Personal Habits andamp; HygieneI started my job search about 3 weeks ago. Things seem to be going a little slow, so I need some advice to get me through. Suffice it to say that I'm looking for a more professional environment.- there are other problems, but this particular one is making it especially difficult for me. I work in a front desk position for the owner of a firm. We're a very small office of about 5 people with no HR department. Two employees sit in a remote part of the office away from the owner, myself and one employee. The three of us sit very close to the kitchen. The owner is very traditionally southern, very genteel, and easily offended by any blunt remarks. He is an older man and has owned this business for decades. He's very comfortable in this office- it's like he's at home here. He and one of my co-workers like to warm peanuts in the microwave that's located in the kitchen (which is near our desks) throughout the day. The smell is awful, especially when they occasionally burn them. But I'm not done. My boss is constantly crunching on these peanuts with his mouth open, as if he were trying to crunch as loudly as possible. When he's talking to me about something I'm typing after eating peanuts, he leans over to look at the document. I roll my chair away from him to give him room, but he does those half burps while he's talking because he's been eating. His peanut-breath is overwhelming. He and my co-worker also belch out loud occasionally, without trying to hide it. Sometimes when I come around the corner into the front office, I'll find my boss with his hand down the front of his pants, scratching himself. Again, he's behaving as if he's at home. While I realize it's his right to do as he pleases in his office, how to I cope in the meantime? Is there any kind of verbal judo comments to let him know all this behavior is offensive to me without being blunt? Keep in mind there is no Office Manager or HR person I can confide in. I also sit at the front desk, so I cannot move to another part of the office. Thanks. Are you sure you aren' t in a zoo? I guess there is nothing else to do than have a peanut once in while or look for another job. To change this boss' ways is impossible after years that he regards the office as his home. Even if you tell him that you have difficulty with some of his behavior, he won' t change or maybe only one day then fall back into his old habits. When you can' t stand it anymore also because of other issues, good luck with your job search. Are you, by any chance, working for Homer Simpson? Anyone who has watched the Simpsons--a really funny show--and has seen Homer at his job at the nuclear power plant will know what I am talking about! "Please do not offer my deity a peanut." Apu to Homer Simpson, when Homer offered a peanut to a statue of Ganesh LOL I'm with you one the annoyance of this stuff. I work in an office with 2 other analysts. One of them, a very genteel older lady (isn't it amazing that it's the genteel ones), crunches loudly throughout the day with her mouth open. She also talks with food in her mouth -- on the phone, and even at MEETINGS. I don't know HOW she never managed to learn basic manners. She has even been a director at one time. It drives me nuts (pardon the pun). I usually resort to putting on headphones and listening to music at my desk, but that doesn't help with the meetings, and it wouldn't help you with the "peanut breath" problem!
The scratching and belching should be overlooked. There should be a fan in the kitchen to get rid of the lingering odors from cooking or burning food; we have one in the breakroom where I work. The odor from his mouth and the fact that he chomps on the nuts with his mouth open proves that he is not a genteel gentleman; he is a slob with no consideration for anyone else. Frankly speaking, the scratching and belching prove the same thing too but you can ignore that unless he attempts to sit on your lap while scratching and belching. People do belch, you know. It' s a normal bodily function but they should say "excuse me!" I have no idea what I would do. I would subconsciously back off physically in disgust from him if he was trying to get closer to me to look at what I am typing. I would not do it deliberately necessarily but this would be my natural reaction. I cannot handle unpleasant odors from anyone. He would probably get the message. You could try that and make sure it' s obvious. If he asks you what is wrong - tell him but be tactful and brief. If he gets offended - hey - too bad! This is a very small office and probably has limited career potential for you. You would be wise to step up your job search and find a much better environment where people do not make themselves at home in their working environment to the extent that this guy does. I would add some white noise to my office, to cover the crunching sound - even a fan helps. But best case scenario a cd player on your desk with soft music - not radio. I would also add air fresher of some type - it's shouldn't be a problem to add perfume in this office! We have staff members who like Moe's and I can't stand the smell of that kind of food. So when lunch is over (which they ate in their offices) I go down the hall way with the can of air freshener. As to other smells that sometimes over take the office I have been known to burn a carefully monitored candle on my desk. If I get up for any reason it's blown out. (But most offices would not find this appealing...) I found a way to make a joke out of their stinky mex food habit, they eat and know I'm going to spray the office. Who wants visitors to come in and smell food? I hate to say it but you will get used to all of this if you stay there - you will be immune to the smell and over look the bad habits. Just don't assimilate too far to the dark side and start scratching in public! You all make me appreciate my office. We did have a guy reheat some fish one day, they nearly ran him out the main gate. Otherwise, we all seem to behave ourselves pretty well. | |
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