What to do when a colleague stinks

In my first job out of college, I had an officemate who had terrible body odor. People would come into my office and ask me if I'd been working out or eating curry. It was disgusting. I tried subtle questioning like, "how do you get ready in the morning?". I tried putting on deodorant in front of her. Nothing worked. I finally went to my supervisor who had to have a terribly heartwrenching "you smell" talk with her. The poor girl cried. I felt terrible...but it was offensive!

I used to be a teacher, and when I had a chronically smelly student, I referred him to the nurse. Way to punt!

As to colleagues who are hypersensitive to smell, I can only say that I hope their colleagues are understanding. I had a secretary a few years ago who would get debilitating migraines if the air was bad. Naturally, this compromised her productivity and that of the entire office. So we all did our part so that she could function (and she was a very, very good secretary). Of course, the day after she left, all of the women wore perfume again!

Like a food-allergic person asking that nuts not be present, I think this is a not-very-difficult accomodation that can be easily made.

Let's think about this a second. Fragrances are banned from the orchestra pit because they make it difficult for the musicians to breathe. This isn't because of some genetic defect in the musicians. It's reality. It actually makes it difficult for all of us to breathe.

And these are not your great-grandmother's fragrances either. They're no longer natural but are a long list of chemicals that you would be SCREAMING about if they were near your water supply. And yet you breathe them into your lungs and the rest of your body.

My husband of 900 years says that I am the best thing to happen to his asthma because our house is fragrance free.

If your coworker reeks - let them know. You'll be doing everyone a favor.

A child in my daughter's class has a nut allergy, and the teacher asked that no one bring to school snacks containing nuts. My daughter was upset because she has a taste for these nutty granola bars. But then I asked her which was more important, that she have a granola bar for her snack or that her classmate remains healthy?

She made the correct choice and shelved the peanut snacks.

That blogger can argue about the right to wear perfumes, but the right to breathe trumps the right to wear Obsession.

Eww! She was going to paint her nails on the bus?! That's so tacky! Keep the personal grooming at home, people...especially the ones as stinky as nail polish. Imagine if she'd whipped out the nail polish REMOVER? There'd have been a riot!

And it's not like offices are known for their superior ventilation systems.

ger: you date yourself, my friend. obsession was the signature smell of the '80s.

lulu: worse story on nail polish...one time, on a flight to my brother's wedding in vegas, a gaggle of middle-aged ladies on a group trip set up a manicure salon mid-flight...yes, remover and all. the rest of us gagging passengers asked a flight attendant to intervene. the women were PISSED.

As you may have noticed, Lisa, I'm not one for signature fragrances. What's big with the kids these days?

A woman was polishing her nails on the bus yesterday morning. It's didn't smell, although I silently admired her steady hand. NJ Transit bus drivers ride the brake and drive straight for potholes.

Aaaaah NJ transit. How I loathe you.

But back on topic...

I have a co-worker who is has dehabilitating allergies. She's allergic to pollen and we work at a finance firm that gets fresh cut flowers every week. So once spring started, and the pollen starts wafting through the air, it's hard for her to breathe and she sounds horrible. (Which is bad because she's the other receptionist.)

I think our sense of smell (and all of the auto-immune issues attached to it) are far more sensitive than we give them credit for. I don't think it's that unreasonable to ask someone overloaded with scent to dial it back.

Years ago I worked in an office with someone who had horrible body odor. Not sure if she didn't use deodorant or didn't wash her clothes, but the smell was awful. We were all so young and unsure of ourselves, no one had the nerve to tell her to her face - eventually, someone left an anonymous note on her desk.

If something causes a co-worker, classmate, etc extreme discomfort/health issues simply by being "present" (i.e. fragrance, pollen in the air) then I think it is reasonable for others to accommodate that person.

Now, if something only causes this type of reaction if the affected person uses/eats/indulges in it (i.e. eating peanuts, drinking coffee) then it is THAT person's responsibility to stay away from the stuff that makes them sick.

I don't give two craps if another person is allergic to peanuts - I'm eating my pb&j and they can mind their own beeswax. Now if the person allergic to peanuts is 3 years old then, yes, I as the adult need to be extremely careful they can never get access to something that could kill them. But otherwise? I'm not your mom, yo!

Wouldn't know about smelly colleagues - thankfully, but my new sublettor has quite the aroma. I may need to take a page out of your pryklypear and leave anonymous notes.

yes we can?: it's your house, man. you have every bit the right. whereas workers in an office have to negotiate shared space, this is your castle being fouled. you can always claim extreme olfactory sensitivity or even allergies to keep the peace--and the subletter.

I once worked in a small, windowless office along with 7 or 8 other cubicle inhabitants. I was the manager. One young woman in our group smelled horribly of body odor. She was a very conscientous employee who always did her job and was liked by everyone. I think it was a cultural thing and, for whatever reason, she did not wear deoderent. After several employees complained to me about the odor, I decided on the most diplomatic way to handle it. I sent a very friendly email to everyone in our windowless office explaining that because of the close quarters and lack of fresh air in the room, it was very important for the comfort of everyone that employees follow three basic rules: shower every day, wear clean clothes and use an effective underarm deoderent. It worked. Everyone was relieved including me as I did not want to have to single this woman out by pulling her aside and telling her she smelled.