What would you do?

mulene · 09-29-2006, 07:54 AM

I have a colleague who for the last 3 days has shown up to work drunk. It isn't so much that hes drunk and annoying as hell as the stink of stale booze. The first day it was bad, day 2 was worse and today I can't stand it - he sits less than 2 feet away from me and he talks on the phone ALL day - I keep getting wafts of really strong stale booze smells.

Frankly you could get drunk on the fumes. Its making me feel physically sick. He is extremely difficult to deal with and being subtle isn't an option - he doesn't get the subtle approach.

If I go all out "FFS you STINK will you PLEASE do something about it" he will accuse me of making trouble on purpose.

I've just been told we won't be moving office till the end of February. I called my boss who is off sick and told him I have to move out of this room and that I won't be prepared to wait any longer. They have been telling us for three years that "we will be moving in 6 months just wait."

Half the staff downstairs have been made redundant and I can't believe they can't find me a space *somewhere* in this damn building.

So anyway, how would you tackle the drunk in the office?

PS I work for a trendy media company and it apparently is ok to be hungover / drunk at work. Personally I don't think it is acceptable.

Ingrid · 09-29-2006, 01:04 PM

I would report it to his supervisor. If it's really ok with the supervisor that employees come to work drunk, then you need to go above HIS head. It's totally inappropriate and unacceptable. The man needs help, but obviously doesn't seem to think so yet.

mulene · 09-29-2006, 01:13 PM

Hrm its hard - in a "normal" company that is what I would do...

I should have been more specific. There are 5 of us in this company - we are sister company to another company but not affilliated to them anymore although we share the same building we rent a room from them.

He and I are considered I guess to be on a par - in terms of seniority in the office. My boss of course is over all of us and is currently off sick (which is extremely rare).

The only one above my boss is the chairman and I wouldn't dare bring it up with the chairman as he is also chairman of the sister company and wayyyy too busy - his response will be let my boss deal with it.

I'm wondering how on earth I can go about telling him to clean himself up because its horrible to have to smell that without causing a huge issue =P

Sara · 09-29-2006, 01:26 PM

How about the soft approach:

"I'm worried about you. You have come in to work obviously impaired x# of times. And you may not know that you smell strongly of alcohol. It's causing difficulties for the rest of us. Do you think you need to get some professional help?"

Since he's a drunk, he may not react well to anything you say, but at least you have tried to be gentle.

janelanespaintbrush · 09-29-2006, 01:33 PM

How about bringing in a small electric fan? You can direct the stink back to its source.

It's non-confrontational, and even if he doesn't "get the message," it might actually alleviate the odor problem. If that doesn't work, why not sit at your boss' desk until he gets back? (How can he argue if it's available?) Then maybe he'll have more incentive to move you when he does return.

Ingrid · 09-29-2006, 01:33 PM

And he'll be aware that you are aware.

nadja la claire · 09-29-2006, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by Sara

How about the soft approach:

"I'm worried about you. You have come in to work obviously impaired x# of times. And you may not know that you smell strongly of alcohol. It's causing difficulties for the rest of us. Do you think you need to get some professional help?"

Since he's a drunk, he may not react well to anything you say, but at least you have tried to be gentle.

I agree he may not take it well but if he's drinking before 7:00 AM then he's got a problem and he's killing himself. He may get angry but if nothing else it will make him aware of the fact that others are noticing and that it's only a matter of time before his job is on the line. Good Luck.

Nadja xxx

stitchwitch · 09-29-2006, 01:46 PM

See I guess I'm different, if someone has the guts to come to work drunk or reaking of alcohol I don't feel I need to protect their feelings. If it bothered me and he did it often I'd probably just blurt out a "Dude, you reak of booze, what time did you roll in last night?!" I'd probably keep saying it each time I was gassed by his fumes until either he moved somewhere else or quit boozing it before work.

Boogs · 09-29-2006, 01:59 PM

Leave a can of deoderant and a bottle of mouthwash on his desk.

GennyLynn1962 · 09-29-2006, 02:01 PM

[quote="janelanespaintbrush"]How about bringing in a small electric fan? You can direct the stink back to its source.

I love this idea

I agree there is no reason to come to work drunk, or not recovered from the night before.

My husband delt with this at one job, the dude got promoted

This is rather rude but once in a grocery store the cashier evidently didn't like the way someone smelled and brought out a can of air freshener and started spraying it all around the register.

I hope things get better for you.