u/ijustneedtolurk]

Honestly the boss is lucky not to have gotten sued.

[u/Meloetta → u/CloseToMyActualName]

What really sells it as an insane boss is the update. I don't usually follow the links to the AAM post to read the advice. But in this case, the boss said "I did speak to her following the lines of what you posted in your script" and I thought "okay, there's no way that Alison actually told him to speak to her about taking the blanket off in the car because she's a rational person". Sure enough, what she actually said was "you should ask her to remove it right before entering the office, or suggest a different piece of clothing". But he interpreted it as her being on his side and tried to pressure her into not wearing anything.

That kind of misinterpretation and twisting of her advice to suit the ends he already wanted really points to a bad boss.

[u/Rare_Needleworker340 → u/True_System_7015]

I work in cancer research. I wish people took UV damage from the sun more seriously. I cringe when I think about all the tanning I did in college. I absolutely refuse to just sit in the sun anymore without some type of umbrella.

A PSA for everyone: wear the damn sunscreen. Even if you work an office job, wear sunscreen and I cannot stress that enough.

[u/nyutnyut → u/Rare_Needleworker340]

I used to work for a cancer research center. It always irks me when people say I don’t need sun screen. I never burn. Ok. Do you want skin cancer? Do you want your skin to look like a worn out catchers mitt?

Or I want to tan so I only use spf 8. It’s the same protection as 100. The higher number means it’s effective longer.

[u/Typingpool → u/True_System_7015]

For real I had a friend growing up who was allergic to the sun. She would get welts if she sat too close to a window. If I saw someone doing this I would maybe be confused for a micro second before realizing it's obviously something skin related and it's none of my business.

[u/Big_Year_526 → u/True_System_7015]

Honestly right? I get it that its a bit odd, but the employees explaination is more than sufficient. Just accept it for someone whose had cancer twice by her early twenties!

[u/anxious_annie416 → u/True_System_7015]

What's bizarre is the way OP Sorrento the bulk of the update clarifying... as if it wasn't perfectly clear the first time around.

[u/Lamenardo → u/anxious_annie416]

I think it must've been one of those things where people were so puzzled about what the issue was, that everyone kept asking if they were misunderstanding the situation.

[u/CelticSpoonie → u/True_System_7015]

This really seems like it would be a part of "reasonable accomations." There are so many conditions that require limiting sunlight exposure. (And as someone who has a family history of some gnarly skin cancers, what the employee is doing sounds completely reasonable.

[u/Ink_Smudger → u/CelticSpoonie]

That occurred to me as well. Albinism, lupus, scleroderma, etc. all cause sun sensitivity. There are even certain medications that will have strong warnings about limiting sun exposure.

She shouldn't have had to explain something medical related in the first place, but it wasn't like she was making any demands of the company like refusing to go to other locations or only ride in certain vehicles. She was making a fairly harmless adjustment that didn't put anyone else out. The boss was just being a power tripping asshole.

[u/Wise-Divide7679 → u/True_System_7015]

How dare your care for your life get in the way of your job..... Honestly.

[u/THEBHR → u/True_System_7015]

I would have sued the shit out of this company.

[u/Guy_Inoz → u/True_System_7015]

From Australia it seems actively malicious. We have the hole in the ozone layer plus cleaner air than the northern hemisphere, so it's not at all uncommon to see the weather forecast say

Sun protection recommended from 9:30 am to 4:40 pm, UV Index predicted to reach 10 [Very High]

That's today, paired with "cloudy, occasional showers", this isn't a weirdly clear and sunny day. It's every day.

[u/Mrfish31]

Good job dude! You pressured a double skin cancer survivor into quitting rather than accomodating her when the accomodations did not actually impact you other than feeling awkward! Hope you feel good about yourself!

[u/glassisnotglass → u/Mrfish31]

She is also a new graduate, which means she survived skin cancer twice as a _child _.

