Dear Career Advisor:

I thank you for the suggestions you gave to the reader last week, I see where I can benefit from them. I am in a somewhat similar position.

I work in a fast-paced environment where, for the most part, we serve customers remotely. Our ‘office’ setting is also ‘cluster and cubicle’ styled within an open space. I face similar challenges including excessive untidiness, no privacy, noise (music, chatting and laughter) and the thing that affects me most is bad odour. The person who sits directly behind me says when he needs to get creative he must remove his shoes for his ‘creative energy to flow’. I need not tell you that without turning my head I can instantly tell when his creative energy is about to flow. I am finding it unbearable. It doesn’t matter whether it’s morning or afternoon, the smell is bad and it gets to me.

There is no way the team leader and supervisor would not have noticed, however nobody says anything about it. I suspect that’s because he is a very productive worker and no one wants to upset him. As a relatively new worker who is still learning the ropes, I have not said anything as I fear that I might be sidelined or victimised.

What do you suggest I do?

Yours truly,

‘Contaminated’ Robert

Dear Robert:

I must confess that the adjective you use to describe yourself did put a smile on my face, but I will quickly add that I see where your work situation is no laughing matter.

For the benefit of some of our readers who might have missed the suggestions last week about how to cope with annoying co-workers, I will recap them here. They were:

i. Be direct and assertive (speak directly to the offender)

ii. Utilise coping mechanisms

iii. Request the supervisor’s intervention

From your comments, steps one and two might not be at the top of your likely options, but step one should not be ignored. Consequently, I am further suggesting that you propose to your supervisor or human resource manager that, as a part of workforce development training, they conduct a seminar on workplace etiquette. This could be accompanied by the development of written guidelines for appropriate office behaviour.

To mitigate against the perception of targeting anyone, HR could include issues such as:

• Use of office resources

• Rules for utilisation of common spaces

• Cubicle etiquette

Notwithstanding the above, at some point it might be necessary for someone to speak directly to the offending co-worker as he might be totally unaware of the offending body odour due to olfactory fatigue.

Trusting that this small hurdle will be resolved soon and that you, like your team members, will enjoy high levels of productivity.

Sincerely,

Career Advisor