How Can I Get My Co-worker To Stop Smoking In The...
She’s old, but she always smokes in the lady’s room. We work in a public building and we all have to share the bathrooms. 90% of the time I go in there, it stinks like cigs. It’s really gross. And the smell goes out into the selling floor. I have already put signs up that read “for the health of others, please refrain from smoking in restrooms” But that hasn’t stopped her. Everyone that works there knows she does it, but no one wants to say anything. What is a nice way to talk to her?? I really need to step up because it’s really nasty. Any suggestions???
20 Responses to “How Can I Get My Co-worker To Stop Smoking In The Bathrooms???”
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July 1st, 2009 at 1:01 am
If she’s old and can read, she should know better. Unless it is posted as a designated smoking area, it is illegal for her to smoke in the restroom. Tell a manager or other higher-up about it. If you are not comfortable with that, ask if there is an anonymous hotline you can call. They will get in touch with the manager and try to help resolve the situation.
I’m a smoker and, even I don’t like the smell of old smoke, and I don’t want to smell where I work. It’s unprofessional what she’s doing. Tell someone.
July 1st, 2009 at 4:09 am
Well if it isn’t building policy there isn’t much you can do. Isn’t there a fan in the bathroom? Open a window buy air freshners that absorb odor not mask it.
Remember old or not she has a right to do what she wants with her life and if it isn’t against the law there isn’t anything you can do or really should do as it is none of your business. Go and use a different bathroom, or make certain you go before she does. If it smells that bad in there my guess is she is not the only one smoking in there.
July 1st, 2009 at 9:52 am
Tell on her.
July 1st, 2009 at 10:39 am
Yeah let her have some of your presious rights too. Leave the smokers alone.
July 1st, 2009 at 2:22 pm
get a smoke detector in there. We did that to one of our bathrooms. It was so loud. That everybody went running in there and caught the person.
July 1st, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Tell the boss.
July 1st, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Talk to this person first if no improvement talk to your Supvisor
July 1st, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Buy an air horn, follow her in the bathroom, then when she lights up blast her with the air horn, with any luck, she’ll keel right over from the shock and you and your fellow pure lungs won’t have to put up with her any more!!
P.S. You already answered your second question: She is old. And she is a long-time smoker. So she is probably very tired and it takes all she’s got to get up and go to work every day. Down deep she probably wishes she could quit, but at her stage of the game figures “what’s the use? I am going to die with my boots on anyway.” Old people in general, and old smokers in particular, can be very self-centered, lack energy, and don’t take to change at all well. It may be the best thing for her if someone in authority over her had a gentle talk with her. My husband smokes, and he always says that if it were just illegal, then he could quit, because he doesn’t willfully break laws. See what a grip that habit gets on people? This is a normally intelligent man, I am married to, but when it comes to his cigarettes, he is a puppet.
Anyhow, short of electric shock therapy every time she lights up, only a threat to her livelihood is going to work with this old dame, I have a feeling. Relying on her better instincts is a no go, because the cigarettes have smoked them out.
July 2nd, 2009 at 3:08 am
put a sprinkler in the john
July 2nd, 2009 at 4:53 am
rat her out
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:11 am
Every time you and you’re friends go to the rest room ask her for a cig.
You’ll see she’ll end up smoking on the street
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:51 pm
while your being polite she’s killing you time to step it up and make her abide by the same rules as you tell her put it out or go outside. AND I’M A SMOKER.
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Just put up a sign that says “no Smoking”. The sign that you have there now sounds like you are just asking and not telling.
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:00 pm
report her.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:24 am
If enough people complain then management will see the problem and address it. Rally others to force her to go to a designated smoking area.
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:08 am
Go and speak to your Supervisor or your Admin. Tell her/him, you are already affecting of her bad habits. She/He may do something to refrain her from doing it.
July 3rd, 2009 at 7:37 am
tough one…hmmm..u need the upper officer to warned them..or just kick their a**
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:37 am
It is against the law now to smoke in a public building unless they have a sectioned off well ventilated room just for smoking. Tell your boss.
July 3rd, 2009 at 12:23 pm
install a camera inside the toilet and let your boss see her in action
July 3rd, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Leave her alone. Has anyone you try to sell to complained or is this personal? Has it cost you a sale? Have you asked your management if there is a place for this woman to smoke? If she is older, the culture of smoking was an acceptable social thing to do.