Smoking co worker

[Myothername]

She doesn't smoke in the office but smokes in her car and then comes into my office. The smell is awful and makes me start wheezing. It gets to the point where I now have to use an inhaler. It has come to the point where when she comes into my office, only for about 30 seconds, I have to get up and walk out of my office so I don't start wheezing. I want to email my boss to say something to her but my boss has the attitude that if it is something I need it is not important. Yeah. Working conditions here are not that great. That is why I want to email her so I will have a paper trail if I have to go over her head.

Am I being overly sensitive? Honestly I never complain but it is getting bad. If I have to get a note from my doctor I will.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

Why would you go to your boss? Just tell her you are sensitive to the smell of smoke and ask her if she can not come in your office immediately after smoking.

 

[Deb in IA]

Tell your boss you cannot be productive if you can't breathe.

 

[sam_gordon]

She doesn't smoke in the office but smokes in her car and then comes into my office. The smell is awful and makes me start wheezing. It gets to the point where I now have to use an inhaler. It has come to the point where when she comes into my office, only for about 30 seconds, I have to get up and walk out of my office so I don't start wheezing. I want to email my boss to say something to her but my boss has the attitude that if it is something I need it is not important. Yeah. Working conditions here are not that great. That is why I want to email her so I will have a paper trail if I have to go over her head.

Am I being overly sensitive? Honestly I never complain but it is getting bad. If I have to get a note from my doctor I will.

What do you want to happen (realistically)? Do you not want her to come into your office? Should she call you and ask you to come to her office? Do you not want her to talk to you? Do you want her to wait 'x' minutes before talking to you?

I don't think you can ask her not to smoke.

 

[SirDuff]

What do you want to happen (realistically)? Do you not want her to come into your office? Should she call you and ask you to come to her office? Do you not want her to talk to you? Do you want her to wait 'x' minutes before talking to you?

I don't think you can ask her not to smoke.

I don't think one can ask her not to smoke either. I have a similar situation here. I just spoke to my co-worker and he tries not to smoke immediately before coming to a meeting in my office (he's in a cubicle so going to his office wouldn't' work - plus I'm sure that his office would smell worse than him coming into my office for a few minutes).

It is a tricky situation, but I would never have gone to my boss (or his) without talking to him first. And I don't think that I could ask him not to smoke or never have a meeting with him in my office.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

She doesn't smoke in the office but smokes in her car and then comes into my office. The smell is awful and makes me start wheezing. It gets to the point where I now have to use an inhaler. It has come to the point where when she comes into my office, only for about 30 seconds, I have to get up and walk out of my office so I don't start wheezing. I want to email my boss to say something to her but my boss has the attitude that if it is something I need it is not important. Yeah. Working conditions here are not that great. That is why I want to email her so I will have a paper trail if I have to go over her head.

Am I being overly sensitive? Honestly I never complain but it is getting bad. If I have to get a note from my doctor I will.

That is a tough issue to deal with. I am assuming that smoking is allowed at your place of employment.

The rock and the hard place is that smoking is allowed and secondly your health condition is your own issue.

What could you do if you got a doctor's note? Are you allowed to step outside without consequences if she comes in from smoking?

I suppose talking to her first is something you can do and tell her that you are allergic to smoke and to ask her to please "air out" prior to coming in from smoking. Not sure how much that will help you out though.

That really stinks as a situation, literally!

 

[luvmy3jewels]

Have you spoken with your co-worker about this problem? I would hope that by explaining to her the issues that you are having and asking her to wait a few minutes before coming into your office after smoking, she would be considerate enough to do so. If she isn't willing, then maybe get a small fan to sit on your desk that can help circulate the air a little better.

I have a couple of co-workers that are heavy chain smokers and they spend a good part of their day riding in small pick-up trucks while they smoke. Their clothes smell very strongly of smoke and the things that they touch (even the mail they bring in) can pick up the smell. It's annoying and I hate that the smoke smell lingers even after they have left the room, but there isn't a lot I can do about it.

 

[KatheeME]

NO, you are not over reacting! Your boss needs to deal with this. I wouldn't talk to the co worker first, I would ask for a conversation with your boss present if necessary. That's gross you have to deal with that, and YES this is a major pet peeve of mine! Good luck!

