# Great...so good hygeine might cost me my hands..or job:( **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 13, 2003, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-so-good-hygeine-might-cost-me-my-hands-or-job/168430 "2003-04-13T14:19:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-so-good-hygeine-might-cost-me-my-hands-or-job/168430/21 "2003-04-14T02:21:35Z")
Dude, **IDBB** it seems to me as if you’re making a mountain out of a molehill here. Just bring in your own soap. I can’t imagine a boss in the world who would get upset over that. It’s pretty obvious from your past threads that you’re a bit of a drama queen, I really don’t see any cause for worry here. Just sit back and enjoy the lack of drama in your life right now, and quit being so desperate to create more of it through a situation that doesn’t _have_ any of it to begin with. Go out, buy a bar of dove or ivory or whatever you use at home and bring it to work. The world is not going to stop turning. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-so-good-hygeine-might-cost-me-my-hands-or-job/168430/22 "2003-04-14T02:29:32Z")
**IDBB** , I’m not your doctor, your mother, or your priest, but I can’t help but wondre if maybe you **want** them to fire you, if you aren’t, in fact, setting up a senario in which you get to do what you want (leave this job) and have it not be your fault (because they fired you over something you can’t control). It sounds like you are gearing up for classic passive-aggressive behgavoir: setting up some impossible condition for the other party to meet in the hopes that they will fail to meet it and let you off the hook. DON’T talk to your boss about this. Don’t even mention it. Just bring in your own soap. It’ll never come up. And start using your lunch break to ocme up with an idea for a job that you would actually want to keep. Because that’s the only thing that will fix this problem. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-so-good-hygeine-might-cost-me-my-hands-or-job/168430/23 "2003-04-14T02:39:56Z")
I agree wholeheartedly **Manda JO** , your response was much gentler than mine and definately got to the root of the problem. I still think the whole “self imposed drama queen” thing has a bit to do with it as well… ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-so-good-hygeine-might-cost-me-my-hands-or-job/168430/24 "2003-04-14T03:37:35Z")
When I worked in fast food, my manager got angry at me for washing my hands too often. I had the “bad habit” of washing my hands after I had touched money. Before I would handle food, I would at least use the liquid hand sanitizer. My manager took me aside and told me that I was “wasting time” and sanitizer by doing so, and I needed to stop it. I disagree that IDBB is being a “drama queen.” Complaining about an allergy which is causing you discomfort is not unreasonable. People who work in fast food go directly to heaven when they die. They’ve already had their hell on earth. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-so-good-hygeine-might-cost-me-my-hands-or-job/168430/25 "2003-04-14T04:12:27Z")
I work as a baker(surprise!) in a cafe. In this town, or state, a food service worker may touch food barehanded if it is going to be thoroughly cooked afterwards. So most of the time I work barehanded, since the product goes in the oven. But people who have to handle cooked food, or raw food, like veggies for salad, that won’t be cooked, must wear gloves. Our cashier does not wear gloves, but washes every so often(don’t know if there is a stated time) because money is nasty when it comes to germs. IDBB, I’d do what others have advised, bring your own soap. Tell the manager you are saving him money. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-so-good-hygeine-might-cost-me-my-hands-or-job/168430/26 "2003-04-14T05:10:13Z")
Try Biotherm Biomains. It’s waterproof hand lotion. I have a little hand-washing issue, so to speak - this stuff keeps me from slashing my SO to death with my nasty hand skin. (It will last through about 10-15 washings with soap.) ---
**Author:** ![Juniper200](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@Juniper200](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Juniper200)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-so-good-hygeine-might-cost-me-my-hands-or-job/168430/27 "2003-04-14T05:26:23Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Lissa_ > **I disagree that IDBB is being a “drama queen.” Complaining about an allergy which is causing you discomfort is not unreasonable.** No, it isn’t unreasonable to complain about an uncomfortable allergy. It _is_ unreasonable to immediately jump to the conclusion of, “Well, fuck. No matter what I do, they’re going to fire me over this.” It’s even _more_ unreasonable to stick to that conclusion after being told otherwise by several people and getting many helpful suggestions on top of that. Jesus, IDBB! Defeatist much? If the OP is in a mood to listen, your (Lissa’s) suggestion of Bag Balm made me think of [Wool Wax Cream](http://www.frankenmuthwoolenmill.com/store/woolwaxcream.html). It’s got a metric assload of lanolin in it. A nine-ounce jar lasts me about six months, and I think I already mentioned that I have dry skin issues. It’s great for your elbows and heels, too. ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-so-good-hygeine-might-cost-me-my-hands-or-job/168430/28 "2003-04-14T12:34:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jarbabyj \* > \*\*Does anything in your entire life make you happy? \*\* Agreed. I hate it when people complain about stuff in the pit. ---
**Author:** ![80sHairMetalMaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/ed655f/32.png) [@80sHairMetalMaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/80sHairMetalMaven)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-so-good-hygeine-might-cost-me-my-hands-or-job/168430/29 "2003-04-14T13:35:48Z")
**lezlers** and **MandaJo** –I so desperately need this job right now that I wasn’t going to say ANYTHING until one of the other girls,Natalia,noticed me scratching like crazy during a slow period the other day and she asked me what was wrong.I was just going to try and live with it but it’s extremely uncomfortable to have itchy hands,y’know.:)At least I am doing something about my condition…or trying to.I’m not trying to be a drama queen here.Just bitchin (like everybody else in the pit,tyvm) about a shitty situation. Everybody else–THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for the wonderful advice. Over the last 24 hrs,I have drunk enough water to sink both the QE2 and the Titannic and it seems to be starting to clear up.Last night I also used some Cortaid cream on my hands,which cleared up the itching for a while…long enough for me to get some sleep anyway.:DI’m looking at my hands right now and they are far less red than yesterday and don’t itchy nearly as much.They are almost back to normal.YAY.😃 Hopefully,Mr.Hamad will let me bring my own soap and things will go well. Oh,I almost forgot. For **lezlers** and **MandaJo** ,who think all I do is bitch about my job. I have been filling out numerous applications,both in person and online in a variety of fields from retail to corporate in the hopes that SOMEBODY will call me back and I can get outta this fast food hell. So it’s not like I’m not doing anything.I am trying,ya know. IDBB ---
**Author:** ![80sHairMetalMaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/ed655f/32.png) [@80sHairMetalMaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/80sHairMetalMaven)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-so-good-hygeine-might-cost-me-my-hands-or-job/168430/30 "2003-04-14T13:42:50Z")
Oh I almost forgot. > [@](#): > > It is unreasonable to immediately jump to the conclusion of, “Well, fuck. No matter what I do, they’re going to fire me over this.” I’ve been worried about this from week one,as stated in this thread :[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=170236](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=170236) (sorry I never have learned how to link properly on these boards…) So no…I’m not being overly unreasonable in thinking that I might lose my job over this, **Juniper**. IDBB ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-so-good-hygeine-might-cost-me-my-hands-or-job/168430/31 "2003-04-14T13:49:36Z")
IDBB ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-so-good-hygeine-might-cost-me-my-hands-or-job/168430/32 "2003-04-14T13:54:05Z")
IDBB, it’s far more unsanitary to have someone with severely chapped hands than it is to have relatively unwashed hands. Second, I know you live in Texas, which is a right-to-work state. However, your employers MUST make reasonable accommodations for employees with certain conditions. They cannot fire you because you’re allergic to the soap they provide. Period, end of discussion. And the business of “letting” you bring your own soap? Just bring it. If nothing else, it’s a cost savings to them because it’s out of your pocket, and not theirs. Robin ---
**Author:** ![80sHairMetalMaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/ed655f/32.png) [@80sHairMetalMaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/80sHairMetalMaven)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-so-good-hygeine-might-cost-me-my-hands-or-job/168430/33 "2003-04-14T14:04:02Z")
**MsRobyn** I know that and you know that but does Mr.Hamad know that,I wonder? I’m sure he must if he works in this state as a GM of a fast food place and I’m sure his boss,the store owner knows that too. We’ll see what happens.Hopefully all will go well.That’s what I want to happen anyway. This job sucks big baboon behind (sorry **Bad News** …heehee…not yours…just big baboon behind in general)and if I didn’t need the money so bad I’d quit. But ranting about how bad the hours,pay,etc are is another thread entirely and if I started ranting about that,people would call me a damned drama queen,which I’ve been called once in this thread already.:rolleyes: IDBB ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-so-good-hygeine-might-cost-me-my-hands-or-job/168430/34 "2003-04-14T14:14:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Slacker \* > \*\*Agreed. I hate it when people complain about stuff in the pit. \*\* Right. Because that’s what I meant. :rolleyes: IDBB has a propensity to complain in the pit over a LOT of things, from ‘fake goths’ to Kelly Temporary Services, to her mother… I honestly don’t mind, as I am a pit denizen myself. The thing is (and perhaps I’m wrong) is that I rarely see her post anywhere BUT the pit, which is also fine, but I do honestly wonder (and I wonder this about glarGH as well) if ANYTHING in this world is pleasing to them. If not, so be it. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![80sHairMetalMaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/ed655f/32.png) [@80sHairMetalMaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/80sHairMetalMaven)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-so-good-hygeine-might-cost-me-my-hands-or-job/168430/35 "2003-04-14T14:35:55Z")
If you got out of the Pit more often, **Jar** then you might have seen these threads. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=175971](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=175971) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=176177](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=176177) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=175741http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=175371http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=176165http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=174503](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=175741http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=175371http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=176165http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=174503) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=175968](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=175968) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=175360](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=175360) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=174294](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=174294) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=172047](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=172047) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=171989](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=171989) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=174457http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=169247http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=172456http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=172374](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=174457http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=169247http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=172456http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=172374) I’m not trying to be snarky,just giving a cite that I DO post outside the Pit and that I’m not just a drama queen.🙂 I really do need to learn how to post a link… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-so-good-hygeine-might-cost-me-my-hands-or-job/168430/36 "2003-04-14T14:42:47Z")
I guess I stand corrected. Very well. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-so-good-hygeine-might-cost-me-my-hands-or-job/168430/37 "2003-04-14T14:48:51Z")
Others have already said it, TAKE YOUR OWN SOAP! Your boss probably won’t even notice. What’s the big fucking deal here? ---
**Author:** ![CRorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CRorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CRorex)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-so-good-hygeine-might-cost-me-my-hands-or-job/168430/38 "2003-04-14T14:49:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bordelond \* > \*\*Honestly, for cashiering, a warm water rinse and the antimicrobial gel should be more than enough. Heck, you could bring a bottle of _hydrogen peroxide_ or rubbing alcohol to work, pour a teaspoon into your palm, and scrub it all over your palms and fingertips in lieu of the offending soap. Then rinse with water – after that, the antimicrobial gel is pretty much overkill. \*\* GAH Hydrogen Peroxide is for ANEROBIC bacteria! Anerobic bacteria can’t breakdown the free OHs… The reason why you use hydrogen Peroxide on injuries is so you don’t get tetnus bacteria or other anerobic bacteria IN your wounds when they scab over. Softsoap makes a good lab/hospital grade sope… Fairly mild since I wash my hands 40+ times a day at work. The downside is it’s around 200$ for a case of 4 or 6 gallon bottles. I’d bring your own microbial soap personally. Then again from what I’ve seen of fast food restraunts each of you should be wearing a BSL-4 suite suit and spray each other off with lysol evey 5 min. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-so-good-hygeine-might-cost-me-my-hands-or-job/168430/39 "2003-04-14T14:52:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by I\_Dig\_Bad\_Boys \* > \*\ ***MsRobyn** I know that and you know that but does Mr.Hamad know that,I wonder? I’m sure he must if he works in this state as a GM of a fast food place and I’m sure his boss,the store owner knows that too. > We’ll see what happens.Hopefully all will go well.That’s what I want to happen anyway. > This job sucks big baboon behind (sorry **Bad News** …heehee…not yours…just big baboon behind in general)and if I didn’t need the money so bad I’d quit. > > But ranting about how bad the hours,pay,etc are is another thread entirely and if I started ranting about that,people would call me a damned drama queen,which I’ve been called once in this thread already.:rolleyes: > > IDBB \*\* He’d better know, because if he doesn’t know, the State of Texas and US Dept. of Labor will be happy to explain it to him until his ears bleed. Robin ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-so-good-hygeine-might-cost-me-my-hands-or-job/168430/40 "2003-04-14T15:11:24Z")
I wash about 40 times a day also, and use Eucerin (or the Walgreen’s knock off brand). It’s very thick and waterproof, and (hi Opal) lasts a long time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-so-good-hygeine-might-cost-me-my-hands-or-job/168430.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-so-good-hygeine-might-cost-me-my-hands-or-job/168430.md?page=3)