Is there a polite way to tell a coworker that they smell bad?

Question

I have tried ignoring it, and dropping subtle hints, but nothing works. I have to work in very close proximity to this person. I'm tempted to go to H.R. and let them handle it. I don't want to embarrass this person, she's a nice girl, just extremely smelly.

Answer 1

oh, yes, let HR handle it.
all these people saying "rational people won't be offended.. " and "just be polite.." make sense but really, wouldn't you be humiliated if some co-worker of yours came up and handed you a stick of deoderant?
it's better to tell HR and have them take care of it, they probably have training and even if they don't at least they are removed enough from the situation to not make her feel embarassed every day at work.

Answer 2

If she's nice, then be nice to her.

If I were the smelly girl you speak of, this is how I would want thiings to play out:

1 tell me face to face that my odor is unpleasant and distracting to your work. Rational people will take what you say, as you have said it and not take it personally. In others, make it clear first that you have no other issues with her and in fact, you think she is a very nice girl.
2. If I have no control over my problem, I would tell you and I wouldn't not feel compelled to tell you why, but I would do everything in my power to reduce my odor in whatever way I can.

3. If I am still offensive, I would have nothing against you if you put an air freshener in our cubicle/workspace, nor would I feel offended by your actions that would prevent you from being subjected to my offensive odor.

That said, in all honesty, she probably knows she has a problem and either doesn't know how to deal with it effectively or she just has no control over it. If you approach the issue with understanding that she is probably afflicted by it already and undeserving of any negative feedback about it-- and also with respect of your own rights, there is a solution that will benefit both of you without causing harm to anyone. If your intent is pure then your result will be pure and that cannot harm.

Answer 3

There is no nice way.I had to tell my apprentice that he needed to sort himself out and that he was smelly..only in nicer words but he was still embarressed. I had put up with it for about 14 months and said nothing but we got moved to a new site and i heard some of the workers on the new site laughing and talking about him behind his back so i had to tell him to clean himself up.

Answer 4

Let HR handle it.

I worked with a gal who developed a very noticeable foul smell. She's disabled and it was actually the smell of her foot rotting.

Answer 5

Better let HR handle it.
Usually I wouldn't say that, but listen, this girl is not going to have to see HR all the time.
This girl is going to have to see you.
You can explain this reasoning to HR, that you really want to preserve not only her feelings but your relationships with her and the productivity of the company.
They are pro's, and should be trained in this or be able to look it up!

Answer 6

Buy her a gift bag full of body spray, deoderant, and soaps that smell really really good! Hopefully she will use them!

Answer 7

How about leaving a small note and bottle of body spray on her desk. The note could read "We love you to death, but you may need some of this."

Keep it anonymous.

Answer 8

Yes, I think going to HR is the best way to deal with it.

Answer 9

Is there a birthday coming up? Buy her perfume.
Or, just give her the perfume and say happy birthday. If she says its not her bd, just say you thought it was, tell her to keep the present.

Answer 10

Place a can of deoderant on her desk.