Can anyone tell me how to handle a situation that has come up from work?

Question

I have been asked to not smoke at least an hour before i come

to work, because the person i work with can smell it and gets headaches. What do you do?

I am offended, Do I smell that bad?

Answer 1

unless its ur boss... then i wouldnt worry about it 2 much. just make sure you cover it up with spray or somethin.. good luck

Answer 2

No, but she may be allergic to the smoke, and it only takes a few molecules of something to trigger an allergy. I'm guessing that she has a sinus headache. Which being said, I do not think it was right of her to ask you. Her sensitivity is her problem. I speak as an allergy sufferer myself. I've been in situations where for example a co worker wore perfume that made me sneeze, and it would never have occurred to me to ask her to stop.

Answer 3

You should be offended, someone has misused your body for commercial gain, and to some people, that is obvious without even looking at you.

You have traces of several hundred unknown chemicals on you, as well as some of the known chemicals: formaldehyde, urea, and whatever else is added to tobacco.  

It isn't just the tobacco that is the issue.  People with multiple chemical sensitivities or 'environmental illness' can be profoundly affected by the lingering stench that you have become accustomed to.  

So, yeah, you reek, and unpleasant smells linger on you, and harmful chemicals are soaked into your clothes and hair.  Your teeth stink from the smoke sitting in an acid environment.  Your unhealthy lungs will emit stored stench for weeks after your last smoke.  

On the one hand, yes, you smell awful.  

On the other hand, you may have a legal action to pursue, both you and your sensitive coworker might possibly sue the company for being forced to endure an uncomfortable work environment.  

Your coworker is entitled to not have to breathe poison in the workplace.

You are entitled to not be harassed for what you do on your own time.

Answer 4

It's likely that you do, sorry...  Second hand smoke effects people more that if they were smoking.  If you smoke at home, in the car, during work - then it's in your skin, in your clothing and it's not something that goes away.  Your no longer sensitive to it.

I know it's easier said than done - but maybe this could be your first step into quitting???  Look at all the money you'll have for new shoes!!

Not to mention having your lungs in place when you're 50.  No lines around your mouth when you're 40.

Personal hygene is getting to be more recognized in the work environment.  I recently was told of a supervisor having to tell a subordinate that their breath was creating a problem for his associates.  I've spoken to this person myself and it was bad.  So, don't be too offended, turn it into a possitive and stop...

Good Luck!

Answer 5

I would be offended too, I would tell who ever asked you to not smoke at least 1 hour before you come in to either pay you for that hour or tell them you get a headache from their breath and not to breathe for 1 hour before they come into work.

Answer 6

Smoking is gross babe. Yes when you come into an office with non-smokers you smell bad to them. Take it as constructive criticism, you could be held back from a raise or many other levels in your job due to that. I work on a non-smoking campus and in a non-smoking state. Where I live you can not smoke in any restaurants and bars/clubs. Therefore it is really strange when you see someone smoking, it takes you off guard. The reason I point all of that out to you is there is a reason why the government has started to make these changes. It is harmful to you body, you are slowly killing yourself and you are harming you skin. I don't think that you like facial hair, brown/yellowish teeth, coughing until you can't breath or looking like your 60 when your actually 45. Think about your body not your "feelings" right now. Take this as a sign as something that you need to IMPROVE yourself.

Answer 7

I dont like smoke. It does make me sick, BUT what they have asked is unfair. Unless you are on the clock and getting paid they don't have the right to ask you to NOT do anything. I would explain and maybe look up different nuetralizor for the person and suggest that you find a way to keep the focus her. She is the problems and her sensitivies? Did she go to the dr and get proof you are the problem? You should not be blamed for her headaches, it could be food related lack of sleep, diet, her own drive into work. it just doesnt seem fair

Answer 8

My husband has asthma and can always tell when he's around a smoker, just by the smell on their clothes. The smoke smell irritates his asthma.  I'm sure it took a lot for the person to ask you not to smoke because he/she didn't want to offend you, but to non-smokers, it smells worse than smokers might think.  Try wearing a jacket when you smoke or something and then take it off when you aren't smoking.

Answer 9

just change your shirt right b4 you get to work and put a little perfume.