About my one co-worker...
By Bethany1202
@Bethany1202 (3431)
United States
December 19, 2008 8:30pm CST
Just need to vent a little.
I have a new co-worker who never pays attention and talks too much, and messes up all the time. I guess if it were just that, it might be somewhat acceptable, but she has also violated the dress code numerous times as well as never cleans up after herself. She always leaves food in the breakroom, crumbs and trash on the table, etc. It's disgusting, and she's an adult! We shouldn't have to pick up after her, or tell her the rules 23 times before she starts to follow them!
Also, I know this is horrible to say, but she has a foul odor, some type of B.O. that is reminiscent of sweat and fish... I thought maybe it was a one-time thing where she might have forgotten deodorant in a rush or something, but it's NOT a one-time thing, it's a nasty everyday thing!
Do you have, or have you ever had, a co-worker like this? I have tried to like her, but she has an attitude. I think if it were just one or two small things, it might be tolerable, but I hate to admit I am really starting to despise her. : /
3 people like this
11 responses
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
20 Dec 08
Buy her a gift basket with some nice smelling soaps or something. Also, I would let her know that she's a bit messy but do it in a fun way, if she doesn't get the message then just straight up tell her. About her clothes, let her know that she should dress more professional, go shopping with her, maybe the girl needs some help.
3 people like this
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
20 Dec 08
Buying her a gift basket - and not everyone else - might hurt her feelings. It would probably be a better idea to get some sample sizes and make baskets for everyone...which could be expensive. Or put sample sizes in the break room and let everyone take some if they choose...
Sometimes being ill or even using certain kinds of prescriptions can make you smell a bit odd. And some people don't bathe as much as others because of the cost of water. Strange in this day and age, but it's true. Before I'd get too disturbed about those things, I would probably try to find out more about the "whys".
The things you mentioned - her not doing her job properly, not cleaning up after herself in the breakroom - are certainly things you could address with your supervisor. But the key is to not be too whiny about it when you do.
2 people like this
@vanonas (949)
• United States
20 Dec 08
Oh my gosh that's so gross. Ugh I don't understand how people don't know how to act at work! At least fake being clean while around other people and be disgusting in the privacy of your own home! I would want to tell my boss about her, but I wouldn't want to seem like a snitch. I'm sorry this is happening to you. Maybe if everyone at work hints to her that she's horrible she'll pick up and start to change.
3 people like this
@Bethany1202 (3431)
• United States
20 Dec 08
The thing is, the boss already knows it, as does everyone else who works there, but, working in corporate America, she has to have x amount of write-ups or whatever to be fired. Violating dress code isn't severe enough to fire her over. SHe has taken long lunch breaks as well and been written up many times. Hopefully she'll get written up one too many times! I feel awful saying that, but I am not a babysitter and she is a terrible employee!
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
20 Dec 08
Ouch, my friend, she sounds like a right handful, it's always difficult in these situations how to handle it, after all you have to work together and you have to communicate with her regardless if you hate her or not, but she has to take responsibility and in all honesty your direct manager should take her aside and have a 'chat' with her to pull up on things, because her manner and dress code as well as her hygiene needs to be addressed sooner rather than later if your manager is decent he will nip this in the bud straight away so all of you can work side by side in harmony, after all we spend most of our working lives at work! Hope you get it sorted my friend!
3 people like this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
20 Dec 08
Oh my... i wonder why this person was hired by the boss... surely this attitude was seen during the interview process... good thing i never had to put up with something like this because i work alone in the office... and if we will someone new to come in... i will be the one to choose who will be hired...
I remember a particular co worker in the past who was quite nice and very tidy... but when the afternoon comes... she would really stink... we told her about it... but no amount of deodorant can kill the smell...
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
20 Dec 08
some people i dont understand how they even have lived as long as they have!! i mean some people are just so um.. i dont even know what to call it.. uncivilized etc.. that i dont see how the heck they stay that way! surely she has seen tv or something where people strive to be decent or smell good lol..
