Should I confront coworker who smokes in office?

I'm kind of in a weird situation at work. I work for a small company (five people in our office, one employee works from home office out-of-state). I'm actually currently looking for another job because this was meant to be temporary until I found something that I liked doing. But anyway, I have one coworker who got permission from the president to smoke in his office behind closed doors with one of those ventilation machines. It definitely doesn't work, though, because the entire office REEKS when he's smoking. Two of the other employees are smokers, so they don't mind it. However, the smell really bothers me and gives me headaches. I don't know if it's worth it to mention it to someone (probably the president) or to just wait it out until I leave (even though that could be a few months away). I think it's rather rude for him to smoke in the office anyway, but he's a nice guy other than that and works hard to keep the company where it is. I really have no idea what to do.

Depending in what state you live, it could be against the law.

Here in Colorado, I wouldn't have to ask anyone, I could literally call the police while I was "on break" and let the magic happen.

As I said, check your local laws. If you don't have that as an option, generally second hand smoke is a viable complaint. OSHA is a good group to call to find your options (link below)

Good luck

I am not sure where you live but in most states now, it is illegal to smoke in a public building (now your office building could be private). If this is the case, then you need to explain to your president that the ventilation machine is not working and you should be allowed to work in a place that is healthy for you. Even if you don't intend to stay, let them know that you will not tolerate this and if you need to, get a lawyer( this can be kind of a veiled threat). With all the controversy about smoking now, I'm sure your president doesn't want the hassle of a lawsuit, no matter how small the company is.

Perhaps the President did not know the extent of the smell that would oooze out of the "smokers" office. I would address it cause you work there too and should speak your mind just like the smoker did when they gave him permission to smoke. I am an x smoker (thank god) and would say, speak your mind cause you have the right too.
Good luck

Confront him and tell him it bothers you. Where do the other smokers smoke? In the room with him or outside?

To add to the answer above, some states also don't allow smoking in any Business-- EVEN PRIVATE businesses.

Therefore, you may have a legal complaint.

If you are looking for another job, and they know it, I wouldn't rock the boat. It would not be good to not have a job.

If you think you may be here another 6 months or more, then I would definitely say something to the president or whoever is in charge of HR.

Or, you could just start coughing every time that the person lights up - and stop when they are done. Sure, it isn't exactly true (and you have to start slowly) but it IS your health you are worried about.

If your leaving why do you care? It sounds like you don't have any loyalty to the company (which is fine I guess) but these other employees are committed to stay there, and if they have a comfortable environment why mess with it? If you had said something like I love my job, I want to grow with this company etc but I can't take the smoke, then I would say yes, say something to someone, but I don't understand why you would want to "ruffle the feathers" when you could be gone as soon as next week...