 

[KatheeME]

What do you want to happen (realistically)? Do you not want her to come into your office? Should she call you and ask you to come to her office? Do you not want her to talk to you? Do you want her to wait 'x' minutes before talking to you?

I don't think you can ask her not to smoke.

I hope you do have a work policy about asking her not to smoke. Even though some don't follow here at my work place, there is no smoking on the grounds, in the parking, or even in your car in the parking garage. It has cut down on the possibility of reeking when a co worker comes back from smoking at least.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

I'm sorry OP - I have breathing issues around smoke too. I don't think you have many options here though. Some people react to perfume the same way but unless your employer has any rules against smelling a certain way (and there are some that do) then I think you are out of luck.

 

[sam_gordon]

NO, you are not over reacting! Your boss needs to deal with this. I wouldn't talk to the co worker first, I would ask for a conversation with your boss present if necessary. That's gross you have to deal with that, and YES this is a major pet peeve of mine! Good luck!

I hope you do have a work policy about asking her not to smoke. Even though some don't follow here at my work place, there is no smoking on the grounds, in the parking, or even in your car in the parking garage. It has cut down on the possibility of reeking when a co worker comes back from smoking at least.

What do you want the boss to do? Unless the smoking coworker is violating company policy (like what you listed), there's really nothing to be done (aside from changing the policy).

 

[KatheeME]

What do you want the boss to do? Unless the smoking coworker is violating company policy (like what you listed), there's really nothing to be done (aside from changing the policy).

I would want the boss to advocate getting a physician's note and spear head a change in policy, or creat a policy to protect the health of his or her's employees.

 

[EMAW_KSU]

What do you want the boss to do? Unless the smoking coworker is violating company policy (like what you listed), there's really nothing to be done (aside from changing the policy).

What could they change tho policy to? The local hospital here has a no smoking anywhere on property policy. The smokers walk across the street to smoke when on break.

 

[KatheeME]

What could they change tho policy to? The local hospital here has a no smoking anywhere on property policy. The smokers walk across the street to smoke when on break.

Still gross but at least it cuts down on on soon the smoker comes back into the building and make others sick and reek.

 

[m3retired]

Ask your boss and that co-worker to split the cost of a small air purifier for your office with you. Or, to not rock the boat and have awkwardness in the work place, buy a small one yourself.

 

[aaarcher86]

OP - I'd just ask the co worker to stop coming into your office immediately after smoking because of your medical issues. Most smokers are pretty considerate and understand.

If she's following the policy the company has in regards to smoking there really isn't anything else you can do.

I would want the boss to advocate getting a physician's note and spear head a change in policy, or creat a policy to protect the health of his or her's employees.

Good luck with that. I certainly wouldn't want to be 'that' employee.

They aren't lepers. If they're following the guidelines put forth they have just as much right to smoke as you have in your choice not to. I have a hard time with smoke as well, but if she's following company policy she's not doing anything wrong.

 

[Brit17]

Can you get an air ionizer for your office? ... Maybe that can help some ... I feel for you ... The smell of cigarette/cigar smoke is

 

[Myothername]

The co worker works out side the office so she is only here less than 30 minutes a day unless there is a meeting. I think I may say something to her next time she reeks. It is bad enough that I have had to take paperwork she turns in and copy it and shred her originals. My office is kind of the hub so everyone comes in here at least once a day for something. I can't ask her to not come into my office. I guess I could just say hey I am highly allergic to cigarette smoke. Could you wait a while after smoking before coming into my office? I start to wheeze when I am around it.

 

[m3retired]

I agree with aaarcher. No rules are being broken, they aren't second class citizens. I have the same problem with women who wear telegraphing fragrances--you can smell their perfume coming 10 minutes in advance. Would you ask that person not to enter your office?

 

[Missy1961]

As others have said, as long as she is following the rules/laws for smoking, there isn't much you can do besides asking her to stay away right after she takes a smoking break. In my experience, if you ask respectfully, most smokers are willing to do that sort of thing. You may want to let her know that you've had issues with her paperwork as well.