Dear Aunt Jobby: Colleague stinks so much she’s making me sick
You are currently browsing comments. If you would like to return to the full story, you can read the full entry here: “Dear Aunt Jobby: Colleague stinks so much she’s making me sick”.
Related Posts:
Filed Under: Featured • Managing Your Career • Working Moms Resources
About the Author: Julie Power is a writer and editor with experience in both the United States and Australia. After living in the United States for 16 years, she recently returned to live in Sydney with her husband and twin boys (9 years old).
Follow @juliepower
MomsToWork RSS Feed
Has anyone mentioned this to a supervisor?
She’s probably just so accustomed to the smell that she doesn’t realize how strong it is (though it’s also a real possibility that she’s losing her sense of smell in general).
I’d just take her aside and tell her, “I just thought you should know that your perfume is nice but it’s REALLY strong.”
She’ll probably be happy to hear the truth from someone.
.-= Meg from FruWiki´s last blog ..Special:Log/delete =-.
That’s a tough one… but if you are offended, you just have to say something. The un-spoken feelings are there and won’t be ignored. I do agree that the point to make is about the synthetics. They persist in the environment, are known carcinogens and hormone disruptors. The average person bathes and annoints themselves with poisons regularly. I can hardly believe they would do this if they knew…
Thank you for covering this very important issue.
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a great place for workers to go for support on how to work with management and HR depts on creating a healthy work environment with good indoor air quality. JAN also has good info on creating alternative work spaces for sensitive individuals, with clarifications about workers rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. http://tinyurl.com/d92evc
Thanks again for exploring this issue in a serious and respectful manner!
.-= Susie Collins´s last blog ..A Chemical Reaction =-.
I’m one of those who get sick for days from unbelievably small exposures to fragrances. I am forced to stay home except for brief forays for groceries, and I still ‘zapped’ on a regular basis.
I believe that people who wear heavy perfumes and can’t imagine life without them are actually addicted to them. Just ask them to stop and watch the angry, defensive reaction: very much like that of smokers and alcoholics when pressured to quit.
Thank you very much for posting this important article! Whether it’s in the workplace, in the waiting room to see the doctor, or in line at the grocery store… fragrances can cause significant symptoms for others in proximity to the person wearing the fragrance.
As Susie pointed out, it is not the smell that makes people sick after exposure to fragrances (as bothersome as the smell itself may be) but the toxic chemicals contained within the fragrances (endocrine disruptors, neurotoxins, etc.)
The fact that only some have significant reactions in the short-term to such products does not mean these products are safe for others. In fact, the long-term effects impact everyone.
Some people are just more sensitive than others and they react on the spot whereas others may think they’ve escaped unscathed – when in reality their health some been negatively impacted as well.
Having fainted in public places on many occasions after exposure to items my body simply couldn’t handle, I can’t thank you enough for posting this informative article!
Jeanne
.-= Jeanne´s last blog ..Fun For Healing UPDATED =-.
Julie, you ask about suitable perfumes. It is virtually impossible to find truly nontoxic perfumes. Even most essential oils are processed with petrochemicals. Buyer beware! Also, I might be old fashioned, but I would say that perfume isn’t really appropriate in a work or business environment. Save it for very special occasions, and even then, be sure you are using USDA Certified Organic products. Better yet, put a flower behind your ear like we do here in Hawaii and let nature be your fragrance!
.-= Susie Collins´s last blog ..Nicholas Kristof on endocrine disruptors =-.
Yeah, that’s a very sensitive issue, especially in workplace, but I generally agree with the advice. However, I do believe the person that pulls her to the side, should be someone she likes and respects. This way it’s seen as constructive criticism and not just mean!
.-= Darvin @ Designer Mens Cologne´s last blog ..Discount Mens Cologne =-.
I am going through the same situation at work, everyone is spraying perfumes and colognes for some reason.
Whey don’t they take the smokers and put them in one area, take all the non smokers and put them in another and the same with the perfume wearers and sprayers.
