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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Stinky Smoking Colleague

160 replies

SniffsAndSneezes · 07/07/2015 10:04

I work in an office and share a desk with a colleague who smokes. About 3 times an hour he'll go outside for 5 minutes, have a cigarette and when he comes in he absolutely stinks to high heaven, to the point where I'm almost gagging. I'm just so aware of breathing it in, and of that smell going on my clothes and in my hair. And when I go out for lunch he'll be there, 2 feet from the building entrance puffing away, forcing everyone coming in or going out to walk through a cloud of smoke. It makes me so angry!

WIBU to speak to him about it? I unfortunately can't switch desks and sit somewhere else.

OP posts:
hhhhhhh · 07/07/2015 17:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AccordingToOurRecords · 07/07/2015 17:46

Unless he is rubbing his hands all over you and exhaling into your hair you will not smell of his smoke. Could you chuck him some mints and ask him to wash his hands?

ilikebaking · 07/07/2015 17:49

Honestly, I feel the same way.
If someone is a smoker it is as bad as if they have awful BO, or comes in with poo on their shoes.
It smells, it makes me feel sick and it isn't nice to breathe in.

IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou · 07/07/2015 17:50

If I was your boss I'd be wanting to know why it's taking you an hour to do what he's obviously doing in 40 minutes???

TheChandler · 07/07/2015 18:28

YANBU. If its that bad, its unacceptable to share a small workspace for him and I don't think it would be unreasonable to ask to be moved. I would speak to your manager about it rather than the individual directly. I can imagine it exacerbating certain health issues, such as asthma, in the same way that bad smogs do.

Bunbaker · 07/07/2015 18:35

I suspect that those giving the OP a hard time are smokers and don't realise just how offensive the smell of fag breath is to non smokers.

I absolutely loathe the smell of cigarette smoke and fag breath and if I shared a desk with someone who behaved like this I would ask to be moved. Is this not an option?

riverboat1 · 07/07/2015 18:42

I think depending on what kind of relationship you have with him, you could try:

  • Telling him that the smell of smoke on his is really strong and starting to bother you, and that while you recognise he has the right to smoke could you think together about anything you could do to make things work for both of you.
  • Try to move your desk/chair further away from him, or get loads of air freshener / plug in things to try to cover up the smell
  • Speak to your HR person to see what they suggest, maybe ask to change desks or offices.

I sometimes work with a colleague who is a heavy smoker, she probably goes out for one per hour, and she does smell strongly of smoke when she comes back in. Plus, any files she has taken home with her also generally smell of smoke when returned. I don't really mind it though as I only share office space with her occasionally, so it's only a momentary thing that I smell the smoky smell now and again. I can imagine that if it was all day every day though it'd be harder to tolerate.

EmpressKnowsWhereHerTowelIs · 07/07/2015 18:44

Vanilla, I've never smoked but I guess it must be fun & enjoyable or people wouldn't get addicted to it. And I understand what people are saying on the smokers' thread about it being something just for them.

But what on earth is glamorous about something that makes you stink, makes you cough and quite apart from the health risks, can fuck up your skin and teeth?

AssembleTheMinions · 07/07/2015 19:01

Yanbu. This would give me the rage as well. I would need my inhaler if I had to sit next to someone who stank of cigarettes. It would also get on my goat they were missing a fair amount of work while out on fag breaks.

I'm biased mind you, both my parents died young from smoking related illness. I have very limited tolerance for selfish smokers.

Bunbaker · 07/07/2015 19:02

Both my parents died from smoking related diseases, my mum horribly so.

KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes · 07/07/2015 19:20

I suspect that those giving the OP a hard time are smokers and don't realise just how offensive the smell of fag breath is to non smokers.

Agreed. I used to have to iron a smoker's clothes (after they'd been washed' and the smell would make me heave.

SirChenjin · 07/07/2015 19:28

Yanbu - smokers have no idea have fucking awful they stink after a fag, and having to sit next to that for 8 hours a day is grim. When you share an office with other people you should show a bit of consideration - can you speak to HR or ask to be moved? Either that or spray air freshener every time he stinks out the place?

bolleauxnouveau · 07/07/2015 19:40

The monitor and equipment used by my smoker colleague in our controlled temp. room was noticeably dirtier than all the other equipment, made me wonder how much junk she was still breathing out even after finishing her cigarette.

