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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Egg eating colleague

74 replies

MoonlightDancer · 19/10/2019 11:50

Posting here for traffic...I work in a mixed office...

Colleague 1 eats egg salad everyday and stinks the office out to high heaven!! Complains she has problems with her bones and refuses to have the window open, suggested could we swap desks so she's not near the window! No she's had the desk for years and likes to see out Confusedand stink everyone out to death!

Colleague 2 Farts loudly like a trooper absolutely wreaks! Thinks because they apologise loudly it's ok!

Colleague 3 EVERYTHING is a drama even opening the post! incredibly loud and obnoxious can't hear myself think!

I spend less time in the office and on corridors but I'm now behind on so much I don't know what to do!

I've been out of work taking bits here and there to get by so now I've got this I can't afford to quit but it's driving me insane!

There's lots of nasty toxic bitching going on with colleague 3 with everyone about everyone a type that as soon as you leave the door you know you're being talked about! I had to ask gently for them to be quiet yesterday whilst on the phone as could not hear a word...cue death stares!

Colleague 1 loves it when I get something wrong or mess up, they sit their staring across at me I sit with my back to her (the way the desks are arranged thank god) when I turn around she is staring at me smirking...she is very vocal that she doesn't care as she's been there a long time and is friends with HR...I just feel drained and don't want to get up everyday to go in but we need to dig ourselves out of debt this wage has really helped this last month and taken major pressure off DH. I just don't know what to do...I'm going to have to quit?

Unless you all have some ideas on how to cope with this until Christmas! The job is temporary but the option is there for permanent if I want it! I am still looking for jobs and applying in the mean time but my motivation has gone!!

I've asked if there are any spare offices/desks I can work from...nothing available...working from home is not an option...I spoke to my manager yesterday they just said yes we're aware of the issues and dealing with them! Past members of staff have complained but it seems nothing has been done hence why people leave!

OP posts:
EdWinchester · 19/10/2019 13:36

reeks

We have a work policy of not eating smelly food. I would categorise eggs as smelly.

I would report farting man to his line manager.

MIdgebabe · 19/10/2019 13:40

How can people avoid farting though? That seems a little mean. ( although I guess I class as hav8ng a medical issue , perhaps other people have less urgency and can hold it more easily? ). There you are, stuck in a meeting room for over an hour and you are focussing on clenching not what anyone is saying, and it goes on and on and on? Or you just stand up and pop there is it

Lucked · 19/10/2019 13:48

Honestly I think you just need to put your head down and ignore. Other people are just part of office life.

Vicks vapour rub just below your nose will mask most smells.

HavelockVetinari · 19/10/2019 13:51

Rub a dab of Vicks under your nose just before lunch, that'll stop you smelling the egg (apparently social workers do the same before visiting smelly clients!)

UnaCorda · 19/10/2019 14:06

Why have you finished every paragraph with an exclamation mark?

I'm not quite sure when it happened, but full stops have apparently ceased to exist. All sentences must now be concluded with an exclamation mark, ellipsis, emoji or series of kisses.

EmeraldShamrock · 19/10/2019 14:09

I'd ask to wear headphones. Is colleague eating at her desk, the farting is disgusting even if they have a bowel issue.

MoonlightDancer · 19/10/2019 14:14

@MrsTWH it is my job to be on corridors 80% of the time...luckily in these circumstances...ie learning walks and monitoring pupil behaviour in and out of class...Pastoral is stupidly busy.

I was in my car as it was my official lunch time before I went back on duty I needed a break and some fresh air!! I missed my meeting because the other staff member thought colleague 1 would be mature enough to pass on the message before I went on my break. I didn't see the person I was having my meeting with before hand. Colleague 1 didn't say a word when I collected my things which she should have!

I am overwhelmed not much training and thrown in at the deep end the person before has left things in a real mess! Hence why I'm behind.

@Lucked and @HavelockVetinari brilliant idea and the fact I'm starting to come on with abit of cold even better, I will definitely be using this.

OP posts:
JadeDragon23 · 19/10/2019 14:27

If the food was sardines I’d see your point but eggs really don’t smell that bad...yes they mildly whiff but temporarily and not overwhelmingly.

