Workplace odors have long been a source of complaint among office workers. It can be frustrating to put up with the smell of your co-workers lunch when you are just trying to concentrate on getting your report filed. Here’s a look at the most commonly disliked office smells, and what you can do about it.
Smelly foods
Without a doubt, colleagues who bring smelly foods into the office can be the worst offenders. Whether it’s a co-worker who brings in smoked sardine sandwiches every day, or someone who heats up spicy foods in the microwave, strong food aromas are unpleasant and can even distract you from your work.
Sometimes, leftovers from a corporate buffet lunch can also linger around your workplace, especially if they have not been cleared up promptly, or distributed around desks for people to help themselves. Dealing successfully with the situation can be a challenge.
Sometimes a person may not realise that they are disturbing others with their smelly foods. If you get on well with the person, a gentle humorous remark might just do the trick. However, if you don’t feel comfortable bringing up the subject directly with the offending person, having a private word with your manager or HR department is the best way to go.
If the bad odors are due to infrequent cleaning of the kitchen or breakout areas, it may be worth contacting the building manager or maintenance department who are responsible for dealing with the cleaning contractors. Putting up a notice to ensure that staff clean up after themselves and throw away out of date food can help too.
Personal odors
If you have a colleague who hits the gym before work and doesn’t shower before changing into their work clothes, they probably don’t smell too fresh. Or maybe they store their sweaty training shoes underneath their desk to gently fragrance the whole office.
This is a common issue for office workers, but it can be a sensitive one to confront. After all, no one likes being told they smell! Some people may not have any control of their odor due to a medical issue, or there may be a cultural reason for certain fragrances.
It can also be a matter of taste and sensitivity. Just as some people are more sensitive to temperature, noise, and light than others, some people are more sensitive to odors than others. The person sitting next to you may find a colleague’s perfume or after shave lotion appealing, whereas you find it overpowering and unpleasant.
Musty damp smells
A badly ventilated office can also smell less than appealing. Air conditioning units that recycle the same stale air all day can make the problem worse. If the office is not deep cleaned and aired on a regular basis, bad odors can soon build up and linger in the confined atmosphere.
Offices can also be humid places, which creates a build up of mold and mildew. Over time, this leads to a stale and musty smell that is disagreeable, and may even be a sign that the office environment is damaging to respiratory health.
One solution to remove unpleasant odors is to invest in an office scent machine.
