5 ms·

Not trying to sound mean with this suggestion, and I know it’s easier said than done, but have you considered telling him? It will be awkward, but walking arou

by nxc18 9y ago

Not trying to sound mean with this suggestion, and I know it’s easier said than done, but have you considered telling him? It will be awkward, but walking around smelling is going to hurt him in all areas of his life.

abawany 9y ago
It takes a bit of something-something in terms of communications, which I probably lack. I once asked a person (nicely, I thought) with BO, loud chewing, and unfettered burping to reconsider and he started screaming at me instead. Be careful, is all I can say.
- ficklepickle 9y ago
  This is what the human resources department is for. If a few people mention it, they will have to do something. And you don't have to risk getting yelled at.
  - astura 9y ago
    Yep, exactly. We had a guy at a previous job of mine (food service) who (almost certainly) didn't wear deodorant and it became an HR issue. His roommate (who also worked with us) said he did shower.
    - dorfsmay 9y ago
      Showered every day? Unless the person in question had a medical condition... I find this very hard to believe. There are a lot of cultures where people don't use deodorant but wash every day (and more if doing sports etc... And it's not an issue).
    - coatmatter 9y ago
      Morning, evening or both?
  - abawany 9y ago
    I wish I had done that but getting HR involved seemed like the nuclear option to me, especially for something the person may not have known about. I had approached the team manager but he, in spite of frequent rants about the evils of political correctness, didn't wish to act since he thought it was due to what he called 'culture'. Unpleasant business all around. I loved the technology and product at that workplace but such awkward situations ensured that I moved on as quickly as I got the opportunity to do so.
    - astura 9y ago
      HR doesn't punish him, they talk to him about it and why its a problem.
  - DoreenMichele 9y ago
    I worked at a big corporation. It was against the rules to comment on body odor of a coworker because of an incident where the team got together to give someone perfume and soap and such and try to nicely tell her she smelled. Turned out she had a medical condition and it was not a hygiene issue and she was incredibly upset. HR sided with her.
- wiz21c 9y ago
  Got one such colleague, and she farts all day too... I can live with it but some are getting mad :-)
remir 9y ago
Well, to be honest with you, I don't really know how to tell him. Perhaps it would be easier if we came from the same culture, but we don't and I don't want to sound patronizing or anything.
- xoa 9y ago
  >Well, to be honest with you, I don't really know how to tell him. To both you and abawany: maybe just send a polite, anonymous email (make a one time use gmail or something)? Like a personal version of the public service whistleblower, this is the sort of situation that seems like a good fit. A simple "Hey, I see you fairly regularly and..." type of thing, that they're a nice person and you're worried they might not notice this and don't want them to be embarrassed. I do agree that a (perceived) lack of personal hygiene can hamper people in subtle ways socially and in turn professionally, and it's possible that they could never realize why. If they're a decent enough person that's a real shame, and a quick equivalent of "Your fly is unzipped" could be a real benefit long term.
  - remir 9y ago
    This is a great idea and I like this anonymous approach. Thanks!
    - IIIIIIIIIIIIIII 9y ago
      IMO this is one of the worst suggestions. Imagine you get an email from anonymous person at your workplace. This is about as awkward for workplace culture as it gets. Knowing that there is some guy a) who thinks that you stink, and b) who is not man enough to actually talk to you and instead sends an anonymous message, and c) you have to continue to work with that person, d) but you don't know who it is. Any of your coworkers could be that socially challenged person afraid to talk openly and taking such a ridiculous route. Either you find the guts to and talk about it openly or you let it slide. I'd much prefer you take the first route. I consider this part of being an adult. It's only awkward if you make it so in the first place.

by nxc18 9y ago

abawany 9y ago

It takes a bit of something-something in terms of communications, which I probably lack. I once asked a person (nicely, I thought) with BO, loud chewing, and unfettered burping to reconsider and he started screaming at me instead. Be careful, is all I can say.

ficklepickle 9y ago
This is what the human resources department is for. If a few people mention it, they will have to do something. And you don't have to risk getting yelled at.
- astura 9y ago
  Yep, exactly. We had a guy at a previous job of mine (food service) who (almost certainly) didn't wear deodorant and it became an HR issue. His roommate (who also worked with us) said he did shower.
  - dorfsmay 9y ago
    Showered every day? Unless the person in question had a medical condition... I find this very hard to believe. There are a lot of cultures where people don't use deodorant but wash every day (and more if doing sports etc... And it's not an issue).
  - coatmatter 9y ago
    Morning, evening or both?
- abawany 9y ago
  I wish I had done that but getting HR involved seemed like the nuclear option to me, especially for something the person may not have known about. I had approached the team manager but he, in spite of frequent rants about the evils of political correctness, didn't wish to act since he thought it was due to what he called 'culture'. Unpleasant business all around. I loved the technology and product at that workplace but such awkward situations ensured that I moved on as quickly as I got the opportunity to do so.
  - astura 9y ago
    HR doesn't punish him, they talk to him about it and why its a problem.
- DoreenMichele 9y ago
  I worked at a big corporation. It was against the rules to comment on body odor of a coworker because of an incident where the team got together to give someone perfume and soap and such and try to nicely tell her she smelled. Turned out she had a medical condition and it was not a hygiene issue and she was incredibly upset. HR sided with her.
wiz21c 9y ago
Got one such colleague, and she farts all day too... I can live with it but some are getting mad :-)

remir 9y ago

Well, to be honest with you, I don't really know how to tell him. Perhaps it would be easier if we came from the same culture, but we don't and I don't want to sound patronizing or anything.

xoa 9y ago
>Well, to be honest with you, I don't really know how to tell him. To both you and abawany: maybe just send a polite, anonymous email (make a one time use gmail or something)? Like a personal version of the public service whistleblower, this is the sort of situation that seems like a good fit. A simple "Hey, I see you fairly regularly and..." type of thing, that they're a nice person and you're worried they might not notice this and don't want them to be embarrassed. I do agree that a (perceived) lack of personal hygiene can hamper people in subtle ways socially and in turn professionally, and it's possible that they could never realize why. If they're a decent enough person that's a real shame, and a quick equivalent of "Your fly is unzipped" could be a real benefit long term.
- remir 9y ago
  This is a great idea and I like this anonymous approach. Thanks!
  - IIIIIIIIIIIIIII 9y ago
    IMO this is one of the worst suggestions. Imagine you get an email from anonymous person at your workplace. This is about as awkward for workplace culture as it gets. Knowing that there is some guy a) who thinks that you stink, and b) who is not man enough to actually talk to you and instead sends an anonymous message, and c) you have to continue to work with that person, d) but you don't know who it is. Any of your coworkers could be that socially challenged person afraid to talk openly and taking such a ridiculous route. Either you find the guts to and talk about it openly or you let it slide. I'd much prefer you take the first route. I consider this part of being an adult. It's only awkward if you make it so in the first place.