MythicalKings · 07/07/2015 20:04

I suspect that those giving the OP a hard time are smokers and don't realise just how offensive the smell of fag breath is to non smokers.

Nope. I don't smoke. I just think the OP is being far too precious. I agree it smells but then so do animals and people with pets don't realise that we non pet owners can smell it on them. You just live and let live.

SirChenjin · 07/07/2015 20:09

Animal aren't allowed in the vast majority of offices though, are they - and definitely not stinking ones. There is no excuse for it - show a bit of consideration for your fellow office workers.

ThursdayLast · 07/07/2015 20:15

So he's working 45minutes out of every hour?

15 minutes off an hour? Over an 8 hour day... That's TWO hours a day he's doing less than he should Shock

THATS the issue here!

SophieJenkins · 07/07/2015 20:24

I was in the co op the other day and looking at some reduced stuff in the fridge, and a guy comes along, stands right next to me and reaches in to have a look at the stuff too and the smell was SO STRONG that I had to hold my breath and walk away.

I tried to go back for a sandwich but I couldn't go near him.

I almost felt like saying something but of course I didn't. Poor guy may not have a clue he smells so bad. If he does though it is a great way of getting the reduced bit to yourself. Angry

MrsKoala · 07/07/2015 20:29

I have never smoked 'properly' - ie never in the day, never at work, only when i'm out for the night and then can happily not have one again for a month or two. I 'gave up' doing that when i was pregnant 3.5years ago and haven't had one since. So i am not what i consider a smoker.

The smell, while not pleasant is certainly not the worst i've had to endure in an office (and i worked in a sales and recruitment office where people chain smoked turkish cigarettes at their desk). By far the worst smell for me was the office i worked in where the machine did chicken cuppa soups. It just smelled like hot vomit. i had to try not to gag. Then to add insult to injury i was complained about for eating a marmite and cheese sandwich and asked by my boss not to again as the smell offended someone.

My last office my desk was near the microwave and i was pregnant and someone used to heat up fish and cabbage stew everyday. It really was fucking foul.

cruikshank · 07/07/2015 20:39

Op, if I worked with you I'd probably need a million fag breaks too just to cope with the stress of it all.

Gabilan · 07/07/2015 20:43

"They simply would never survive a commute on the tube for example on a hot day. The smell of stale garlic/spices/BO being sweated out is eye watering, but that's life."

That's partly why I don't live in London. Can't stand that many people living cheek by jowl. I don't use the tube in rush hour either. I'd rather walk a quite considerable distance.

VanillaTwirl · 07/07/2015 20:46

I smoked app 15 to 20 a day for 23 years; even with fag breaks I still produced as much, if not more than many non-smokers.

I have not smoked for nearly 2 years now (switched to e-cigs, then stopped e-cigs about a year ago).

I can smell everything now, even the whiff of a newly lit cigarette in the distance - I can also smell the 'just had a fag' smell that some smokers come in with.
BUT it is nowhere near as bad as the hysterical clenchers on here bang on about. At worst it is a bit unpleasant for a little while til it wears off.

I smell far, far worse smells off other people - the worst being halitosis, greasy hair and fusty clothes - and those smells don't fade away.

Etak15 · 07/07/2015 20:56

I don't mind the 'just had a fag smell' what I would mind though is all the extra breaks he's having!! Where i work smokers can use there 30 minute break as 3 10 min fag breaks (nhs hospital so they have to walk to main road and back ) or 30 minute meal break like everyone else. Think someone's already said this but I agree Having 3 fags an hour all day long seriously reduces his working hours?

Gabilan · 07/07/2015 21:00

"it's not my right to dictate what people smell like!"

Well no, but it's no-one's right to inflict strong smells on other people either. I avoid strong perfumes or large amounts of any perfume. I make sure I don't sit around stinking of horse, BO or cat. I don't even like inflicting coffee breath on other people.

Oh sure, I expect I smell. We all smell. I'm pretty sure I don't stink though.

WixingMords · 07/07/2015 21:05

Get one of those squinty air fresheners and every time you press it tut and glare at him

IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou · 07/07/2015 21:06

THATS the issue here!

Obviously missing the irony of the OP starting the thread while at work.

TBH, I'd love to work there - no one seems to do anything!!