I own a small business. A friend of mine comes in and helps me a few days a week. For the past few months, she has been chewing this sugar free citrus flavored gum. The first time I noticed, I walked in and asked "what is that aweful smell? It smells like cat pee!" We searched the entire place. There are 2 neighbor cats that freqently find there way to the doorways of my business, and I was afraid one of them had "marked their territory." But the closer I got to my friend, the stronger the smell. It was definitely her gum! Her husband agreed with me, and I let her know that she shouldn't chew it while she was at my place of business, for fear that customers might get a whiff and think the place was unclean, unsanitary, etc. (like a cat was in there & sprayed). But she still chews the gum. I've spoken to her 2-3 times, but it makes no difference. I don't want to ruin our friendship or our business relalationship. What can I do or say to make her stop chewing this nasty smelly gum?
2007-03-18 10:22:17 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
That's the trouble with hiring friends... sometimes you have to do things as 'the boss' that you wouldn't do as a friend (although even a friend can comment on something that stinks!).
In this situation you have to be 'the boss' and don't tell her she 'shouldn't' chew the gum at work.. tell her she CAN'T chew it. Not many employers allow staff that meets the public to chew gum.. it's extremely unprofessional, and if it smells bad that's even worse!
I'm guessing that as she is also your friend, you've probably been making offhand comments about the smelly gum and she isn't realizing what a problem it is. You need to sit down with her and have a real conversation with her. Is it possible that she doesn't consider 'helping a few days a week' being a real job? Are you paying her enough so that it IS, and not just a way to pass some time? Perhaps she's being passive/aggressive about it as her way of dealing with other issues with you?
Maybe you can get together with her hubby and tell her together... if you both agree it stinks she's probably offending other people too!
2007-03-21 20:02:29 · answer #1 · answered by endorable 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can be like hey, that gum smells like cat pee your nasty lady.
2007-03-22 08:13:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buy her a similar flavor sugar free gum and tell her she should try this brand.
2007-03-19 00:21:16 · answer #3 · answered by pinkrosegreeneyes bluerose 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can have a cat pee on her so she knows what it smells like and how terrible it is. GIVe HER A TATSE OF HER OWNNN pEEE
2007-03-22 08:13:50 · answer #4 · answered by Cory C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She is not much of a friend or an employee is you have already asked her to stop and she has not.
2007-03-18 21:42:18 · answer #5 · answered by Patti C 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
WHAT brand is she chewing?
2007-03-21 12:26:40 · answer #6 · answered by yoohoo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