my boss thinks i should tell this new young female coworker that she need to fix her BO or she will be fired! There has been many complaints about her smell from other coworkers that its REALLY bad.
what do i say?
2007-08-25 18:26:09 · 10 answers · asked by marina_703 1 in Family & Relationships ➔ Other - Family & Relationships
This is one of the toughest situations to handle. There is no easy way to tell someone something like this without embarrassment on both sides. Probably the best way to frame it in your own mind is this: If this person were your spouse, child or best friend, how would you handle it? When you think about it like this, you’re more inclined to take a caring but straightforward approach.
Sometimes people who are in your shoes want to take the anonymous route; for instance, leaving deodorant on her desk without a note. While it might get the point across, I think this can be more embarrassing and hurtful than simply being direct with the person. The individual will wonder who left it, or she will think that everyone is talking about her behind her back.
Although it takes courage to confront the person, it’s more caring in the long run. Here is a suggestion. In a private moment (in the rest room, cafeteria, etc.) approach her in a matter-of-fact but confidential way, "I noticed that your deodorant is letting you down. Sometimes that happens to me, too. I thought you’d want to know. If it happens to me, I hope you would let me know, too."
The more matter of fact you are, the better the conversation will likely be. If she acts embarrassed, simply restate, "Hey, it can happen to anyone. I just knew you’d want to know, so you could do something about it." Chances are, she’ll thank you. If she’s offended, brush it off. It’s probably just embarrassment in disguise.
Good Luck, faith
2007-08-25 19:50:46 · answer #1 · answered by faith♥missouri 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Is she from another culture/country? Many places in the world don't use deodorant. She may just not realize the cultural difference here in the US (if this is indeed in the US - sorry for making that assumption).
One thing is certain, this is NOT something your boss should be asking YOU to do, this is your bosses JOB.
I would recommend going back to your boss and letting him/her know you are not comfortable talking to the person in your role as a non-manager, and feel it would be more appropriate if he/she had the conversation.
If the boss gives you a hard time, just say sorry, please find someone else. Don't let him/her dump their dirty work on you.
We had a guy at my old job that made all kinds of awful noises all day long... hacking up phlem... clearing his throat... weird mumbling noises... loud too. It bugged everyone in the office. Finally the boss had to sit him down and see if he was okay, and let him know he needed to fix the problem since it was a major distraction to the rest of the office...
That could be the advice you give your boss... tell him/her to approach it as he is just the messenger and has been receiving a lot of complaints. That way, he doesn't look bad, and no single person looks bad since it appears everyone in the office is complaining.
Good luck!
2007-08-28 01:13:56 · answer #2 · answered by detroitmotorcity 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take her aside privately and just ask her about a problem with BO. Be gentle and tackful. Some people do and all the deodorant in the world cannot help them. It is a medical condition. She probably _knows_ she has BO and is terribly self conscience about it. BO seems to get worse as a person gets older.
2016-04-01 23:52:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When i was in High School there was a kid who smelled like BO if BO had died and rotted for like a month, and so we just got little sample shampoos and soaps like from hotel and put a bow on it and handed it to him.. pretty simple
2007-08-25 22:28:16 · answer #4 · answered by Jesse N 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
its sad that you have to do this. wellf if i were you i would get those epople together and all pitch in for stuff like that she may not be aware of it. tooth paste etc. and the whle works give her a basket in private and talk to her as gentle as you can and tell her. i am sure some day she willappreicate it.
2007-08-29 16:34:30 · answer #5 · answered by Tsunami 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
write an anonymous letter or, send out an office wide memo to everyone reguarding the company hygine policy.
2007-08-25 18:34:34 · answer #6 · answered by Jaimee B 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Leave anonymous note.
2007-08-25 19:19:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not unless you want a hefty lawsuit on your hands.
2007-08-25 18:30:38 · answer #8 · answered by RedRabbit 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you don't need to do that.. its up to your boss to handle it..if he takes her to office he can tell her alone and no one needs to know about it.
2007-08-25 18:40:26 · answer #9 · answered by Kat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your boss, not you, should handle that
Do not do your boss's dirty laundry
2007-08-25 18:32:31 · answer #10 · answered by Navyexwife 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