Etiquette question?

[M&M's Mommy]

How do you let your co-worker know that he smells horrible & that he needs deodorant so badly? LOL. It was noticeble, but never this bad before, now that my nose is super sensitive due to the pregnancy, it becomes a huge problem for me. I feel nauseous & my head aches everytime he's around!

Luckily for me he doesn't sit anywhere near my desk, but it doesn't take much, just us passing each other down the hallway is enough to make me want to throw up.

He's a super nice guy whose feelings I do NOT want to hurt. Our work occasionally requires him to report to my desk (which I dread)... but he doesn't have to do it. He can ask others to do it for him LOL. Is there a nice way to ask him to stay as far away from me as possible for the next 6 months?

So far, I've had a pretty good pregnancy with no sickness nor loss of appetite or sleep.. I'm perfectly fine except for the time I'm forced to be near this one particular co-worker!

Help?

[pomtzu]

Maybe a not so subtle hint - like leave a package (anonymously) at his desk, that contains body wash and deodorant.

Myself and some co-workers did this once to an offending party in our office. It worked, and she never knew who left the goody bag!


Wow - my post # is my house #. I wonder if that has any significance??? It was at 2328.

[Asiel]

Sounds like the only way to get the message across, not a bad idea, sometimes these people don't realize they sweat as much as they do and are offensive, could be an underlying condition but the body wash and deodorant should do it.

Post and house no. the same. Not only that but you also have 2 dogs pomtzu....maybe you'll find a toonie somewhere....

[happylabs]

Oh my gosh I remember how certain smells bothered me when I was pregnant and that was 20some years ago!

I wonder if he has no smelling sense? My brother does not have any sense of smell at all. He asks me sometimes if he smells okay and he always does.

I really don't know what the best thing to do would be. I love those Axe products for men. Maybe you could take a collection for that stuff but it still may offend him. Does he have enough money to buy soap and deod?

Not to change the subject but when I was pregnant with my son I remember going to the grocery store and getting to the aisle next to where the laundry detergents are. I had to leave the store because the smell was so strong. Now that I think of it I don't even notice that aisle. Funny how pregnancy does that to you.

Good Luck!

[Pinot's Mom]

The only thing I can suggest is to present it as a health issue to his supervisor (hopefully that's not you!).

[Taz_Zoee]

Yes, I was going to say talk to yours or his supervisor. Definitely.

[M&M's Mommy]

Oh my gosh I remember how certain smells bothered me when I was pregnant and that was 20some years ago!

That's what I thought, too. His odor is bad but it's bearable has my nose not suddenly become super sensitive - so I kinda blame my nose more than I do him.

This morning he came to my desk, and almost immediately I gagged for air. I swear if he stays for a couple more minutes I would pass out. He was so concern and kept asking if I needed him to bring me water or something prolonging his stay at my cube! All the while I was wishing for him to leave me as quickly as possible but I couldn't open my mouth to say so!

I guess I just didn't have it in me to tell him that HE's my problem! lol So I excused myself to the bathroom, cutting short his visit.

Others seem to notice, but do not seem to have as bad of a problem with him as I do. So maybe my best solution is to actively avoid him & excuse myself from him the second our business is done!

[Queen of Poop]

Or you could just pull him aside and confide in him that with the pregnancy your sense of smell has become super sensitive and certain smells including his deoderant really bother you. See where that gets you.

[lvpets2002]

This is what I would have suggested.. We did that to a couple of people here at my work in the past & it worked as well..

Maybe a not so subtle hint - like leave a package (anonymously) at his desk, that contains body wash and deodorant.

Myself and some co-workers did this once to an offending party in our office. It worked, and she never knew who left the goody bag!


Wow - my post # is my house #. I wonder if that has any significance??? It was at 2328.

[pomtzu]

Others seem to notice, but do not seem to have as bad of a problem with him as I do. So maybe my best solution is to actively avoid him & excuse myself from him the second our business is done!

Maybe others just don't know how to approach the problem. You shouldn't have to put up with it if it's actually making you sick. Maybe you should take it to his supervisor or the H.R. manager and let them handle it.

And maybe he really doesn't know that he smells bad. My DIL has no sense of smell and I'm always her "smeller" for perfumes, room sprays, candles, etc.

I remember being sensitive to certain smells when I was pregnant. The smell of eggs cooking was enough to make me hurl - and my ex just had to cook eggs for breakfast every weekend!

[M&M's Mommy]

Or you could just pull him aside and confide in him that with the pregnancy your sense of smell has become super sensitive and certain smells including his deoderant really bother you. See where that gets you.

I love the guy & have a great working relationship with him, but right now, even passing him in a hallway is something I'd avoid at all costs, lets alone spending time talking to him!. His is the only smell that horrifies me so far. Maybe I can talk to my supervisor & ask her to take my place when he has to come over (he'll have to call me to make sure I'm at my desk, so I'll always know when he's about to come over)

My supervisor is a very sweet, understanding & discreet person.. so I think she'll keep it a secret & won't cause him any troubles.

[caseysmom]

How can someone not know they smell is beyond me...I can't go to work without a shower...no way.

[Karen]

It is easy not to know how you smell - the nose gets tired of the same smell after a while.

It might be kindest, if you can bring yourself to do it, to say something to him. Just say "Bob, this is awkward, but there's something about the way you smell that really is bothering now that I am pregnant. Maybe you could change your deodorant or something ... I don't want to embarrass you, but that's why I haven't been able to be near you much lately. Or, leave him an anonymous "gift" of grooming products as others suggested.

[caseysmom]

Well this is gross but I can tell if I smell...I got sick of myself when I was injured and didn't bathe everyday...I knew

[M&M's Mommy]

It is easy not to know how you smell - the nose gets tired of the same smell after a while.

It might be kindest, if you can bring yourself to do it, to say something to him. Just say "Bob, this is awkward, but there's something about the way you smell that really is bothering now that I am pregnant. Maybe you could change your deodorant or something ... I don't want to embarrass you, but that's why I haven't been able to be near you much lately. Or, leave him an anonymous "gift" of grooming products as others suggested.

Someone on the other forum suggested Vicks vapor rub.. I'm going to try to get some tonight.. Hopefully it'll help.

At this point, I've yet had any problems smelling any foods, cleaning supplies, or other things pregnant women may have problems with. The only thing that I really cannot stand so far is my co-worker!

I may suddenly dislike the smell of Clorox, but it doesn't give me such a strong reaction like this guy's odor does. I get dizzy just as he approaches, nauseous when he's here, and begin to feel light-headed (like I'm about to loose consciousness) after only a few minutes being in close proximity to him. I know it sounds mean, but he has the most unpleasant smell I've ever experienced...

I did notice his strong body odor before, but could hold my breath & was fine. Now that I'm pregnant, it's 100 times worse! While it may be best to talk to him myself, I just can't imagine doing that right now.