Gabi:
{{}} I am so glad you posted this. When I was 215 I had a similar thing happen.
I had just started a new job. My boss and co workers were and are totally insane. Often I would be running around non stop -- without break -- from 8AM until 5 PM. I often didn't get a break. It was totally their fault. I would come back to my office and someone would be sitting there ready to take me to this training or that training. I couldn't get five seconds to comb my hair or even piddle sometimes. I would excuse myself and literally they would come to the bathroom with me and talk outside the stall.
And there was a period where my deodorant failed a bit. It was a small period. We are talking 3 days or so. It was due to the fact I wasn't prepared for how warm it was inside (when it was very cold outside), had nothing in my desk like perfume or anything (or a change of shirt), and had a product that was natural and didn't work all that well. It worked fine when I was sitting at my desk (as I had in my previous job ) but not running around all day.
Now for me, I would never ever ever say anything even if I smelled someone else unless it was a big problem and didn't get better. I understand we all have moments.
So a few months after that -- I had recovered. However a new boss came in a few weeks later. And she called me up to tell me she needed to talk to me. She shut the door and said *you smell*. Ok it was nicer than that. I get the feeling that *whomever* had pulled that little tidbit out to *bond* with the boss and be mean to me.
It was like slow motion. I couldn't believe it. At the time it totally crushed me. But now I do realize that it might have been a small part true (as you can say about everyone at one time) but it was mostly mean people taking their opportunity to be mean. I later learned that one of my co workers (who quit after that) was a certifiable loon and liar. He met with the new boss right before I got my *BO* meeting and left just a few weeks later. And my job rarely EVER has anyone leave. I found out later, he would tell another large lady that he worked with that she smelled and needed to dress better.
I thought how could I face the new boss -- who is still there. But I think even she now realizes she was taken advantage of and feels stupid. We just try to avoid each other.
I honestly think this is a non talked about tactic in the workplace. I have never talked about it. So some mean person can make an allegation and knows it will never come back to haunt them (because you will be mortified and never say anything) . I never thought people would be so petty -- but there are plenty of them.
I did however really work hard to make sure no one could never say that again. And in the end I am sure it is a good thing. I have failed to get work done so I can smell like a rose and I do think that best revenge is living well. I didn't lose the weight because of that co worker... but I am now a 164 lb attorney that smells like a rose. He is an out of work liar. Don't let it interfere with your job because then that mean person wins.
Feel better ! I do after your posting this and the stories that others posted.
