A
female
age
36-40,
anonymous
writes:I'm a female 25 years old. I'm a travel agent by proffession..went to school then college for two years and got a travel n tourism diploma. That was just for background info. I have a problem at work.. i'm the only black consultant in the company of about 22 employees.I have been with a company for 3 years. The colleague i sit next is (obviuosly white) has been with a company for two years. For the two years we've been sitting in close proximity (her, myself and another colleague who she is best frnd with) This year Feb we changed desk and they suggested i move to another side of the office... i was pi**ed off and refused to move... so her best frnd did the move, leaving myself and her in this side of the office. So in March she bought an air freshner..it was very humiliating as i knew this was somehow done to get me off the this spot of the office...so i confronted them and got to find that the whole office had discussed that my breath smells ugly and hence the air freshner was bought. As sore as it was finding that i thought ok atleast i now know and i worked on it (flossing everyday, using the mouthwash and brushing twice (which i was doing anyways before). So fast fw to now October ... my this colleague has bought a smaller air freshner and she has been spraying it every now and then for the past week.I just do not know what to do now... I wash every morning properly... i take care of my mouth and my breath and i just do not know what to do now. It is soooo degrading and makes me feel like s**t when she sprays this air freshner of hers. I cannot help but think she wants me to move and her best frnd to come back so they can be together like they've always been. And as i said i'm the only black consultant...so basically i'm always going to be an educated consultant but black and therefore dirty and stinching. How should i go about sorting this? I thought i'd done my part? I feel like resigning and finding another job where there is an equal mix of race. Is it me or are my colleagues not accepting that i do what they do and not their tea and wash their dishes? May i add i use perfume and lotions...and have been with 3companies before and have never had this problem.
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (18 October 2010): Hi All, thanks so much for constructive answers... let me see a doctor and dentist and get my facts straight... And if i'm found ok, than i'll come to management with all my facts and forbid her to ever spray that thing arround me. Thanks very much for all answers!
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (15 October 2010): If your breath was really so offensive that she couldn't stand it, the right thing to do would be to tell you IN PRIVATE that you might have a health problem you are not aware of. The fact she sprays air freshener in front of everybody says she is a bad, mean person. Your breath is probably just fine. If I were you I would look for another job or ask to be transfered to a different department.
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A
female
reader, Tbosse +, writes (15 October 2010):
 Its not you.that 'white gal' has an attitude.how much i hate people like her!
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A
female
reader, DrPsych  +, writes (15 October 2010):
 I don't think this is an issue of racism. What is happening is bullying - a sadly common thing in an office environment. If you really want to know if you have body odour, ask trusted friends and family to tell you. If you do then you need to see a doctor or dentist as there maybe a medical explanation such as diabetes or gum disease. But I rather suspect you smell just fine! You have identified the issue - your spiteful colleague wants her mate back next to her. She is a bully and therefore a weak-minded individual who deals with her own inner feelings of inadequacy by picking on others. A bully like that thrives on having like-minded people around her to back up her nasty victimisation...hence her desire to get her friend back. I wouldn't wish for aerosols to be sprayed around me - it affects your skin and your breathing. Under Health & Safety, you have an absolute right not to have your work environment polluted in such a way. You have a right to work in dignity too. You really must talk to your line manager about this. If they do nothing, go to someone above them. Keep a diary of each and every time she does something offensive. I appreciate that it must be very humiliating to work in such an environment but you should try not to show your hurt in front of her. It is the responsibility of the office manager to address the issue by reprimanding her, relocating her and making you feel comfortable at work. Don't run away from your job - stand up to this woman, she probably has a reputation for harassing people.
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A
female
reader, CindyCares  +, writes (15 October 2010):
 I really know very little about your country so I have no idea how likely it is that what you are going trough is an instance of racial mobbing in the workplace.
I can tell you though that alitosis ( bad breath ) may have other causes beside poor dental hygiene ( which is not your case ).
There are infections of oral cavity tissues. Or retro-nasal dripping. Bad digestion. Chronic dry mouth.
And more.
My suggestion is :consult your doctor , and dentist too. If they don't find anything wrong, and they give you a clean bill of health- then you have your answer- And you can ,not go, but RUN to the management to denounce the mobbing you are being inflicted.
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