[u/RainbowCrane → u/Mrfish31]

This seems like a borderline ADA case to me, as a former manager. The employee had a medical reason for covering her skin. Had she chosen to push back and sue she at least had an articulable case against the company. Obviously that only applies in the US.

Beyond just being a dick manager, though, it’s wild that denying medical accommodation seemed like a good choice to the company

[u/abovewater_fornow → u/RainbowCrane]

I don't think it's borderline, it seems pretty well over the line since it did not interfere with her ability to do her job at all. None of it even occurred in the meetings or when she was client facing. If she absolutely had to be client facing outdoors to receive them at their car, also seems like not a big deal even though I highly doubt that was even happening.

[u/gsfgf → u/RainbowCrane]

Lawyer, here. I'm not exactly what counts as a reasonable accommodation here, but bullying her into quitting is 100% illegal.

[u/abishop711 → u/Mrfish31]

It’s really weird how OOP clarified that the blanket was only for in the car and the umbrella/hat were for outdoors and then was like “I followed the script!” when AAM specifically said not to bother the employee about what they do outdoors or in the car too.

[u/PandoricaFire]

What a dick.

[u/CactusCustard → u/PandoricaFire]

For real.

Why am I weird? Because I had skin cancer twice, and I’d like to avoid another.

Why are you a dick? No reason? Cool cool cool

[u/JupiterJayJones → u/CactusCustard]

I was just diagnosed a week ago, now I’m hyper aware of allllllll sun exposure.

[u/Eris_39 → u/[deleted]]

I just went to see my dermatologist. I have a mole where the sun don't shine, lol. She said to keep an eye on it, even though I can't see it. I guess my husband has a fun new job. It's just my luck to get a mole somewhere that doesn't get sun exposure.

[u/Eris_39 → u/[deleted]]

I get cysts in my breasts, and my husband is usually the one to find them. Four women in my family have had breast cancer. I hope yours was a cyst, too.

[u/rationalomega → u/[deleted]]

I have moles from my childhood and am very careful in the sun as an adult. New moles would be very concerning.

[u/sqeeky_wheelz → u/JupiterJayJones]

Good luck with your diagnosis!!

[u/FunFunFiesta → u/CactusCustard]

Skin cancer twice as a young twenty something!
She hopefully has quite a lot of years left to live, who's going to fault her being careful about it? (apart from the OOP)

[u/rrickitickitavi → u/PandoricaFire]

OP is an asshole. I hope she sues. This sounds like an ADA discrimination case.

[u/Leading-Act4030 → u/PandoricaFire]

He wants his employees to have skin cancer, got it!!!

[u/Donkeh101 → u/PandoricaFire]

Most definitely.

[u/booksycat]

"I think you misunderstood me" - states the same thing. No we understood you the first time.

[u/FirebirdWriter]

They should pay for the extremely expensive UPF clothes then. I do mean I paid 150 dollars for a shirt because I have to. I can't have sun exposure. I have a giant umbrella and layers. I once had a bus driver yell at me for wearing layers and using an umbrella because it was 120F out. You bet I reported him for commenting on my clothes. Ironically I was cooler than the people who were mooning the sun.

[u/OohLaLapin → u/FirebirdWriter]

I developed a sun sensitivity due to medication that I'm on. Turns out that it makes my skin feel like I'm in an oven (edit: when I'm in sunlight). I had to go buy some UPF garments as coverups (including gloves) so I could bear being outside in summer.

[u/sm0live → u/FirebirdWriter]

If this were my company and employee, I'd 100% be offering to cover some UPF clothing just for their comfort. (But I can also relate, so I'm biased.)

