Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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:
Salmotrutta · 28/01/2012 15:21

But did no-one say anything about her feet in the washing up bowl??? Shock

SarahStratton · 28/01/2012 15:22

She washed her feet in the washing up bowl. And a member of management was there and didn't stop her?

Shock

I couldn't work somewhere like that. Really, I couldn't, that is absolutely disgusting. Please tell us where it is so we can avoid it.

Original poster
peekabooby · 28/01/2012 15:27

The assistant manager did say something, she got in a huff and said well I will do it behind the counter were the customers can't see.

OP posts:
Haziedoll · 28/01/2012 15:29

Even if my colleague was a clean freak and had strawberry smelling feet I would still tell her that she can't wash her feet in the washing up bowl!

Wtf is the point in waiting until summer to address the issue. "Colleague you have been stinking and making us sick all year but we didn't want to tell you until somebody passed out".

Why is nobody addressing the issue now?

BandOMothers · 28/01/2012 15:33

I think this is wind up.

Salmotrutta · 28/01/2012 15:37

I'm now wondering the same BandofMothers - the bit about getting huffy then saying she'll wash her feet where the customers can't see??!! Eh?

Surely this can't be true??

Original poster
peekabooby · 28/01/2012 15:50

I swear I am not making this up, I wish I was.

OP posts:
Salmotrutta · 28/01/2012 16:03

But, but ...... why would anyone think that was OK? Shock

Original poster
peekabooby · 28/01/2012 16:08

@haziedoll, they are not planning on waiting till summer he was merely commenting that in summer the smell is much worse.

To those whom think I am troll, report my thread as you are supposed to. This is the second time I have posted in AIBU and the second time I have been accused of trolling (under a different name). I am not, I have better things to do with my life than make tales up about smelly work colleagues.

OP posts:
SarahStratton · 28/01/2012 16:09

Is it an independent shop? I'll take you seriously, I've worked with a stinky colleague and it is no laughing matter.

Original poster
peekabooby · 28/01/2012 16:13

It is a chain, without outing myself (I very much doubt she is a mnetter BUT), it is a shop that has customers but they don't buy products or services as such.

OP posts:
Salmotrutta · 28/01/2012 16:14

No offence peek - I've just never met anyone that manky who would wash their feet in a washing-up bowl in view of shop customers!

I may have led a sheltered life ...

DCSsunhill · 28/01/2012 16:15

Peekabooby, I am now wondering if you have just started in my old job...but i'm sure my replacement didn't have children.

I could have written your post word for word. My elder colleague's smell was a huge reason for me leaving the job. I found myself wincing every time she bent over near to me, the smell of unwashed privates was immense.

She was an older lady and very old fashioned...still living with her mum...in her fifties. I was wondering whether she was following the old fashioned route of bath on a Sunday night then work the whole week long, as the smell worsened as the week went by.

No one said anything to her, but the management all commented and had discussed having a word with her. I found myself wanting to apologise to customers for the smell, but it would have been wrong.

SiamoNellaMerda · 28/01/2012 16:21

I agree with BandOMothers

Well done OP for bothering (I suppose we should show that we appreciate you trying!) but seriously - 2/10 for content. Try harder.

Mrsgradgrind · 28/01/2012 16:24

This is a serious suggestion - fake a letter from a disgruntled customer and send it to manager and HO - it can be anonymous and along the lines of "I shall never be frequenting this establishment again"

KnockDiddyKnockKnock · 28/01/2012 16:27

What's with the trolling accusations? Even if the op is making this whole thing up, nobody is going to read this and feel distressed so why not just give the benefit of the doubt?

No advice OP. I used to work with a woman who smelt awful because she wouldn't wash her clothes. She had been told by colleagues and management but wouldn't accept that wearing the same clothes all week and doing a sweaty job was bad practice. The smell used to make me heave in the morning.

Sticking your feet in the washing up bowl is revolting. Your manager needs to grow a pair IMO.

Phishing · 28/01/2012 16:30

I found a member of teaching staff having a strip wash in the kitchen sink after he had cycled in early one morning.

People can be manky

Birdsgottafly · 28/01/2012 16:38

It's a shame that none of the other staff members have befriended her enough to say anything.

I visit and mix with a lot of very dirty/smelly people in my work and it is often a case of they don't realise the need to be clean, because of their upbringing.
This then isolates themand if nothing is said by work collegues then they never think that there is a problem. You need to make it clear that it needs addressing to the manager,if none of you can broach it with her.

I will admit that whilst on heavy medication once my body odour changed but i was very careful about my hygiene routine to counter act this.

SnapesDoxy · 28/01/2012 16:47

Don't know what to suggest apart from going to area manager but just wanted to add an ewwwww.

Original poster
peekabooby · 28/01/2012 16:48

fgs if you think I am trolling REPORT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jeez if I had no life and thought making crap stories up was an good way to waste time I would make something a tad more interesting up. Actually I won't bother posting a thread in AIBU again.

@SiamoNellaMerda if I am troll, can I ask are you a sock puppet??

@Mrsgradgrind I have considered that, we do have a customer services dept and I thought about getting dh to ring but I know I would go bright red when she is in work raging and it feels a little underhand.

I have decided to ask for a transfer, there is a shop a lot closer to home than the one I am working in so I can give that reason.

I am off to work now, so will give the chair a good clean and just stand up.

OP posts:
SarahStratton · 28/01/2012 16:54

Calm down, the vast majority believe you.

ChippingInLovesEasterEggs · 28/01/2012 17:00

Peek - I believe you, I have had to work with someone like this in the past and it's terrible. I put up with a lot more then than I would now. I hope you get your transfer!

paisleyII · 28/01/2012 17:34

when i first read op's post i assumed it was bo, can't BELIEVE that someone who goes to work can smell of sweaty arse, that is disgusting. my dad used to have a shop and sometimes someone would come in who would stink the place out with the smell of unwashed bums, the smell is bloody awful and would linger LONG after they had left the shop. i think they need to be told. they won't take it well, there is no nice way of telling someone they smell but you would be doing them a favour. there is possibility that they may have a colostomy bag? at a guess most people who wear one wouldn't smell but i assume they need to be cleaned etc carefully, my point is, what if this lady has one and does not clean it/change if often enough? it is possible. the only reason this comes into my head is because my parents were friendly with someone for years who wore one and smelt of bottoms, he ended up marrying a lady who took him in hand and his cleanliness improved over night ps would LOVE to know what shop, at least tell us is it ie a shoe shop? :)

FutureNannyOgg · 28/01/2012 17:45

Could you get some Feminine freshness wipes, or moist toilet tissue from petty cash and place them in the work loo in the hope she helps herself?

Could it be her trousers, I once had some cheap work trousers (looked like wool but clearly weren't) that caused uncharacteristic fanjo smell. I threw them out as soon as I realised it was them Blush I'm pretty sure no one but me noticed, but then I only wore them a couple of times and washed them after one day's wear.

BandOMothers · 28/01/2012 17:53

I said WIND UP not troll. I'm not a troll hunter. OP got pissed off very fast though. There are some proper weirdos out there who get off on discussing womens smells. Why do you think there's such a market for used shoes and pants on Ebay??

[gags]