Negan™
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Post by Negan™ on Sept 16, 2016 16:53:59 GMT -5
So today, something really embarrassing happened to me. I started this new job a week ago in a bar and I thought I was coming along quite well. It's my first proper job and I was really enjoying it.
Today, my boss pulled my aside and said she has to say something to me and it's kinda personal. Now my first thought was, maybe my shyness and lack of social skills are coming through and customers are taking it as rudeness. But no, she said that there were complaints from customers over my Body Odor. I know... pretty embarrassing, right? now it first I was kinda taken aback by it. Cause I'm one of those "narcisstic" guys that usually spends a little too much time in the mirror. I take great pride in my appearance and generally make sure I'm clean, etc. I even shave my legs!
I admit, I only have one outfit for work and I usually just hang it up when I'm finished my shift. I just assumed I wouldn't have to throw it in the wash every day cause I only wear it for like, 3 hours. Cause that's what I need it for - every day. My "employer" only agreed to take me on for 3 weeks as a work experience type deal. I'm on a "program" that kinda requests that I find work somewhere. Maybe the issue was my clothes and not my body.
Anyway, the conversation was pretty humiliating to be honest. I'm questioning whether I should even show my face again after it... one thing I need to add is, I've barely served any customers in my week there. I think I've served like, 2. And one of them was a bunch of youngsters who wouldn't even have the bosse's number anyway.
And even if I had the worst body odor in the world, the customers wouldn't have smelt it all the way from behind the bar. My initial thought was one of my co-workers mentioned it. Which kinda makes me paranoid about the whole thing now. Cause they are the only ones who really came close to me.
I really enjoyed the job and I thought I was getting along with everybody there. But first impressions are key. I just feel I'll always be that "smelly guy" and for a guy like me, who has anxiety/panic disorder, I don't think I need that stress in my life right now.
What would you guys do? I mean, I'm scheduled to be in tomorrow but I'm thinking about just leaving the whole thing now. The worst thing is, I don't know who it was who complained. She said she had two complaints over it... from people who wouldn't know each other. My thoughts were one employee complained and she asked another one about it and she just said "Yeah". I don't think it was customers.
I just feel really embarrassed/humiliated about the whole thing. I do this bar work cause it gives me confidence in myself. I just feel like all that confidence went straight out the window.
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Post by T R W on Sept 16, 2016 16:57:51 GMT -5
It was your clothes. Just wash them between shifts, or get another work outfit so you can wash one when wearing the other. If you do this, everyone will forget about it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2016 17:01:08 GMT -5
The thing is, I don't know what smells good or what smells like absolute garbage. What do I do? I bring along a girlfriend and/or my sister. Because if there's one thing all women have in common, it's that they know what smells good. And if it was your clothes, just get another set of working clothes and wash one while wearing the other. I'm glad I don't have this problem. 95% of the time I'm at work I look like I've been in the sewers for 10 years.
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Post by Patrick Bateman (original) on Sept 16, 2016 17:07:22 GMT -5
It actually could be 1 of 2 things. 1. You could have some smelly ass clothes. For sure wash them every other day.
2. It may be Cologne. Do you wear Cologne? It may be to strong of one that is bothering Co workers.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2016 17:11:33 GMT -5
There is an ammonia start up tech guy that is working on my job site and his body odor is horrible. He stinks the entire ammonia compressor room up. Believe me, if the odor is bad enough, people will definitely smell it.
Also, don't call what you're wearing an outfit.
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Negan™
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Jul 31, 2013 16:42:44 GMT -5
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Post by Negan™ on Sept 16, 2016 17:13:59 GMT -5
It was your clothes. Just wash them between shifts, or get another work outfit so you can wash one when wearing the other. If you do this, everyone will forget about it. I just feel really paranoid about the whole thing. I'm starting to think everyone who's ever met me has had this issue. Friends who are too nice to say it, etc... I'm thinking about seeing a doctor about it. It's just really embarrassing. I was working for like 2 hours after the conversation and I just wanted to go home.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2016 17:15:56 GMT -5
First of all - it's good that you want to address the problem. I worked with someone in my last job who admitted he never showered or bathed - DISGUSTING.
Anyway - it'll be your clothes. Make sure you keep fresh, get a second uniform to be on the safe side. Then one's in the wash whilst you wear the other.
Don't quit your job over it - go back and give it another go tomorrow, and if you still feel the same - only then think about leaving.
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Negan™
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Joined on: Jul 31, 2013 16:42:44 GMT -5
Posts: 356
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Post by Negan™ on Sept 16, 2016 17:24:32 GMT -5
First of all - it's good that you want to address the problem. I worked with someone in my last job who admitted he never showered or bathed - DISGUSTING. Anyway - it'll be your clothes. Make sure you keep fresh, get a second uniform to be on the safe side. Then one's in the wash whilst you wear the other. Don't quit your job over it - go back and give it another go tomorrow, and if you still feel the same - only then think about leaving. Yeah but I think the co-worker who complained about it is working with me tomorrow. And the worst part of it is, she's a woman. I'll just feel super awkward. I wish someone just said "Bring some cologne with you cause it can get sweaty" or something like that.
The whole "More than one person has complained about it" just makes me not wanna go back.
Anyway, I truly believe it is my clothes. Like I said, I'm guilty of taking TOO much care of myself. Anyone who knows me will tell you how long I spend in the mirror, fixing my hair.
This is a bar though. Not an office or anything like that. And personally, I've smelt myself. I know when I smell good and bad. And I never smelt bad enough to smell an entire room out. Maybe if you were close to me, you might pick up on it... and like I said, I wasn't close to any of the customers. I've only served 2. And neither of them were close enough to get a whiff. I was only close to my co-workers. And it kinda puts a big damper on the whole thing cause I thought I was getting along just fine with everybody. But now I realise they're talking behind my back and only people with anxiety/confidence issues will realise how bad that feels and how badly it hurts your confidence. I just wanna start again somewhere else now... Working in a bar can be sweaty. You have to lift crates of alcohol, stock the shelves, etc... plus it is really hot at times. I couldn't have put more body spray on today if I tried. That's why it took me by such surprise. It's possible that nobody complained and maybe the boss smelt my clothes today and wanted to put it on somebody else. I dunno. I always made sure I had a good appearance before going in. Today it might have been bad cause I hadn't got time to wash my clothes last night. If that's the case, then she made me feel a lot worse about it. I'd rather she just said " I feel this way" rather than "people have complained"
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Post by T R W on Sept 16, 2016 17:32:52 GMT -5
First of all - it's good that you want to address the problem. I worked with someone in my last job who admitted he never showered or bathed - DISGUSTING. Anyway - it'll be your clothes. Make sure you keep fresh, get a second uniform to be on the safe side. Then one's in the wash whilst you wear the other. Don't quit your job over it - go back and give it another go tomorrow, and if you still feel the same - only then think about leaving. Yeah but I think the co-worker who complained about it is working with me tomorrow. And the worst part of it is, she's a woman. I'll just feel super awkward. I wish someone just said "Bring some cologne with you cause it can get sweaty" or something like that.
The whole "More than one person has complained about it" just makes me not wanna go back.
Anyway, I truly believe it is my clothes. Like I said, I'm guilty of taking TOO much care of myself. Anyone who knows me will tell you how long I spend in the mirror, fixing my hair.
This is a bar though. Not an office or anything like that. And personally, I've smelt myself. I know when I smell good and bad. And I never smelt bad enough to smell an entire room out. Maybe if you were close to me, you might pick up on it... and like I said, I wasn't close to any of the customers. I've only served 2. And neither of them were close enough to get a whiff. I was only close to my co-workers. And it kinda puts a big damper on the whole thing cause I thought I was getting along just fine with everybody. But now I realise they're talking behind my back and only people with anxiety/confidence issues will realise how bad that feels and how badly it hurts your confidence. I just wanna start again somewhere else now... Working in a bar can be sweaty. You have to lift crates of alcohol, stock the shelves, etc... plus it is really hot at times. I couldn't have put more body spray on today if I tried. That's why it took me by such surprise. It's possible that nobody complained and maybe the boss smelt my clothes today and wanted to put it on somebody else. I dunno. I always made sure I had a good appearance before going in. Today it might have been bad cause I hadn't got time to wash my clothes last night. If that's the case, then she made me feel a lot worse about it. I'd rather she just said " I feel this way" rather than "people have complained" If you're sweating in clothes, they need to be washed between wears. It's fine. You're being overly paranoid. Just make sure you wear freshly cleaned clothes when you work. If wear already worn clothes and you sweat again it is going to trigger the smell already present in your clothes and make them worse. Body spray or cologne isn't going to cover it up. I've dealt with this issue with employees before. The only way people will even care or remember is if you keep wearing dirty clothes to work. You show up tomorrow wearing clean fresh smelling clothes, nobody will even remember or care.