There are about 100 people in our office department. Many of them spray perfumes and it is starting to make me ill.
I have already talked to the friend beside me and asked her not to wear as much of the perfume she is wearing, LOL I think she just puts more on.
I had to get a fan to blow the fumes and vapors away from me or I will keep coughing all day and my sinues act up from the smell or the toxic chemicals I should say.
I don’t know if anyone in congress will do anything about it or not, but something has got to be done for workers in the work place regarding the toxic environment it is causing.
I have the same problem at work, in fact this past week I’ve ended up in the ER twice because of one co-worker, even tho they have all been made aware of my condition. They mostly tell me it’s all in my head and that they can’t even smell anything coming from her. Never mind that I have a swollen mouth and lips and can’t breath. It has been soooooo frustrating. Now my boss is telling me I have to go get “fixed” before I can come back to work. If any one has any ideas out there that could help I could sure use them. I need my job, I can’t afford to be with out one.
Its a big problem and it’s one thing that i face when at work.people have different kinds of perfumes that make the whole room so stuffy.People should learn to wear cool fragrances that favour everyone.Thanks for the blog.
.-= Salon Sharon´s last blog ..Cosmetics Acne- Control- Creams- Acne Laser =-.
I too suffer from the problem. I am in the first three months of pregnancy and my sense of smell is boosting. I get sick a couple of times during the day although I use a pill against it. My office mate smells really bad. We share a very small office and his BO is all over the office. I try to sit at the most distant configuration but yet it is not even 2 meters that I can sit away from him. He is too nice to bring this up to. But I get literally sick and have to hold and block my nose with one hand all the day while working on computer with the other. Any tricks to deal with the smell?
Mel, you may want to try this … http://www.annoyingcoworker.com/ where you can send anonymous messages .. Let us know how you go. thanks for commenting, momstowork cofounder, Julie Power.
[...] tried six, prompted by reader who asked for advice on how to tell a colleague who wore too much perfume. You could try retching, holding your nose or telling the truth, “I’m sorry but I am [...]
From the other side.
I’m a permanent resident working in USA.I lived in USA for about 13 years now.
Ever since I moved here from Europa I’m constantly confronting local people and they customs.There are highly intolerant.
First I took any confrontation and try to adjust to any request or bulling coworkers to keep peas and get the job done.
Most of it was about my appearance and smell,my type of food,smell of my healthy home cooked meals….i can go on and on.What normally was acceptable to construction work place in Europa where sweat is natural and body odor is temporary but totally reasonable companion in hard work load areas,become here torn in everybody eye and nose.
Long story short: I adjusted to this .And I Found fragrance that if i do brake a sweat covers my body odor.I refuse to ware any anti respiratory stuff for solid reasons,,,another article may be.
Patchouli worked grate!
Until now 10 years later I get really bad feedback from only few coworkers(they are generally unhappy people regardless what comes to they way)
Patchouli even is smallest douses provokes them.
I’m tired of adjusting to everyone here.
Get life and be more tolerant!! all of you ,really try that.
If you think you have to put up with something believe me someone smell or appearance is nothing what some aliens have to put up with in means of non tolerance from others.
So now I’m not only hard worker,and intelligent contribution to any employer.But I ware unstained clean close compare to previous stained clean close.
And is smell as patchouli that I use tiny amount. the small container of size of lipstick lasts me whole year.
And if you do not like it,you can ask me nicely or be mean about it.I will listen and think about it but,
I doubt after all these years i will change any more just for someone unstable,intolerant nature.
So to some of you out there(10% of general population) that just can not let go of someone, may be sometimes irritating differences of others.
I say this:Me, no thank you. I keep my ways and thank you for asking.My smell is from natural source and I like it.
I’m sorry that it bothers you.But if I have to put up with your attitude(that you have regardless of my intervention) you will have to put up with my patchouli smell.By the way: some like 90% like my smell or cant smell it at all or just go on and tolerate it with out any problems so can you.
Dekuji a Naschledanou.