The fact that you’ve exaggerated so much about that point makes it fairly likely you are about the other issues so I think you’re probably being unreasonable and looking for a way to shift blame to others for falling behind yourself 🤷🏻‍♀️

MoonlightDancer · 19/10/2019 14:28

@CAG12 Grin

OP posts:
MoonlightDancer · 19/10/2019 14:34

@JadeDragon23 Yes that is exactly what I am doing thank you for your helpful comments.

To the rest vicks vapour rub has won will be buying some today! Thanks for all the replies off to enjoy what little sunshine is left in fresh air Grin

OP posts:
ginghamstarfish · 19/10/2019 14:51

Whenever the window hogger goes out of the room, open the window. Or take in a fan and point it at her desk..Or take in some curry or something stinky yourself - every day. Pity you can't use spray, I would wait till she's finished eating, then spray it all around in her direction, then leave the room till the (poison) settles. I'm so glad I don't work with other people, this kind of twat would really cause me a lot of stress!

WitchesGlove · 19/10/2019 14:58

When you have flatulence you can’t help it and can’t predict either, so you can’t just go to the loo to do it.

You could ask if they’ve considered charcoal tablets, they can help.

WitchesGlove · 19/10/2019 14:59

No-one would choose to do it- it’s far too embarrassing

Effiedg · 19/10/2019 15:04

Eggy smells are disgusting, so are farty smells. Your colleagues are ignorant. As for the smirking, just give a smile and carry on.

totallyradllama · 19/10/2019 15:30

I'm confused about the farting. Pp saying it's awful, my line manager would have dealt with it etc what's he supposed to do? You don't always have warning to leave the room to fart do you? I'm not a frequent farter btw but I would be if I ate egg salad every single day

floffel · 19/10/2019 15:47

That’s dreadful. Inconsiderate fuckers. I suggest doing the following in parallel

1 - confront the fuckers assertively — “we all want to do our best work in a pleasant environment right? Let’s define together what a pleasant environment is ........

2 - complain to hr and recommend they set firm wide criteria for what can and can’t be consumed

3 - stick signs up

Egg eating colleague
Egg eating colleague
MoonlightDancer · 19/10/2019 17:25

@totallyradllama I think he is that used to doing it he makes no effort to get up and go to the loo or somewhere else, just drops one loudly says excuse me and carries on even when people are eating! I've found out today whilst on my walk from a friend that used to work there a few years ago that it's been going on for years.

Anyway my friend has said someone in their Inclusion dept at her school is leaving in Jan and it's a permanent position they have been promoted elsewhere she's going to put my details forward to her HR. Really glad now I went out for a walk fresh air and potential new job does wonders for the brain!

OP posts:
MoonlightDancer · 19/10/2019 17:27

@totallyradllama colleague 1 is egg person.

Colleague 2 is the farter.

OP posts:
ALongHardWinter · 19/10/2019 17:38

Honestly,who goes running to the toilet EVERY SINGLE TIME they need to fart?! Grin

Pinkypurple35 · 19/10/2019 17:57

ALongHardWinter I would if I was at work! ( and I have crohns)
Seriously though, it’s absolutely gross, and I’ve worked in an office for 25 years and thankfully never come across anyone who just farts openly. I’d make a massive deal of it every time he did it and blast the air freshener right at him.

PhonicTheHedgehog · 19/10/2019 18:00

Headphones.

A big bowl of coffee beans on your desk, or bicarbonate of soda to get rid of the smell.

Develop a deadly egg allergy.

MoonlightDancer · 19/10/2019 18:00

@ALongHardWinter Grin obviously no one...well hopefully after my purchase of Vicks vapour rub today...I won't have to smell the mixture of egg, raw onion and noxious farts.

OP posts:
MoonlightDancer · 19/10/2019 18:02

@PhonicTheHedgehog not heard of those to try for smells will try the bicarbonate of soda.

OP posts:
Streamside · 19/10/2019 21:19

Open plan offices are full of these sort of people.People are idiosyncratic and you need to have a sense of humour. Use earphones if you want privacy and go for a walk at lunchtime.

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