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Negan™
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Joined on: Jul 31, 2013 16:42:44 GMT -5
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Post by Negan™ on Sept 16, 2016 17:49:44 GMT -5
Yeah but I think the co-worker who complained about it is working with me tomorrow. And the worst part of it is, she's a woman. I'll just feel super awkward. I wish someone just said "Bring some cologne with you cause it can get sweaty" or something like that.
The whole "More than one person has complained about it" just makes me not wanna go back.
Anyway, I truly believe it is my clothes. Like I said, I'm guilty of taking TOO much care of myself. Anyone who knows me will tell you how long I spend in the mirror, fixing my hair. This is a bar though. Not an office or anything like that. And personally, I've smelt myself. I know when I smell good and bad. And I never smelt bad enough to smell an entire room out. Maybe if you were close to me, you might pick up on it... and like I said, I wasn't close to any of the customers. I've only served 2. And neither of them were close enough to get a whiff. I was only close to my co-workers. And it kinda puts a big damper on the whole thing cause I thought I was getting along just fine with everybody. But now I realise they're talking behind my back and only people with anxiety/confidence issues will realise how bad that feels and how badly it hurts your confidence. I just wanna start again somewhere else now...
Working in a bar can be sweaty. You have to lift crates of alcohol, stock the shelves, etc... plus it is really hot at times.
I couldn't have put more body spray on today if I tried. That's why it took me by such surprise. It's possible that nobody complained and maybe the boss smelt my clothes today and wanted to put it on somebody else. I dunno. I always made sure I had a good appearance before going in. Today it might have been bad cause I hadn't got time to wash my clothes last night. If that's the case, then she made me feel a lot worse about it. I'd rather she just said "I feel this way" rather than "people have complained"
If you're sweating in clothes, they need to be washed between wears. It's fine. You're being overly paranoid. Just make sure you wear freshly cleaned clothes when you work. If wear already worn clothes and you sweat again it is going to trigger the smell already present in your clothes and make them worse. Body spray or cologne isn't going to cover it up. I've dealt with this issue with employees before. The only way people will even care or remember is if you keep wearing dirty clothes to work. You show up tomorrow wearing clean fresh smelling clothes, nobody will even remember or care. Yeah, I plan on washing them every day now. And like a few of you guys suggested, I'll buy another "work attire" just to have spare.
I guess nobody will know how embarrassing/humiliating it is unless they have it happen to them. It's easy to say "just walk in tomorrow" but in fairness, I already feel like I'm being judged and talked about behind my back. And I don't really need those negative thoughts in my life.
I started this job as a "work experience" deal with the hopes that they would keep me on after it. I literally started from the ground up and just started pulling pints a few days ago. I felt that I was progressing really well but I realise now that I ruined my chances. No matter what I do from this point on, they'll always remember their first impression of me.
I'd rather they just said I was a dick or something like that. It just kinda makes me wonder what other people think about me. I mean, this was an issue I never even considered. How many other things are there that people pick up on and won't tell me? It just put a big damper on the whole thing for me...
The thing is, if I leave, I'll be guilty of being "weak-minded". I'm a 23 year old man. I don't want anybody thinking this is the reason I left. So even though I want to just not show my face again, my pride almost won't allow it. I'm tempted to buy the smelliest cologne tomorrow and shower myself in it... But they'll probably complain about that too.
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Post by BØRNS on Sept 16, 2016 17:52:43 GMT -5
Wash them or at the very least put them in a large ziploc bag and in the freezer overnight and they won't smell
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Negan™
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Joined on: Jul 31, 2013 16:42:44 GMT -5
Posts: 356
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Post by Negan™ on Sept 16, 2016 18:06:28 GMT -5
The thing is, I don't know what smells good or what smells like absolute garbage. What do I do? I bring along a girlfriend and/or my sister. Because if there's one thing all women have in common, it's that they know what smells good. And if it was your clothes, just get another set of working clothes and wash one while wearing the other. I'm glad I don't have this problem. 95% of the time I'm at work I look like I've been in the sewers for 10 years. That's why I don't think a man would have complained about it. Guys normally say something on the fly like "Wear some aftershave bro" and that would be the end of it. That wouldn't have really embarrassed me that much.
A woman on the other hand would have made a point about it and said "It's affecting me, blah blah blah"... That's why I think it was one of the barmaids I was working alongside.
Personally, I would never mention it to somebody. I hate even telling somebody they have food on their teeth. I'm just that kinda guy.
