Okay Need help dealing with someone at work with body odor?

Question

I work with someone who has the worst body odor I have ever smelled. I literally find myself getting up numerous times a day because I am about to vomit. How do you discuss with someone that they smell with out coming across as a real *****. This person is truly a nice person but her odor and breath could kill and infestation of rats in the building. Sorry just want to handle it the best way possible. AND the Mint thing only last so long.

Answer 1

I had to deal with this as a manager. It's not easy. First of all make sure that you talk to her alone, that way she won't be embarrassed. Let her know that you don't want to make her angry or embarrass her but that her personal hygiene is a problem that needs to be dealt with. Suggest that she shower in the morning rather than an night (this way you're not accusing her of not bathing but suggesting it's just a timing issue), ask her if she uses mouth wash when she brushes etc. There's no guarantee that she won't fly off the handle but the nicer you are and the more considerate you are the less likely that is to happen. Good luck.

Answer 2

Well, you could always buy some inexpensive bath & body items, deoderant, mouth wash, and type a note place it in side a nice box all wrapped up and set it on the persons desk.

Your note could read: Hi (persons name), I am giving you these items because it has come to my attention there is an on going problem you may not be aware of. Since this is a sensitive subject and one that is not always accepted well, I decided to write you this note. A concern for your personal hygiene and the often offending odors coming from you, leave this office unpleasant. Please don't take this in a mean way, some people aren't aware that their body odor and breath are a problem. After all, your sense of smell is accustomed to it and nothing seems "foreign" or bad to YOU. On the other hand people around you feel otherwise. If it were me and I had this problem, I would be only too glad someone had the "nerve" to tell me and save me from embarrasment and whispers behind my back.
signed, a concerned co-worker

Answer 3

My spouse has an employee that has a massive body odor problem. He is 40 years old, and has had the problem since he was 16 years. He has been to several doctors to see if there is a solution, and has not found help.

He is a social outcast, and must work out of doors, even though he is a computer tech..When off work, he shuts up in his room, and still lives at home with parents.
This is a serious problem for him, and has basically ruined his life.
There is a laser treatment that can eliminate underarm odor, but this poor guy reeks all over, so laser isn't even an option for him..
I have asked for help for him on this forum before, hoping that someone in the great world of Yahoo! may have dealt with this problem before. But, it seems it must be a rarity, as I have found no helpful advice for him.
He showers 3 times per day. He showers JUST before going to work, and smells terrible within an hour. His dad confided to my spouse, and asked for understanding. It breaks his dad's heart, as he can't find a way to help his son.

I just thought you should know that this may be such a problem with your co-worker. It really CAN be a physical handicap, and deserves understanding. If your friend appears to practice good hygiene otherwise,( clean clothes, and fresh hair, white teeth) , she may have just such a handicap.

Answer 4

Many people who have body ordor know they do but are at a loss as to how to deal with it. They could be the cleanest person around and just have a problem with sweating and such. It could also be a problem with thier diet. I think the best way to deal with this depends on how straight forward you are. If you feel you can do it face to face then try going and asking them to have lunch or coffee after work with you then tell them in a nice way and make some suggestions as to how to solve the problem. For example Doctors can prescribe a medicated antipersperant for those that need it. There is no need to be rude about it just state the facts, give them a possible solution and let them know its not a personal attack.

Joan, I would like to discuss something of a personal nature with you if I might and I want you to know this is in no way a personal attack. Some of the people around the office have noticed a body odor about you that I felt you should know about. I am sure you are doing all you can to deal with the problem but I have heard of a prescription that the doctors can give that may deal with this problem and I wanted to see if you knew about this.

Answer 5

Having dealt with the problem personally, I can tell you that the person may have a medical reason for their problem. Leaving an annonomous bar of soap, telling your boss and having them deal with it, or spraying cologne in their desk area won't help and may well really hurt the person's feelings.

My suggestion is to discuss it with your personnel director and see if they can't figure out why the problem is occuring. It may be an allergy to certain fabrics, it may be their plumbing is broken, or something more serious such as a drinking/drug problem. In any case, let the personnel dept ask what the reason is. If there is nothing that can be done to resolve the problem with the person, ask that your work space be moved. Other people in the office may not have the same sensitive nose and can work more closely with the person without feeling ill.

Answer 6

This person may be afflicted with a serious metabolic disorder called TMAU--Trimethylaminuria which causes Body odor no matter how often they shower, wear deodorant, change clothes, have a BM ...often extreme limiting of dietary Choline helps but it is not a cure......Problem arises from the livers inability to metabolize FMO3.

http://www.genome.gov/11508983

http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=trimethylaminuria

http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=2288096

http://www.monell.org/tmau_h.htm

http://www.hbri.org/TMAuria.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trimethylaminuria

http://www.wapd.org/index.php?pgref=kb/tmau

Answer 7

You can have your boss discuss it with her. She could be so used to it that she can't smell it. A baking soda bath or a daily baking soda paste under the arms will keep odor at bay. Many people don't bathe daily and some don't realize that they need to. Colgate total has a toothpaste that kills germs well. My daughter "the dragon's" breath dies with this toothpaste. She could be going through a hormonic surge. Talk to her yourself if you sometimes speak, it could be nicer than her wondering how many people have complained/ have I offended with my stink.

Answer 8

In my previous position, I had to deal with a similar issue. I was a supervisor and one of my reps complained to me about the body odor of another one of my reps. Although I had noticed it myself previously, once a complaint was issued to me, as a member of management, I had to deal with it. That's your best way of dealing with it. Take it to your supervisor. In speaking with the rep with the body odor, I told him that I wouldn't have brought it up, but other reps were complaining and it needed to be taken care of. I gave him every out and offered excuses such as running around from school to work, it being hot outside, anything. He was very embarrassed and said he would take care of it, which he did. He really was just a filthy pig, but that's beside the point.

Answer 9

This is what I did for a former co-worker ... I left him a note on his desk with some really expensive deodorant and expensive cologne ... he got the hint ... many people followed suit ... you have to be blunt ... in the professional world - you have to worry about yourself and the environment that you work in - if there is someone that's impeding your path to success - you have to take them out ... professionally, but with courtesy and be blunt regardless.


BTW - he got fired shortly thereafter ... he came into work with the same dress shirt for 7 days ... and my boss let him go.

Answer 10

Try being extra nice and buying her a bath set from bath and body works they have ones out now that include anti-pespirent. That way maybe she'll use it and smell better but not be offended. My sister used to be the same way and said she honestly didn't know!