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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Not AIBU but more a WWYD? Really smelly work colleague.

52 replies

peekabooby · 28/01/2012 14:45

I started a new job in Nov, on my first day I was seated behind the seats at the main desk. I could smell a really foul smell. When my colleague came into work I understood what the smell was.

I work in a small shop with five staff. The manager has said to me wait until its summer so everybody is aware of the smell. It is so bad that I start to feel nauseous after an hour of it but it isn't to bad as I rarely work alongside her.

I was coping OK but yesterday I wore the same pants two days on the bounce and after a couple of hours of sitting on the same chair as she uses (no other chairs so I can't swap them) I actually stunk, well my pants did. I felt really dirty and got really paranoid that customers were thinking she stinks that is how strong the smell was......my coat even stank just from sitting on it for 15 mins on the way home.

The manager, and assistant manager have worked alongside her for six years and nothing has been said to her in all this time. They are all very friendly and socialise out of work but I know the smell of her makes them sick as well because I have heard them.

I know the manager won't say anything to her, I could speak to the area manager but I would feel sly doing and I would be worried that she would find out it was me, she is a bit of a scrapper and not the kind of person I would normally associate with, not that she is a horrible person but she is quite rough.

I really feel like quitting or asking for a transfer to another shop, but my manager is really flexible with the rota and I have a child with SN so have lots of appointments etc.

OP posts:
ledkr · 28/01/2012 14:47

yabu to work in just your pants Grin

What soes she smell of exactly?

WorraLiberty · 28/01/2012 14:48

What sort of smell is it?

Is it B.O or spicy food or what?

mistressploppy · 28/01/2012 14:50

It's the manager's responsibility to sort this out, I would be putting my point across a bit more strongly.

ZillionChocolate · 28/01/2012 14:51

Please say you mean trousers rather than knickers?!

Febreeze the chairs at the end of the day so they have time to dry.

If you say something to her, make sure you don't rule out the possibility that she knows about it and is trying to tackle it. Perhaps it's a medical problem.

yellowraincoat · 28/01/2012 14:53

God, she must be really bad to actually leave a smell on the chair. Does she not wash her clothes? Does she not have a shower?

I think your manager should say something to be honest, but if s/he doesn't want to you might have to take the bull by the horns and have a quiet word. It will be difficult but I honestly couldn't cope with that, I'd have to say something.

fuzzpig · 28/01/2012 14:57

Is it possible she is depressed? It can be really hard to look after yourself - even down to basic hygiene that 'normal' people don't think twice about - when you feel like shit. Worth thinking about... Depression can show itself in different ways (and can turn sufferers into brilliant actors) so even if she is extroverted and cheerful it may not be the whole story.

It's like, "what's the point in being clean and presentable... I'll still hate myself and so will everyone else"

Mrsgradgrind · 28/01/2012 14:58

We have a similar problem at work and management are failing to do anything about it. Maybe raise it formally with manager first then area manager if manager does nothing? If they don't care about their employees surely they care about customers? However sounds like they've all learnt to live with it and you're going to be stuck with her smell if you want to stay in the job. And that really stinks ( forgive the pun)

yellowraincoat · 28/01/2012 14:58

Totally agree with you fuzzpig, and was thinking the same.

peekabooby · 28/01/2012 14:58

Grin Trousers

I wish the smell was spicy etc, To put it bluntly it is unwashed down belows.

It could be medical, I know there are some infections that can cause a bad smell but the manager has worked with her for six years so if it is, she isn't trying to tackle it.

Its hard to explain without sounding mean but she is quite scary well she scares me anyway and there is no way I could ever broach the subject with her.

I realise it is the managers responsabilty to speak to her but I know he won't.

OP posts:
BumbleBee2011 · 28/01/2012 15:00

We had this problem at my work, the management were sympathetic and had a word, then when that didn't work they moved them away from everyone. It did take quite a few of us saying something though...

tardisjumper · 28/01/2012 15:01

Could it be this: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trimethylaminuria

They can smalll of fish or even faeces

SarahStratton · 28/01/2012 15:01

She might have TMAU if it's been going on that long. Does she look unwashed, or is it purely a smell?

SarahStratton · 28/01/2012 15:02

Xposts with tardis, it was the first thing I thought of too.

ragged · 28/01/2012 15:02

nosegay?
sorry dunno what I'd do, she must be putting off customers if it's that bad.

peekabooby · 28/01/2012 15:03

I have no idea if she is depressed not a clue.

We wear uniform and I know the company are shit about giving new uniform out so maybe she just needs new uniform.

I feel quite mean posting about it, but yesterday I was making myself feel sick with the smell of my own trousers and that was the final straw.

OP posts:
peekabooby · 28/01/2012 15:05

tbh she looks unwashed, dirty nails etc. I wasn't in but lst week she got the washing up bowl and soaked her feet in it and cut her toenails.

OP posts:
peekabooby · 28/01/2012 15:07

Should have said re: foot soaking she actually said to assistant manager I can smell my feet.

OP posts:
BandOMothers · 28/01/2012 15:08

What if she IS depressed? It doesn't mean it's ok for the manager to allow her to work like that. I would ostentatously spray Febreeze and other things about...and complain to the manager again. She HAS to deal with this it''s disgusting and I know I don't go into one shop locally as a member of staff smells so badly.

BandOMothers · 28/01/2012 15:09

Ew! Re. washing up bowl! What KIND of shop is this???

ChippingInLovesEasterEggs · 28/01/2012 15:09

It may be something that she can't get sorted out :(

It may be that over time she has got used to it and hasn't noticed as it has got worse.

Who knows?

The point it, that your employers need to do all they can to make your working environment acceptable. They need to talk to her about it, they need to provide you with your own chair, they possibly need to give her a different job. Whatever it takes to solve it, it needs to be done. It is a shame for the poor woman, whatever the cause of it, but it cannot keep impacting on you.

ChippingInLovesEasterEggs · 28/01/2012 15:10

Oh good god - I have just run out of compassion for her - NO ONE does that at work. FFS. Where the hell do you work??

ragged · 28/01/2012 15:11

She could just have a bad or 'strange' sense of smell; I do. And the smells I do notice are ones that no one else is aware of. I find coffee & petrol fumes especially foul, but BO rarely bothers me.
If it bothered me that much, OP, I'd probably ask to transfer, but try to be honest with the manager about why, see if she can recommend where best to transfer to.

Magneto · 28/01/2012 15:12

I really hope you don't work in the food industry!

peekabooby · 28/01/2012 15:18

I can assure you it isn't the food industry, The washing bowl is what we clean our mugs, plates in or should I say what we did wash in.

OP posts: