This is a sensitive issue, however, recently a co-worker of mine placed a really "stinky" plug-in in her area. It made me very sick to my stomach and I had a constant headache. I finally went to her and let her know how I was feeling. She was very apologitic and immediately took it out.

My suggestion is to let him know, he probably doesn't even realize he smells.

Good luck on getting your fresh air back!

Do you think his supervisor could talk to him about it? It is a delicate subject, but no different than the whole, "how do I tell someone they have B.O." issue. As Marlene said, he probably can't smell himself. Smells can trigger allergies and migraines. At the very least he should be sensitive to that if nothing else.

Is it possible for you to move to a different area of the office or trade spots with another smoker? Two smokers side by side can better tolerate each other's stink. Another suggestion would be to have the company buy one of those towering air filtration machines (not sure what they are called exactly). This would help filter the air without adding a third smell - air freshener. They aren't that expensive and can be purchased at WalMart.

Telling a smoker that he stinks in the hope he will stop smoking is a lost case. Smoking is a hard to break addiction. A solution may be, as suggested by Leslie, to swap places with another smoker or to ask for the placement of an airfilter machine. These machines are so cheap that you can buy one yourself if the department is not willing to pay for this. I also agree that adding another "sthink" in the form of an airfreshner is not a good one. It may create even more problems. I don't know how close you sit together but maybe it is an option to have a high partition wall places to buffer the smell. Good luck.

Hello...what about the smokers rights. Those seem to be lost.

First off, wouldn't this be considered a hostile work environment? Second, I don't any company that allows six or seven breaks per day, whether it's five minutes or fifteen. Smokers have no clue as to how much they stink. I attended a seminar once on HR Law and this question was brought up. The instrutor said everyone should be allowed to take a fifteen break in the AM and one in the PM. The smokers can then smoke as many cigarettes as they want on those two breaks and lunch too. They are not entiled to six or seven a day just because they have an addiction. Less smoke breaks might cut down on the offensive smell. We don't allow drug addicts with addictions to administer their bad habbit so why do smokers think they are entitled? It's time for managment to step in taking the burden off your shoulders. Everyone is entilted to a clean and smoke free "smell" work environment.

I am an ex-smoker and did not realize how strong the smell was until after I quit. I now find it quite offensive. I think talking to the person and letting him know that the smell of smoke triggers headaches is the way to start. If he doesn't respond then the next step would be to address it with your management. I do not believe the "smell" of the smoke is deadly and since he is not smoking in the office it isn't a death issue. The "Rights" battle cry is a sure way to escalate the issue to new levels. Smokers have had to make all the adjustments for the "rights" of the non-smoker and you are now saying that even the smell violates your rights. I beg to differ. If you feel you have the right to a smell free environment I submit you should not wear perfume, lotions or eat lunch.

The smoker is not aware of the strong lingering after affects of his habit. Mention the smoke smell to him and suggest he purchase a purse size bottle of febreeze to spray on himself before he enters the building. The number of breaks he takes is irrelevent other than it makes the odor stronger, if he is a salaried employee he may work long days etc. Simple honesty and fact is all that should be utilized here, do not put him on the defense. He has a right to smoke, some people wear a bottle of perfume or don't shower often enough etc. and they are offensive as well. The cause of the odor is not the major issue here, it is how to address the odor while trying to not offend anyone. Pretty soon people will say it hurts their eyes if someone wears a bright color to work and it gives them a headache so how do we address someones color choices? Many smokers are very willing to accomodate non smokers if approached in a non threatening manner. I think smokers take the brunt of many issues where people that are obese or worse skate by without public ridicule. I am short, (or vertically challenged) and everyone thinks it is ok to make fun of me about it but if I were to say well i may be short but you are fat or ugly or bald or stupid it could start world war 3!!

As a natural health care clinic, we have policy regarding any sort of smells on our personnel. Many of our staff and patients are so sensitive to the smell of smoke, chemicals and any cover-up scents that they react very badly, so our company policy is: NO SMELLS. If you smoke you must not smell of it when you are at the office. You may not wear perfume or scent of any kind. We use special cleaners that do not leave scent traces. No special breaks are allowed -- just the regular 15 minutes per shift. And if you smoke during your break, you MUST NOT SMELL upon your return. Our staff know how to manage their smoking (the few that do; most realize the extremely negative effect on their health and do not smoke at all). My boss even thought that one employee had quit smoking, since she never smelled of it (I know that she did smoke at every break). Controlling the smells can be done; it simply must be addressed correctly and made policy.

And to those who worry about smoker's rights: while you have the right to smoke, you do not have the right to make those around you miserable. Secondary smoke is deadly (and if you can smell it, it's in the air, even if the person is not actively smoking). In my case, the smell of any kind of smoke (even from a fire or a candle) brings on a severe asthma attack. How could you possibly think you have the right to affect my health? If a person had an addiction to, say, flinging food about (perhaps they had permission from their psychiatrist to do this in order to relieve their symptoms, whatever those might be) and everyone around them ended up with spaghetti all over their clothes, it would not be tolerated in the workplace. If a person had a disorder that made them shout obscenities at the top of their lungs for hours at a time (such disorders exist), it would not be tolerated in the workplace. If your vice affects the co-workers and/or customers you come in contact with, it is your responsibility to control its effects. Feel free to indulge on your own time and in your own space, but please have the courtesy to avoid destroying the health and well-being of others.

Cry babies. Seriously STFU