| A
female
age
36-40,
anonymous
writes: I'm really embarassed.I work in a shop which is very difficult,i have to run up and down a long flight of steps,and carry heavy boxes sometimes, so i am bound to get warm.Today,the person in charge pulled me to one side and told me that some customers had been saying i had a strong body odor.They had complained about me to her !.I felt like going mad.I've been working really hard,and now i will have to leave my job,since i cant face the customers and the person in charge again.Obviously,she didnt know this,but i have been on my period lately too,so it could have been partly something to do with that.I dont have a strong odor normally,i even had a bath last night !.I have very good hygiene.From the sounds of things,it seems she would even fire someone for that reason,as she said something like " we want the shop to have a good reputation ",as if that would ruin the reputation !.That is the most stupid thing i have ever heard.Yes,you should fire someone coz they are late,or cant do the job properly,e.t.c,or are a bad mannered person,and if any other part of the apearance is bad,but you cant help what naturally goes on inside you !.She said apart from that,my appearance was fine.Cheek !.I feel like quitting and going for a job that isnt very physical.I cant believe how bad mannered she and those customers are !.Even if i thought someone smelled,i wouldnt complain about it to the person in charge,as i would never want to risk someone losing their job.They should have just kept it to themselves.And i certainly wouldnt be put off going in a shop because someone smelled.It's natural for that to happen if you get warm,and we dont get a proper break to freshen up.That isnt the only reason i want to leave though.I feel i cant do some parts of the job very well either.I'm upset as i wanted to save up to go on an expensive holiday next year,and i worry that if i leave,i wont be able to find another job at all,or wont be able to find one soon.But,i cant work with people i dont like no matter how much i want the money,and even though the job is only temporary for a couple of months.
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (30 October 2008): It definetly is discrimination.I know i wasnt fired this time,but from how she put it,it sounds like i would have been fired if it hapened again,which is wrong,and everything she has said has been wrong anyway.
It will be awkward when i go in for my wages at the end of the week.I'm not sure what i will say.I dont want to be polite,as it is unfair that i have had to leave my job because of this.Hope i never bump into the people again either,either the customers who said it,although i dont know who it was that said it anyway,or any of the employees,girls in charge ,e.t.c.
I'm wondering if the girl in charge who i spoke to about it will tell the other workers why i left too,or is that supposed to remain confidential ?.When she told me about it in the first place,there was no one else around then.
At first,with her tone of voice,and with her saying she needed to have a word with me,i was expecting her to say i had done some part of my job wrong.That was totally unexpected !.
A
male
reader, anonymous, writes (29 October 2008): i'm sorry this has happened 2 u. u should speak to a lawyer (legal aid or citizen's advice bureau) about unfair dismissal and compensation BUT u might not be eligible for this if u resigned. a discrimination lawsuit would also be tough. good luck & as a politican once said 'don't let the b------s' get you down'.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (29 October 2008): i've left the job.i'm glad,as i think the girl in charge is quite snobbish anyway,and i am not putting up with abuse from customers,especially when i have been working hard and trying my best with a job.I know it's a shame because of the money side of things,but i will just have to survive on benefits for now until something else comes up,but i was on benefits before,so it's no different really.
I had never had any kind of complaint like that in my whole life until then,and i hadnt even noticed it !.That's why i was surprised.I have been bullied before,for other things,such as being quiet and shy,that was in my school days,but ever since then,i've always told myself that i wont stay in a situation if it becomes too unbearable.
The girl in charge even said that if she went into a shop and one of the workers smelled,she wouldnt go back there !.If it was me,and i went in to a shop and one of the workers smelled,i wouldnt even think about it.You go to a shop to buy items,and as long as you like the items,and the workers are friendly,thats all that should matter.I was always friendly with them.
She also said i had put her in a sticky situation,but,thats not my problem.I have to go in and get my wages though.
She said she expected the workers to be perfectly groomed,but anyone can have a day where their appearance isnt as good as it should be.We are all human beings ,and we're not perfect !.
I'm thinking of forgetting about retail altogether.Any suggestions on other jobs i can apply for,preferably quieter jobs that arent very physical or something like that ?.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (29 October 2008): i'm going to call today and tell them that i am not going to work there any more.I know that means i will have to go back on benefits again,and wont have much money,but i'd rather not work at all than have to work somewhere where i am not comfortable.I think this is a good enough reason to leave anyway.I will only start feeling paranoid if i stay there,and might not be able to concentrate on my work.I just hope something else will come up soon.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (29 October 2008): Hi
You are been treated unfairly and you should make official reports on this matter, do not wait because it will happen again but with somthing else. Total Bxxxxxx that a customer complained.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (28 October 2008): I thought that myself,that a customer might not have complained,and that it was a lie,as when i told my mum,she said that too.Plus,the girl who mentioned it did say she had noticed it too.I didnt see any customers giving me funny looks,or talking to the girl in charge about me.Why would customers complain about that anyway ?.
I just dont know if i can work with the two girls who are in charge.I dont really like them.
I want to stand up for myself really.To the girls in charge,i feel like saying well it's ok for you,all you mainly do is stand at the till chatting !.I'm doing most of the hard labour !.You try doing the hard work and see how you feel afterwards !.And i feel like saying that i have worked hard,and it isnt fair that i have had complaints when i have been trying my best.
It's my day off tomorrow.I could either contact her to tell her i'm not going anymore,or see if i can have a chat with her then,before i'm due in again,although to be honest,i really dont want to go back.I do like some of the customers i have come across,and the shop itself is lovely.
It would be a stupid reason to fire someone aswell.My confidence is shattered now though,i didnt have much confidence before anyway.
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A
female
reader, elizstar  +, writes (28 October 2008):
This may be a problem for you whatever the job you have, its no big deal. You can shower every day but you must have a good anti-perspirant. Make sure you brush your teeth twice a day and use mouthwash. If you do a good job it will be fine. You have to just be nice to everyone they will do the same in return. Just be positive, be enthusiastic, your morkmates where you are will be the same most places. Best wishes
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A
male
reader, honeyross +, writes (28 October 2008):
 You're better than these people, so don't let them bring you down.
I think the way the person in charge dealt with the situation is inappropriate and evident of really poor managerial skills! I actually doubt that a customer complained - I wouldn't be surprised if it's a lie.
Why give in and leave if it's not the right time for you? Don't give them any excuse to criticize or bully you. Ask them if you need help doing parts of your job. Why let insecure little people make your life difficult?
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A
female
reader, veronica.87  +, writes (28 October 2008):
I think you should stick it out and since you don't like the job that well find one on your days off or on your spare time look at adds in the paper or ask someone if they know of any place that is hiring. when you get a interview or find a place that your most likely garenteed to get the job quit.
It's not your fault that you may have a body odor when you sweat its natural and if your working hard your manager shouldn't be complaining to you. Don't stress out everything will work out good luck
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