Stinky Smoking Colleague

[SniffsAndSneezes]

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.

Fag breath is pretty repugnant, but I don't think the smell could transfer to you like cigarette smoke.

I have a non smoking colleague who has breath like, what I suspect to be, death.

I am pleased to say, it doesn't cling to us poor sods that have to share air with him.

I hadn't noted the time if the op IKnowIAm,
Sounds like an amazing place of work

If the OP is being genuine re the 3 fags an hour claim, that would mean this bloke is smoking app 50+ a day - that's some going - there are very few people who actually get through that much.

For this reason I think the OP has exaggerated somewhat, so do not feel particularly sorry for her. In fact, I agree with a pp who said that if they were OP's boss they would wonder why Mr Smoker can do something in 45 mins that it takes her an hour to do.
(So the OP takes 25% longer to do her work than he does )

I used to smoke.. Still do when I'm drunk thrice a year . Smokers do stink. I used to stink, I know now.

Not much you can do about it.

smokers do stink, really badly after their fix. It's not breath (who would get close enough?) it is clothes. It is revolting.

it is not acceptable to smell of ANYTHING in an office. Perfume, BO, stupid-sticks, whatever. It doesn't fade. It reeks. There was a nico-druggie in the supermarket queue behind me today, I moved rapidly away.

he shouldn't be smoking in working hours. There's plenty of free help to cut down the addiction.

outside work where no-one has to be near him, he can do what he likes.

ask the boss to deal with it. And also to put a designated stinking area by the bins at the back of the building. No shelter, just a place. For use 30 mins before work and no later, and after if he is so addicted he can't wait.

Vanilla - you obviously have nose blindness. It is fucking awful - and if that makes me hysterical then hysterical me up.

Ask hr or management to seat you far away from this person. You could tell then you have developed breathing problems and are concerned the passive smoking is triggering this. In my place of work you are not allowed any smoking breaks during working hours and cannot even smoke within a certain distance of the buildings. I'm an ex smoker from many years ago and yes it does stink but you don't realise until you quit.

Oh - and the OP has already said it's not quite as often as her op said. Probably just feels like it - stinking bugger that he is.

nico-druggie

Ooh, look at you with your catchphrases! "Stupid Sticks", "Fix", "Addiction", "Stinking Area".

You are clever....

I tell you what, it's just as well miserable twats are odourless!!

I wouldn't know - I've never smelt a miserable twat.

"I just think the OP is being far too precious."

No she isn't

"BUT it is nowhere near as bad as the hysterical clenchers on here bang on about."

Yes it is.

I think that some of you seem to be desensitised to smoking smells. I find the smell of smokers and fag breath particularly offensive. I can live with food and perfume smells, and even find BO less offensive than smoking smells. So that must make me hysterical as well.

SirChenjin - This is me tracking smokers

"I think that some of you seem to be desensitised to smoking smells"

I've never liked the smell but since the ban I have become much more aware of it, because it's more unusual. I remember nights out in pubs and clubs, making sure I had unwashed hair and clothes that were on their last wear before needing a wash. I also made sure I didn't wear anything that needed dry cleaning. But yes, I was still probably a bit desensitised then, as I am more sensitive now I have less exposure.

It really is rank, and I wouldn't want to spend 8 hours a day sitting near a heavy smoker.

Oh yes...I remember those days well. Clothes would have to be washed after one wear, you'd have to shower and wash your hair to get rid of the smell - even your bedclothes would stink of the stuff after a night out . Love love love the smoking ban.

"even your bedclothes would stink "

Oh god, I'd forgotten that. Going to bed again the day after, wondering why your pillow stank and realising that despite showering yourself and washing your clothes, you had managed to transfer the smell to your linen. And I only made the mistake of hanging something smoky in the wardrobe once.

Me too - wondering why my whole wardrobe stunk of old fags, only to find I'd tried to squeeze 2 wears out of a top by hanging it back up there

I remember my mum being convinced I had taken up smoking when I started going put to pubs/clubs, because I stank so badly of smoke after coming home. She sat me down and had a serious talk with me. I'm not sure she really ever believed me when I insisted it was just the smell I'd picked up from the general permanent clouds of smoke in the venues!

People say clubs smell worse now because the smoke doesn't cover up the BO and sweat from all the dancing. I couldn't comment as I can't even member the last time I went clubbing...

Ugh, i used to hate waking up and smelling smoke on my skin, hair and clothes after a night out. Hideous. I love the smoking ban too.

River - that's a myth perpetuated by bitter smikers. Clubs used to smell of BO, farts, sweat AND fags. Oh, and Obsession

smokers obv!

I'll look out for dejard'severy post

Not sure why the OP is getting so many sneeeeery responses. I guess some smokers just genuinely don't realise how much they stink.