How do I tell an employee that her odor is unbearable to other staff?

Question

My employee is about 5'2" and over 400 lbs. I just relieved her of a job she had been doing for several years due to errors and placed her in another position. Her self-estemm is at its lowest possible. She is able to do the work but, now is around many other people during the day (before she had an office to herself). I do know from other staff that she had a hysterectomy a couple of years ago and the incision has never closed and it still drains. I believe this is where the retched odor comes from and it gets worse as the day progresses. My staff have asked me to address this with her and my boss who was originally going to do so has now backed out and left it up to me. The problem is, if I tell her others are complaining or bring up her medical problems, then she will know that people are talking about her as she has never divulged her problems to me. I have to address this on Monday and can not put it off any longer with the heat and humidity of summer upon us. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

You do it with true concern and tact. If it was you, or your Mom, or someone that you loved, how would you want them to be told by an employer? This situation is very difficult. Tell her you are concerned about her health and noticed a sort of odor. Tell her that you realize that anyone can have an odor and not notice it because it can be difficult to 'smell yourself'. Tell her you know that if she knew about it, you know that she would want to do something about it. Tell her that if you were in the same position ( had an odor)you would want someone to tell you,(like having something between your teeth, or leaving the restroom with your skirt up into the waistband, or having something out of your nose )so you felt as if she would want to know this too. Giving those sort of examples may make her feel as if it can happen to anyone and maybe feel more at ease. If you approach it with concern, you set a better stage to address this. And opens the door if you have to address it again.

Answer 2

There is no nice way of telling someone that their odor is unbearable. We had the same problem with a lady from work, she was unbearable to work with in the summer time. Our boss copped out so it was left to me and another work colleague to have to tell her. Firstly, try and talk to her after work so that she doesn't have to go back amongst the others after you talk to her. Don't say things like "its come to our attention" say something like we're really concerned and have noticed you have strong body odor, please don't be offended or embarrassed, we all want to help you. I'm sure you would rather be told than have people gossiping about you." Address the hysterectomy and tell her to take time off to seek medical attention. Let her know that you are all concerned for her, and that her body odor is due to her medical problem. Once again there is no nice way to tell someone they have body odor, just try and be supportive. Good luck.

Answer 3

Isnt being the boss fun? Try suttle to start with, give her a gift basket with some smelly lady stuff for an upcomming event, birthday, anniversary, fathers day. That does not work, go with the general approach and put air freshners in the office in general especially near her and pray she is not alergic to it. Lastly, have another employee or 2 write an anonymus letter to you stating thier concern for the issue, and bring the letter to her and tell her you have to follow up on this since there was more than 1 complaint, and go at it from a friend aspect not one of a supervisor.

Answer 4

Request a private meeting when everyone has gone home.

Say something about anonymous notes about certain odors that seem to be blamed on her. Say it is quite ridiculous but does she have or is she wearing any poultices, herbal medications, balms etc, that may be the source of the unusual odor. Whatever you say- do not, I repeat- do not say foul or stinky.

Suggest that she does not wear it at work, and that you will monitor the development.

She might shower daily when it is presented that way, or even go to the doctor is there is really a medical condition.

It is probably just bad hygiene.
A second or third meeting should be called when there is no improvement. Be tactful and very diplomatic.

Answer 5

Handle it in the most professional way possible. Do some human resources research to make sure you adhere to company policy and don't violate and laws in the process. If there is a company policy on hygiene that she IS violating perhaps a written warning could go in her file. Treat her with as much dignity as can be done and document. Also make note that you were assigned this role by your direct supervisor and put it in writing and have them sign the statement that goes into her file even if no warning is given. That way you protect yourself and the company if she takes it badly and claims she was treated unfairly in the process. As someone else mentioned she very well may not know it is an issue.

Answer 6

I feel so sorry for you, I had to do this once when I was 26 and the employee was 59. He actually cried when I told him people were complaining about his oder. Anyway 1st you must take this person somewhere private, have someone else from management their as your support (also to witness that you didn't say anything out of the way) 2nd just tell her straight up that other employee's have complained about her B.O. but in NO WAY do you try to diagnos the problem yourself, do not tell her what you think it is, just simply tell her to handle the problem, that way she won't know that the other employees have been talking about her problem.

Answer 7

I had just the same problem at work, but I bumed it off on someone else.

First off, you need to inform your HR department about what you are doing.

If you have a company nurse, get them involved.

By all means, have a witness there when you talk to this employee.

The best way, is to just bring up the fact that there have been complaints about excessive body odor.

And ask her, if she knows what might be causing it.

There might be a medicial problem, or she may not have good personal grooming habits.

In my case, we decided you use a different supervisor, outside the persons department.

We did this, to try and limit any feelings of embarassment to the employee.

IE:

He didn't have to look at me every day, and wonder who else I told, etc.

Plus, if he had any resentment, it was to the person who counciled him, and not toward me.

If thats not possible in your case.

Then you need to make the person as comfortable as possible.

She may not know she has an odor problem.

Answer 8

You have a few choices.

Tell her the truth
Give her an office
Have some one else closer to her tell her, and perhaps offer her the name of a better doctor since it sounds like she isn't terribly well.
Litter air freshener around and wait for her to get the hint.

You have to do something, and it probably is best to tell her the truth and offer to help. She may not be able to handle it, but no one in your office can handle something not being done.

Answer 9

It is a very delicate situation which you have to face.There would be nothing to gain by insulting her or spraying perfume etc.As her Empoyer you can request that she has a Corporate Medical within the company done to ascertain if she is fit to work.By doing that,if it is an unhealed wound from surgery done in the past,then the problem would come to light and hopefully be sorted.Good Luck.

Answer 10

how ever hard this might seem you need to do it. The longer you leave it the more people will talk about her and she may over hear which is worst. She may not even no how bad the smell is. She might be hurt at first but it is in her interest. Good luck