What to Do About My Flatulent Coworker-sensitive Subject

How old is she? I know as you get older they are a little harder to control. My grandma had the "walking farts", omg..... the first time it happened I felt so embarrassed for her but I guess she had become used to it and just said "oh excuse me!" and that was that. I've found it sort of happening to me now and then lately..... HOLY COW.... I'm not ready for it, haha.

It's time to be blunt.

Just letting you know...I can, or others can, smell when...so maybe you should take it out in the hall.

Are you brave enough to say that? She probably thinks people don't notice.

Is she losing her marbles?
Seriously.
She may have a medical condition, but I can't imagine a woman not being mortified by accidentally doing it. One of my male coworkers bent down to turn his computer on and whoopsie.
He was so embarrassed. And guys usually care way less about that than women.
I don't know. It just seems like there has to be some disconnect there of some kind.

It's not funny and I'm not sure exactly how you should handle it, but it reminds me of a joke.....

A little old lady goes to the doctor and says, "Doctor, I have this problem with gas, but it really doesn't bother me too much. They never smell and are always silent. As a matter of fact, I've passed gas at least 20 times since I've been here in your office. You didn't know I was passing gas because they don't smell and are silent."
The doctor says, "I see. Take these pills and come back to see me next week."

The next week the lady returns. "Doctor," she says, "I don't know what medicine you gave me, but now my gas, although still silent, smells terrible."

The doctor says, "Good!!! Now that we've cleared up your sinuses, let's work on your hearing."

I hope you get some great advice.
Best wishes.

get a small fan for your desk and have it blowing in her direction.. that might help. I used to have a co-worker who sat directly across from me and she was always wearing that nasty Georgio perfume.. it is so strong, so I kept the fan on at all times.. if anyone asked, I just said, oh it gets stuffy in here and the fan helps..

also.. you could pull her aside and talk to her but not sure I would do that because the end result might be worse than the smell.. what if she gets offended and you two don't get along and worse, she still continues to fart..hahaha that really would be double trouble...

try the fan first...

Go to HR and a supervisor and ask to be moved to a different part of the office, or if she has a medical condition where this problem can not be prevented, suggest or ask if she can be moved to a different part of the office where she can have the space and privacy to "handle" matters. :o

DO NOT WRITE HER A NOTE OR APPROACH HER PERSONALLY ABOUT IT. That could backfire on you legally speaking. There is no way for you to prove you weren't harrassing her with the note or to prove your intent wasn't malicious if you speak to her about it. Go through human resources...that's their job.

Yeesh. There are few things worse in an office environment than the predicament you described. I definitely endorse the fan idea (I've done that, it works!). Also something I've tried: you could spray a tiny bit of your favorite perfume on your shirt cuff, and when you need to, re-position your wrist under your chin or up to your cheek. The perfume will help a little. Or, you could put a dab of Vicks vapor rub under your nose (that's what we give the police when they come in to watch autopsies..some of them get kind of queezy, and it helps them). If it gets worse, you could maybe ask to move desks? Sorry to hear about this..that's Nasty.

ETA: I would NOT advise approaching her, anonymously or in person. If it's as bad as you say it is, she already KNOWS it's a problem. It would be an embarrassing issue for both of you...

She may have a medical issue. Even so I think you need to handle it as tactfully and discretely as possible....and even with kid gloves on I am sure this will mortify her ( she may not know!!!) can you get a fan to blow in the opposite direction to ward it off? Or maybe even light a candle? I am so sorry. If you do choose a spray, pick one that is an odor neutralizer not some awful spray that just hangs and mingles with it. Good luck, I am sorry for your predicament. The insensitive coward side of me says to leave a bottle of Beano on her desk.

I like the fan idea! That's seriously gross! I would freak out. I also like the "cowardly" idea mentioned below about the bottle of Beano. In situations like this, confronting or going face to face with her is only going to make it even worse for both of you. If you anonymously leave some materials and GasX on her desk, then she should get the point, and she'll probably be embarrassed, but at least it won't all be toward you. Personally I think she SHOULD be embarrassed. I mean -we all have gassy days, but you have to excuse yourself or get some Gas X or something! Most people would want to crawl under the carpet if they audibly farted in a meeting or were ripping them in close proximity to co-workers. If she does have a medical issue -it should still be controllable. There are medicines and dietary amendments for that! Maybe she loves Fiber 1 bars -so do I -but I learned that they can only be eaten when I know I'm spending the day or night alone! Print out some materials off the web about charcoal seat filters, Beano, celiac's disease and wheat/gluten/dairy allergies (all can cause terrible gas in a person), leave a box of Gas X and a bottle of room spray -she should get the message!

I would suggest NOT speaking with her directly about this. Even with something as silly and yucky as farting, it is still a problem with a co-worker. In a working environment, it is never wise to approach problems without HR being involved. You really need to go through HR with this. If you want it anonymous, they are obligated to keep it that way. As J L said, it could mean trouble, should you approach her yourself.

I would send her an anonymous note. Or speak with human resources about it.

Let her know everything you put here.. that it is while she is at her desk and also in meetings. To please excuse herself and to please pass gas in the ladies room as a courtesy to the co workers in the office.

It could be a diet change or a medicine change or a health problem. You could get a handkerchief and soak it with some scented oils or your favorite perfume and hold it under your nose when she has her attacks. Just try to be subtle about it. I'm sure she's aware of what's going on and is embarrassed about it, but it's out of her control.

She's not going to get very far up the corporate ladder if she is offending people to that great of a magnitude. Tell her to stop passing gas in your direction.

get a fan and blow it back on her. You don't have to even say anything. Just sit your fan on your desk and turn it around when you need to.

How big is your office? Can you asked to be moved? She may have developed some food intolerance. I know my poor MIL practically blows herself over if she gets any milk or cheese. She is mortified about it.

Eww. Write her a kind note about it? In the nicest possible way.

Many offices don't allow for scented anything, but if your's does, ask if they mind if you put up a scented candle or diffuser... you could get a little "arrangement" to match the season ... just making the office "nicer".

If that is a no go think about getting a small air purifier. I don't personally believe in their "purifying" power so much, but the do create a slight breeze and aimed in the right direction that should help with your problem.
Good luck.

im sorry but i had to laugh reading this. you poor thing. the best thing i can think to do is get one of thoes timed sprayers that you can push the button as needed i think its fabreeze or glade you can find it in any target kroger ect good luck!

How about a hot plate with a scented candle? You could just say you love the smell of it if she asks about it. Or one of those air fresheners that automatically sprays every so often? We used those in our classrooms when I was teaching since we had 8th graders who would come in after P.E. smelling not so fresh... :p

OMG, the subject line is quite funny, but a serious problem. You probably dread going to work you poor thing! IF I were in your shoes, I wouldn't say anything to her directly just yet. However, since you are so close to her and she has the ability to overhear you. I would call a friend or someone you feel comfortable talking about stinky gas with and say something like "wow, something smells really awful right now, and I've been noticing it lately...I wonder what the deal is...". Something similar to that, so she can at least have a conscience about it and maybe take a walk. I HATE it when people fart and think you actually can't smell it. I also have a VERY keen nose and smell this sort of thing more often that I care to mention, bleck!

Annonymously mail her (to work address) a box of Gas X. She should get the hint. Or just keep a room spray fragrance at your desk and every time you smell it just spray it without saying anything. Once she notices you are spraying it every time she passes gas, maybe she'll start to move to the hallway or something. Good luck!