What do you work as by the way?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2016 18:14:47 GMT -5
The thing is, I don't know what smells good or what smells like absolute garbage. What do I do? I bring along a girlfriend and/or my sister. Because if there's one thing all women have in common, it's that they know what smells good. And if it was your clothes, just get another set of working clothes and wash one while wearing the other. I'm glad I don't have this problem. 95% of the time I'm at work I look like I've been in the sewers for 10 years. That's why I don't think a man would have complained about it. Guys normally say something on the fly like "Wear some aftershave bro" and that would be the end of it. That wouldn't have really embarrassed me that much.
A woman on the other hand would have made a point about it and said "It's affecting me, blah blah blah"... That's why I think it was one of the barmaids I was working alongside.
Personally, I would never mention it to somebody. I hate even telling somebody they have food on their teeth. I'm just that kinda guy.
What do you work as by the way?
When I've been told I smell like sh*t, I usually just reply with "Atleast I don't look like sh*t." with a not so subtle hint for them to go f**k themselves. Obviously not recommended when it's the people you work with in conversation. I am kinda the same, I don't like to point out that unless it's like "Ey, mate, you got something on your shirt." etc etc. I honestly don't know what my job description is anymore. One day I am painting roofs, the next I'm building a balcony. I guess I work in roofing, but it really is anything between ground level and 40 stories up. I see myself more as a handy man/do it all than anything else at this point. But I am mostly on roofs, and thank god because people are insufferable during working hours.
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Post by Kollector_Kombat on Sept 16, 2016 22:22:13 GMT -5
My only real advice is wash your clothes every day you get off. 3 hours of work or not. You work up a sweat and you're possibly around food I'm assuming, those smells stay on your food badly. I've worked in the culinary business for years now and the last thing you should have to worry about is your BO. Don't pack on the cologne either, it can leave a weird taste on peoples food.
Just definitely be sure to wash your uniform, take a shower, and put on some dio at the least before you go in. Your guests and Co-workers will appreciate it.
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Post by Jonathan Karate on Sept 17, 2016 0:58:30 GMT -5
Next time someone complains........calmly tell them to "Eat This Bag of Dicks" while motioning to an imaginary bag of said dicks.
Problem solved.
It's only going to bother you if you let it.
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Post by The Mask of Truth on Sept 17, 2016 2:01:13 GMT -5
Who cares if you smell like ass and feet, you're dealing with a bunch of drunk bastards anyway. Stay smelly bruh, wear your funky clothes like a badge of honor. Who knows, you might get a promotion.
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Post by SE4NY on Sept 17, 2016 2:37:05 GMT -5
I wouldn't worry about it as much, I'm sure it's just the uniform and you need to wash it, if it's a once off thing I guarantee it'll be forgotten, everyone sweats and gets hot whilst working right?
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Post by Escape The Rules on Sept 17, 2016 3:03:21 GMT -5
Been there before. Definitely not a nice subject to have brought up when it happens. It was back in 2009 when I was 17 and on a work course, I was brought aside by the 2 ladies who work there and they talked to about my body odour. Back in my teens I'll admit I was rather lazy on some days and it wasn't every day that I washed. I look back and am absolutely embarrassed by how I used to be. It certainly was an embarrassing discussion but I'm glad that it happened because it made me want to get my act together fast and I did. I'm 24 now and those days seem like a lifetime ago. After that talking to 7 years ago, it's stuck in my mind and I've taken great care of my hygiene, making sure to wash at least once per day, and usually a second time if I've had a long shift working. It'll definitely just be your clothes. We're still in the warm months, you're working for hours at a time and are obviously going to be sweating. No matter how clean you keep your body, sweaty clothes are going to stink. Wash them as soon as you get home from each shift. If you can't have them dry in time for your next shift then perhaps buy a second set of clothes for work, or just wear something else if you're allowed. Even if they say something, just explain that your other clothes are in the wash and what you're wearing was the next best thing you could find. Surely the fact that you're putting hygiene first will be more important than what your clothes look like. It's a bar after all, you don't have to be dressed to the ing nines for that sh*t. If the people there think that you do then they really ought to take the stick out of their arses.
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Post by LA Times on Sept 17, 2016 12:32:24 GMT -5
There are some people at my workplace who smell like they havent taken a ing shower in 13 years. Why dont you buy some Axe bodyspray? Its only $3-5 a can.
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Post by GreyHaze:Big Bad Booty Daddy on Sept 17, 2016 15:20:43 GMT -5
Just wash the clothes dude. In all honesty, I get what you mean by anxiety and all because I get it a lot. I think maybe your boss could of said it in a nicer way, but I myself dunno how to word it. Also, to be fair it's also sort of good that she told you because you wouldn't want that to become a bigger problem.
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