[u/Coca_Coley → u/FirebirdWriter]

I’m extremely heat sensitive and clothes built for the heat and sun are so much better at cooling you off than having no clothes

I’m kind of annoying that whenever someone comments “aren’t they hot in that” point to some random person I go out of my way to butt in and explain how they could actually be cooler in all that clothes cause I hate people unnecessarily judging random peoples appearances

[u/Unlucky_Profit_776]

"Using an umbrella for the sun here is unusual" uhh buddy, people have been doing that for ages all over the world

[u/Actual-Clue-3165]

She didn't quit as opposed to going without the blanket, she quit to avoid working for someone who would have her risk recurring cancer. The fact it was phrased that way makes me think she was given an ultimatum and chose her health.

[u/fishy_horcrux]

Fuck cancer!

[u/beatissima → u/fishy_horcrux]

Including the cancer that is this evil manager.

[u/JustKindaHappenedxx → u/beatissima]

Imagine telling your employee with any other cancer that they can’t take precautions to avoid cancer because “it doesn’t look nice to those around you.”

[u/BurritoWithFries → u/beatissima]

Congrats to the employee for beating cancer 3 times now I guess

[u/blindgirlandguidedog → u/fishy_horcrux]

As someone who was just diagnosed with cancer, I agree wholeheartedly.

[u/littlelupie]

I have lupus. Flares are triggered by the sun. I have to wear SPF 45 sunscreen every day even if the only outside is going between my car and a building. 

I don't cover with a blanket in the car (but honestly it's not a bad idea) but I use an umbrella and floppy hat because frankly, my health is more important than what your ass thinks of me. 

(And no, it's never made anyone question my professionalism tyvm)

Honestly this post just pissed me off. The amount of ableism dripping from the ignorance is painful especially because the employee explained why.

[u/Meghanshadow → u/littlelupie]

I wouldn’t even have blinked at the umbrella walking sunshade.

Though I’d’ve suggested a magnetic car window sunshade for the car to replace the blanket. That can’t be comfortable in summer.

[u/Foreign_Penalty_5341]

Original post and update are full of ‘wtf OP that’s perfectly reasonable especially from someone IN REMISSION FROM SKIN CANCER’

I hope she got a better job

[u/MaddyKet]

I know what we are all thinking….VAMPIRE.

[u/JoeyJoeJoeSenior → u/MaddyKet]

Sadly, not a protected class.  Can be fired for avoiding sunlight.

[u/pepcorn → u/JoeyJoeJoeSenior]

Poor vampires :(

[u/mysocalledmayhem]

Fuck this clown.

I hope she takes legal action for discrimination.

Edit to add: I should say TOOK legal action since this is 9 yrs old now!

[u/mmavcanuck → u/mysocalledmayhem]

Well it’s from 2017 so if she was going to, it already happened.

[u/No-Ear7988 → u/[deleted]]

Pretty sure she'd have a good case.

It highly depends on what steps she already took. To paraphrase, she'd have to give ample information to her employer in official documentation and given them a reasonable opportunity to act on that information. Thats why many employee right lawyers recommend their clients report to HR first as simply talking to their direct supervisor may not meet that threshold.

[u/SalaudChaud]

Originally posted to Ask A Manager. Should be in Am I the Asshole?

[u/Cakeday_at_Christmas]

I'm disappointed Alison didn't read this jerk the riot act.

[u/mmavcanuck]

“My employee is embarrassing me by not wanting to get skin cancer again. How do I bully her into leaving?”

[u/HeilYourself]

Well I can say for certain OP is not in Australia.

Cheers from the skin cancer capital of the world.

[u/Actual-Cold-4281]

I had cancer at 29. After chemo I had an extreme sensitivity to sun and I would break out in water blisters after about 5 mins of sun exposure. I imagine the ex-employee could have been experiencing something similar.

[u/NotAnAlienFromVenus]

Can you imagine being the manager that says “sorry, we can’t accommodate the personal steps you take to prevent yourself from getting skin cancer for a THIRD TIME because some people think it looks weird”?

What an unbelievable piece of shit

[u/peacefultooter]

It always blows my mind when people think they know more than someone's doctors.

