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Smell you later...
Smell is one of the strongest senses we possess. We humans can distinguish over 10,000 different odours. Consciously or not, your sense of smell triggers emotions and helps dictate your mood.
It's little wonder then that what wafts around your workplace can affect how you carry out your job. If you love the smell of freshly brewed coffee, being greeted by it as you saunter into work (maybe a little bleary-eyed) in the morning can leave you feeling ready to face the day. On the other hand, passing the cleaners in the corridor and being overwhelmed by bleach might set the tone for a tough day ahead.
Makes scents...
There are some odour issues that we should all avoid for the comfort of those around us. Repeatedly being the bearer of eggy sandwiches or garlic-drenched lunches might not win you many points with colleagues; particularly if you've got a post-lunchtime meeting in close quarters.
And one recent poll revealed that one of the things that most irritates people is the heady scent of nail polish remover. Sorry girls, but the poll didn't just question male workers and the result was in the top five - time to rethink the lunchtime beauty routine!
But how should you handle it if you're faced with a particularly whiffy issue in the workplace?
I'll name that smell in...
Smell can have a serious effect on your working environment. And since our sense of smell can be very acute, it can tip the balance the wrong way if you don't address the issue.
There's the obvious problem - what if you have a malodorous colleague? Ok, it's a delicate matter, but it's likely you aren't the first to notice. Making sarcastic comments or gossiping behind their back is only going to end in tears; you'll hurt the culprits' feelings and make yourself look bad into the bargain. It's worth taking your colleagues' line manager to one side and gently stating your concerns. They should be able to address this in the kindest possible way and there may well be a reason behind it.
Some professions come with smelly risks as standard. Depending on your specialism, working in retail, for example, could mean cheesy feet and sweaty bodies are a fact of life; particularly during hot summer months. Whilst there's little you can do to prevent the problem, you can make life easier - and gain the added bonus of offering a better experience for customers. Try suggesting air fresheners or little bags of pot pourri be introduced to changing rooms for example.
If you're lucky enough to work in catering and hospitality, you might even have the opposite problem. Being surrounded by the sumptuous smells of freshly baked goods and other appetising aromas could have an adverse affect on your waistline!
Active aromas...
There are even some cases where being fragrant - or otherwise - could mean life or death. Members of the armed services or police force could get into hot water; you don't want the enemy (or perpetrator) to smell your stealthy approach...
And one frequent complaint can be put down to the cleaning products used about the place. You can be just as allergic to smell as if it causes a physical reaction. This is an easier topic to address; your cleaners might simply be able to switch detergents. If it becomes a major issue though, your best course of action is to speak with occupational health. Every employer should have a department devoted to this and your HR team can point you in the right direction.
So, if workplace odours are getting a little too much it's worth pinning down the problem and tackling it head on before you make a move to find a rosier smelling job. Of course, if the whiff of change is in the air anyway, totaljobs.com has hundreds of thousands of sweetly-scented jobs to pick from!
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