Farty colleague

33L · 11 Mar 2008 at 17:46

my last job it went to disciplinary as his smell was so bad - eventually he left! but it took him 6 months to get his act right before we could all breath again.

Daniel · 11 Mar 2008 at 17:52

What you need to do is make up two batches of chocolate corn flake or rice crispies cakes.

Make one batch with real chocolate and the other with laxative chocolate.

Offer the smelly bloke the laxative ones and the rest of the office the real ones.

Sit back and wait til he farts and follows through...You and the rest of the office can then point and laugh

Steedie · 11 Mar 2008 at 17:57

Sinny said:
Put sleeping pills in his drink and draw on his face when he is sleeping.

I'm feeling particularly immature today

So this

finga · 11 Mar 2008 at 18:00

just tell him straight, look, you stink, its offensive, if he doesnt do anything about it go and make a complaint to HR, they will take him aside and force him to sort it out, dont worry about it, hes not your mate, if hes not aware that he smells then you dropping hints about 'somebody' smelling wont make any difference, as his nose will be indifferent to it. Point it out, blatantly, stick up for yourself, you gotta work there, if he refuses to do anything about it even when aware and told by HR then just keep constantly telling him he smells, shame will make him either leave or clean up, just dont add any other insults in or you could get in trouble, they can do nothing about you pointing out his personal hygiene though if its as bad as you say.

JBuk · 11 Mar 2008 at 18:00

buy him some deodorant , listerine and some charcoal tablets

place them on his desk with a note telling him to take a hint

Biohazard · 11 Mar 2008 at 18:01

start belching right in his puss.

see how he likes that.

Jest3r · 11 Mar 2008 at 18:29

Had a guy similar where I used to work, complain to team leader, and failing that your HR manager,

JAMAL · 11 Mar 2008 at 18:35

Get one of those automatic glade airfresheners that fire off every 15mins and aim it at him.

Megahurtz400 · 11 Mar 2008 at 18:37

JAMAL said:
Get one of those automatic glade airfresheners that fire off every 15mins and aim it at him.

Overclock it so you can link it to a massive tank stored under your desk and it goes off constantly.

Sic · 11 Mar 2008 at 18:39

gumbald said:
I just re-read the OP and burst out laughing.

Nice ({bracketing} employed).

thanks

I was one of the few who actually liked the bracketing system, I just feel that its creator (what happened to him?) overused it somewhat.

Like I said, talking to this guy isn't an option. Whether he's aware of it or not, he's the sort of person who talking to really won't make a difference. Aside from stinking like a crazy-person, he's one of those guys you imagine everyone on OcUK who isn't you is. Typical loner geek character.

Still, you've answered my question anyway, HR it is

Jest3r · 11 Mar 2008 at 18:42

alternatively send this link to your team leader....

http://www.theallineed.com/selfhelp/04091604.htm

Hilly · 11 Mar 2008 at 18:43

HR? I'd personally go through your team leader, have a quiet word and as them to say something before escalating it up.

Jest3r · 11 Mar 2008 at 18:50

hilly, i would say team leaders aren't always the best equipped to deal with this.... as that link above says, there may be another personal problem behind the hygiene issue...

also it's a very sensitive topic to approach, and if done wrong way could land the team leader ina lot of hot water

oldbag · 11 Mar 2008 at 18:58

33L said:
my last job it went to disciplinary as his smell was so bad - eventually he left! but it took him 6 months to get his act right before we could all breath again.

Loved to have seen the note on his record - 'disciplined for creating obscene aromas'.

Sic · 11 Mar 2008 at 19:12

hilly said:
HR? I'd personally go through your team leader, have a quiet word and as them to say something before escalating it up.

problem is I'm pretty good mates with the team leader and, unprofessional as it is, we like to have a giggle at this guy's expense on the subject. Everyone knows that we're good mates, so if something came from him I know it'd look like some sort of victimisation. I don't like the bloke in question, but that doesn't mean I want him to feel like a total asstard so I would like to approach the situation as sensitively as possible (irrespective of how funny it is!)

da_mic_1530 · 11 Mar 2008 at 19:14

I'd say HR is only feasable option, and if the local HR don't do much about it , contact the Head HR lot of the company, whereever it is based

Hilly · 11 Mar 2008 at 19:16

In the company I work for, we'd be expected to speak to our TL who would then escalate it through the correct routes.

I know I'd rather have my Tl tell me I stink than some random HR person

Sic · 11 Mar 2008 at 19:20

well, amen to that, but it's not like subtle hints haven't been dropped by all. It's a pretty small company as well, so it's not like it'd be a stranger doing it.

strudey · 11 Mar 2008 at 19:21

Sic said:
problem is I'm pretty good mates with the team leader and, unprofessional as it is, we like to have a giggle at this guy's expense on the subject. Everyone knows that we're good mates, so if something came from him I know it'd look like some sort of victimisation. I don't like the bloke in question, but that doesn't mean I want him to feel like a total asstard so I would like to approach the situation as sensitively as possible (irrespective of how funny it is!)

But he IS a total asstard, and if anyone tells him he'll realise it. Hopefully he'll then be able to sort it out. Speak to anyone, in the end you're doing him a favour.

shocking · 11 Mar 2008 at 19:46

There's a guy at my work that has ridiculously smelly farts after lunchtime, I don't really mind and he just makes a joke out of it. I always threaten to complain to our manager about the "unsafe" environment jokingly... anybody fancy drafting me a stupid complaint letter? As over the top as possible would be nice!