TOKYO // Are your colleagues less than fragrant? Do some of your workmates have a bit too much body odour? Then get yourself to a “smell care” seminar.
After a long, sweaty summer in Japan, some firms in a nation renowned for its cleanliness are declaring all out war on an office plague known as “smell harassment”.
Telling a colleague they stink is touchy stuff, of course.
But personal-care product maker Mandom says its smel-care seminars are the answer for companies which are worried about hurting someone’s feelings.
Japanese media have picked up the scent on this battle against body odour, reporting that about 40 employees from mobile giant SoftBank recently attended a session on what causes unpleasant body smells and how to avoid them..
Smell harassment joins a long list of other office complaints including “alcohol harassment” (forcing a colleague to drink) and karaoke harassment (forcing someone to sing against their will).
In response to the national crisis, eyewear chain Owndays has reportedly created a list of odour regulations for staff amid concerns that poor hygiene could hit sales.
The culprits include sweaty, chain-smoking office workers known as salarymen, a colleague doused in perfume, and that guy who ate too much garlic at lunch.
Mandom insists the seminars can gently teach offenders to change their ways, and create an easier — and presumably more fragrant — atmosphere in the office.
“Better understanding of the mechanism behind and the nature of those smells should lead to increased tolerance,” said Mandom’s Miyuu Sato, optimistically.
Intensive research found a whopping 90 per cent of Japanese men emit odours noticeable to others nearby.
But the anti-odour firm is also clear on where to draw the line: bullying smelly colleagues into a shower is not the answer.
“Bodily smells are not always a bad thing and they don’t always bother people,” said Ms Sato. “Odours are a person’s unique characteristic.”
* Agence France Presse
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
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2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
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Etihad flies daily from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, with fares starting from Dh2,807 return. Frequent high speed trains between Zurich and Vienna make stops at St. Anton.
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1.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,200m
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Winner: Tabernas, Connor Beasley, Ahmed bin Harmash.
2.45pm: Handicap Dh95,000 1,200m
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3.15pm: Handicap Dh120,000 1,400m
Winner: Mystique Moon, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
3.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Mutawakked, Szczepan Mazur, Musabah Al Muhairi.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner: Tafaakhor, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
4.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner: Cranesbill, Fabrice Veron, Erwan Charpy.
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
The specs: 2018 BMW X2 and X3
Price, as tested: Dh255,150 (X2); Dh383,250 (X3)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder (X2); 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder (X3)
Power 192hp @ 5,000rpm (X2); 355hp @ 5,500rpm (X3)
Torque: 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (X2); 500Nm @ 1,520rpm (X3)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic (X2); Eight-speed automatic (X3)
Fuel consumption, combined: 5.7L / 100km (X2); 8.3L / 100km (X3)
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The biog
Marital status: Separated with two young daughters
Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo
Favourite book: That Is How They Defeat Despair by Salwa Aladian
Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness
Goal: For Nefsy to become his legacy long after he is gon
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
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