Problem with office working environment.....Need advice

So I land this great gig in research at a respectable shop, everything's great and I'm eager to start working.

Problem is that on the first day at the job I notice that the air quality is very stagnant and stale, causing me to have trouble working or concentrating. We're in a pretty old building but it was recently renovated, or so I was told. I speak to my boss and he tells me to try to get a fan or air filter, which I tried but they don't help. It's as if the area isn't getting enough circulation and it's literally making it hard for me to get work done.

I speak to the other associates, who've been around for a while, and while a couple of them have allergies which are worsened by the space, including similar complaints of "stuffiness", no one's quite bold or bothered enough to make a serious complaint. I've spoken to the building management already and to HR but no one's willing to do anything.

I've been there for two months now and there hasn't been any improvement. I don't know what to do. I could tough it out but I don't want to harm my health, particularly since we work 12hr days. I'd consider quitting and looking for a job elsewhere, but I don't want to ruin my rep and impair my chances for getting another shot on the street. How would potential employers react if I tell them that I had to quit my old job because I found the air quality unbearable?

Are there any labor codes, health reg's or something for stuff like this?

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. TIA

3 Comments
 

I suggest you do some work and stop being such a princess. Take that issue any further and you can kiss your reputation goodbye (if its not gone already).

 

Iceman is like Val Kilmer, a waste.

That has to suck that it is hard to concentrate. There are laws that set standards for things like quality of life at work when it comes to things such as extreme temperatures and air quality. Take a monitor into work (http://www.wolfsense.com/) see if this is extreme. If it is simply put in an anonymous tip into HR. If that doesn't work go public to HR and your boss about it. If they say no shrug it off and start looking for a jib and think of a good excuse. If you get a new job quit. It will not ruin your rep or hurt you if you get a equal job.

 

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