3 people like this
@fivhi89 (17)
• Malaysia
20 Dec 08
OMG she sounds lyk a nightmare..
But i thnk its totally normal nd understandable that ur starting to despise her, as horrible as it sounds. I once had a co-worker who didnt have BO as such, but wasa pretti annoying. we were at the same level and he used to thing that just because he had been ther a month or so longer than me, he could boss me around.and wat used to make me even more mad was that he used to break so many rules and even steal from the company.
The thing is tho i never said anything to him, nd now that i look back at it, i wish i had, so my suggesstion to you is just tell her (in a diplomatic wey)..the truth is the wat to go..
3 people like this
@rusty2rusty (6763)
• Defiance, Ohio
20 Dec 08
Wow, this person you describe sounds really horrible. I think I woul dhave a hard time liking her as well. One thing you could do is go to your work human resource manager if you have one. Talk to them and tell them about the ladies smell. They should have a talk with her and see what is going on. I know some people who have certain dieases tend to give off a certain foul order. I am not sure if it is cause the meds or what. So, I never say anything to teh person. But go to someone who has the authority to pull the person in their office and talk to them about it.
Good luck. I hope you get it settled.
1 person likes this
@rusty2rusty (6763)
• Defiance, Ohio
21 Dec 08
No it is not harsh at all. That is what they are there for. I knew a guy who had bad breath because he had bad teeth. Plus he seem to wear the same clothes every day. Of course noone could mention it to him because it would been considered hurtful and they could get in trouble for sayings something hurtful. So, it was left up to the HR to handle it.
Come to find out the man knew he needed to go get his teeth done. But also knew he couldn't miss work. So, work gave him some days off to get it taken care of.
Also he had bought his jeans in bulk at an outlet store that had defects in them. So, he had plenty of jeans. But they all looked alot.
Can you imgaine how much of a jerk others would of felt like if they were to mention any of that? HR took care of it and the man was able to get a couple of days off her otherwise would never of gotten.
@Bethany1202 (3431)
• United States
20 Dec 08
Good idea. I didn't want to go that far, but it isn't just one thing, either. Maybe I ought to talk to HR... Seems a bit harsh, but hey...
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
20 Dec 08
you should all go to the boss and complain about her, and the boss will have to deal with her behavior from now on or fire her.
1 person likes this
@Amberina (1541)
• United States
20 Dec 08
I understand what you mean I had to be around some one who's breath just would make a maggot gag, it was just gross thankfully I no longer have to be around that person. But you where talking about her smell that she has I remember watching a show about body odor and some people have an odor that smells like fish and sweat they just can't get rid of it. I can't remember what they called it. One time I went to the bank and I was standing behind this lady who just stunk to high heaven and after she left the bank teller held up her hand to tell me to wait before I walked over to her an she sprayed some air freshner (after the lady was well out of site) it still lingered as I walked up to the counter.
1 person likes this
@Bethany1202 (3431)
• United States
20 Dec 08
That's so funny -- no offense. I had a manager years ago with the most horrible breath and he LOVED to stand close and talk very close to everyone, so you could surely smell it! OMG GROSS! Sorry for you, I can relate to that as well!
@mindym (978)
• United States
20 Dec 08
Some people just feel that rules don't apply to them and that the world should revolve around them. She is one of those people and this person must also think that everything is handed to her on a silver platter and people should do things for her. These people drive me CRAZY because it is the people who follow the rules that end up suffering from their actions (or lack of actions).
@Paula1966 (1102)
• United States
20 Dec 08
I will see about sending you our co-worker we always go to when someone needs to have the "stank" talk with one of our female newhires. :) We get plenty of people that come through our training department, and every so often someone needs to be given the talk. Since it is a sensitive subject, I would suggest approaching your supervisor about the most HR appropriate way to handle it.