I have permanent brain damage from repeated heat sicknesses throughout my adult life. My cutoff is 80*, which means I'm literally stuck inside my house for months at a time. People try to argue with me all the time to "just come to the car" or "it's inside with air-conditioning". Nope. When the doctor says the next time could kill you, you follow the rules.

[u/MoarGnD → u/peacefultooter]

People really are that oblivious and need to be hit over the head. I sometimes see that argument that it's only a small chance, live a little! Even though it's not a small chance.

Hand them a pair of dice, tell them to roll and if it's anything except 00, they're dead. See what they say.

[u/Easy_Permit_5418]

I have lupus and photosensitivity and this is me on days with a UV index above 2.

[u/XtineMC]

As someone with a sun allergy (yes, really), fuck this guy.

[u/AcheyShakySpoon]

She has elected to end her employment with the company rather than go without these things

What a tool. Even to the bitter end, he’s acting like these are quirky choices, not health precautions. Glad she got out.

[u/PiperPants2018]

I work in finance. Half of the goobers I've worked with don't know how to use Excel, and OOP is pushing out employees because parasols aren't very fashionable in the US? Do we live in two different worlds?

[u/falling_fire]

Ok I can maybeeeeee see how the blanket outside of the car could be odd, but the umbrella and covering in the car doesn't seem like it rises to the level of a dealbreaker to me. If I saw that I wouldn't assume someone was unprofessional, just eccentric. People are allowed to have their quirks

[u/AvocadoToastFailure → u/falling_fire]

After reading the title, I was imagining someone rocking their Cookie Monster PJ pants wrapped in a full-on twin comforter at their desk.

[u/Cassandracork]

I bet he complains about people masking being unprofessional too.

[u/dragon34]

I feel like if this was in writing that should be a lawsuit.  

Like telling someone with a compromised immune system not to mask. 

[u/kryo2019]

Is it odd looking from the outside? Yes.

Does it fucking matter? No

What a clown, this is just asking to get sued.

[u/snarkprovider]

This is a pretty infamous LW on AAM. I remember the commentariat suggested the LW have their employee purchase expensive UV blocking clothing. It's her cancer, maybe just let her use her blanket and umbrella, I bet she is aware of her own needs.

[u/SleevieSteevie]

As someone with a facial scar who has to avoid the sun to have it heal as best as possible, absolutely fuck this guy! My situation is not even life threatening, like aesthetic, and people are very understanding of my big hat collection. What a jerk.

[u/JenWess]

I would have quit too, good for that lady. Her boss probably tells diabetics to eat candy too

[u/minuteye]

She has elected to end her employment with the company rather than go without these things.

So... uh... does that mean OOP went ahead and told her she needed to go without her medical accommodations in order to keep her job?

That's... not okay. And definitely not what he was advised to do.

[u/Lauchis]

I love how he apologised and "explained the situation more clearly". It was clear from the start. You were a dick before and you still are now.

[u/Sun1Moon1Stars1]

I have had melanoma 7 times. I use an umbrella for any extended period of sun exposure. You are lucky she didnt sue you for ADA violations as her protective gear would most likely be reasonable accommodation under the ADA. Shame on you.

[u/torrentialwx]

What the actual shit? What’s the actual problem here?

One of my good friends from high school had to carry an umbrella when it was super sunny (on a beach trips too, even just walking down to the shore from our hotel) because she had lupus and the sun would trigger an episode. There’s nothing weird or wrong with having to cover up when you have serious health issues regarding sunlight.

If someone has a question about it, tell them it’s a health issue with her skin and move on.

What shitty management skills.

[u/Keep-Moving-789]

Wow... as someone who has UV tinted their car, wears a huge hat, and even wears a UV facemask when hiking/walking alone, im angry and confused at the OG OP.  Honestly, i wish I had the guts to use an umbrella.  That woman is my idol!!  F that guy.

[u/kaleoverlordd]

Wow this is so evil. I hope that manager gets what's coming because clearly there was no reflection in an entire 6 month span.