# Candles in the office? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 9, 2008, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-in-the-office/467219 "2008-10-09T20:17:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-in-the-office/467219/21 "2008-10-09T21:21:51Z")
I actually worked in an office that allowed candles. (Frankly, I could not believe it. I’d never seen such a thing before I got there.) Beyond the safety concerns, they stink. I hated it. And, because I’m a bitch: How forkin’ unprofessional! This is not your cozy little house, people. What, you want to wear fuzzy slippers now, too??? This is work! If you’re not suffering, you’re not doing it right. Christ, grow up. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-in-the-office/467219/22 "2008-10-09T21:29:36Z")
> [@cher3](#): > > Also no space heaters, private coffee makers, toaster ovens (even in common kitchen areas) and probably a few other things. Our building doesn’t even let us set up Christmas lights. It’s not the lights themselves, but the extension cords that are typically run to wherever they’re strung. ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-in-the-office/467219/23 "2008-10-09T21:38:06Z")
1. We don’t even have birthday candles. Cake tastes fine without 'em. 2. Definitely, thoroughly, valid. What size company are you talking about, **Kalypso**? ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-in-the-office/467219/24 "2008-10-09T21:46:19Z")
No. No flames (open or not). Hell, we’re technically not supposed to have heating appliances in our offices lest something short and catch fire. And it’s a completely valid concern. ---
**Author:** ![Kalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/df705f/32.png) [@Kalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalypso)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-in-the-office/467219/25 "2008-10-09T21:53:48Z")
> [@emilyforce](#): > > What size company are you talking about, **Kalypso**? There are about 40 employees, so not big, but a bit bigger than a Mom-n-Pop. Thanks everyone for your responses thus far. I was pretty sure I was rightly concerned, but the universality with which my suggestion was trounced made me second guess myself. Space heaters are not allowed, and I ask that people shut off any holiday lights before they leave. ---
**Author:** ![MaddyStrut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@MaddyStrut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaddyStrut)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-in-the-office/467219/26 "2008-10-09T22:18:54Z")
> [@cher3](#): > > No candles. > > Also no space heaters, private coffee makers, toaster ovens (even in common kitchen areas) and probably a few other things. Same at my office. I can’t imagine allowing an open flame in an office. You’d only have to set the sprinklers off one time to have major damage. And I don’t want to smell my coworker’s apple cinnamon tart scented candle all day! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-in-the-office/467219/27 "2008-10-09T22:32:43Z")
> [@Foxy40](#): > > …In any case, if your place burns down, at least you are on record with your disapproval. Well, unless that record happens to be written on something flammable. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-in-the-office/467219/28 "2008-10-09T22:39:25Z")
Burning candles was against Fire Code where I used to live. One of the women was married to the fire chief, and he happened to notice them in a co-worker’s office. That was shut down really quickly. I was pleased, since I was allergic to it. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-in-the-office/467219/29 "2008-10-09T22:43:48Z")
Candles would set off the water sprinklers. ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-in-the-office/467219/30 "2008-10-09T22:53:51Z")
> [@Kalypso](#): > > There are about 40 employees, so not big, but a bit bigger than a Mom-n-Pop. I’ll bet your building’s insurance policy provider would not be thrilled to hear about casual candle use. Do you have anyone who looks after that sort of thing? In a bigger company that would be the lawyer; maybe your accountant? ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-in-the-office/467219/31 "2008-10-10T00:39:38Z")
The idiots I work with burn candles all the time, but make me unplug the coffeemaker every evening. Yeah, a coffeemaker is way more dangerous than an open flame. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-in-the-office/467219/32 "2008-10-10T00:50:09Z")
In all my time working in Corporate buildings, I’ve never seen a fire inspector come through, but I wouldn’t want to be in charge the day one did and found people burning candles at their desks. Goddamned Stupid. May also invalidate your insurance if the building burns down, which is a BIG DEAL. I don’t buy the “other people would notice if someone didn’t put it out” thing unless everyone works in a large open space with no cube walls. Otherwise the people in the next cube could be making burnt offerings and as long as there wasn’t a lot of smoke or smell, most people wouldn’t notice. Your other supervisors are MORONS. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-in-the-office/467219/33 "2008-10-10T01:50:29Z")
My office is the only place I’ve ever seen that permits – even encourages – candles. I’d been working there briefly and I noticed most people had them, and I asked about it. The response was that the boss/president/owner of the company likes candles. So if you want to light one, it’s OK. People use the kind that are already in jars or other containers, so that while there is technically an open flame, it’s not as if it’s a 6" taper on a candlestick. I think if someone had a scent that bothered another employee, the bothered one would just ask for that one not to be used. It’s rather nice. It’s a small company, fewer than 10 employees. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-in-the-office/467219/34 "2008-10-10T02:00:13Z")
See if there are any employees with allergies like **Ginger** ’s. On occassion, my seizures have been triggered by certain scents. It’s really RARE now that I’m on my meds, and for the most part, I can go in places like Bath and Body Works and such, but still, someone else might be more sensitive. It’s a good thing to check for. And definitely check the fire codes! ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-in-the-office/467219/35 "2008-10-10T02:55:40Z")
They’ve got those flameless candles now, if you’ve got someone dead-set on candles but don’t want the safety hazard. ---
**Author:** ![Risha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@Risha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Risha)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-in-the-office/467219/36 "2008-10-10T03:03:08Z")
My company would never allow it. It’s almost certainly against the fire code, considering that we’re not even allowed space heaters. Actually, I’m stunned that anyone would even think of doing it. Idiots. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-in-the-office/467219/37 "2008-10-10T04:38:43Z")
1. Oh hell no! 2. Valid In my workplace, written permission from Facilities is required for anything plugged into a power strip that isn’t company issued. They are usually good about things like a radio and in certain common areas, approve small kitchen appliances, but don’t even think about candle warmers, holiday lights or plug-in air fresheners. Safety regs also prohibit open flames within 50 feet of the building (this is more to keep smokers in their designated area and not huddled in doorways though). We don’t even light birthday cakes. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-in-the-office/467219/38 "2008-10-10T05:43:58Z")
Hell, it freaks me out anytime I see an unattended lit candle in someone’s house. I just think that these stupid people don’t really care about their highly flammable wooden house. It actually doesn’t hardly ever happen because most people I know have more sense than that. I’ve got a few unlit candles around the house just in case there’s a blackout and I can’t find a flashlight, or I have to sacrifice a virgin. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-in-the-office/467219/39 "2008-10-10T09:26:41Z")
1. AFAIK no. Most of my jobs have been in places where NO fire was allowed, period. I once worked in a factory from which an idiot had been fired during his trial period for flicking a zippo on and off in the cafeteria, due to “inability to follow simple instructions in the form of huge signs saying ‘NO fire in the factory.’” 2. Valid. I see no reason to have decorative candles in an office. I do light candles at home, but do not leave them unattended and always place them on a platter of non-flammable material, even if it’s tall candles on a holder rather than my customary (and much more stable) tealights. ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-in-the-office/467219/40 "2008-10-10T16:01:57Z")
\*1. Are candles allowed in your office? \* I’ve never asked, but I can’t imagine that they would be. Besides, why the hell would I want to burn candles at my desk? I associate candles with romantic dinners or cozy evenings at home, not with telling students, “Your GPA is too low for this program and the deadline was two weeks ago.” _2. Do you think my concern is valid, or unreasonable?_ Seems very valid to me. Given that my co-workers can’t seem to turn off the electric kettle, I’m not sure I want them handling open flames. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-in-the-office/467219.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-in-the-office/467219.md?page=3)