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So far it's only been one day he smelled, right? He went through hiring and the first day with you without smelling, and the day he met the customer he smelled. Maybe he stepped in crap, or a dead animal. Does he smell today?
I've had a few people smelling bad and obviously not showering enough. One of them, a girl, was under stress and depressed, so her smell varied from day to day depending on how successfully she battled her issues. I would never mention that to her since she had enough dealing with. Other people were just stinky since they either didn't know to shower enough or rarely washed their clothes (especially sweaters in winter). I never had courage and it wasn't my place to tell them anything, but I avoided them as much as I could, and I am sure they noticed that. Some people can be really clueless and dense though. I have no problem telling my spouse or children to go take a shower which thankfully is not often and they only skip it when dead tired, but all other people just make me suffer in silence. As a manager though I fear you would have to mention something to that employee if it repels customers, especially if it's a really bad breath, this is the killer.
I am usually a very clean person who showers twice daily. One time at school I suddenly found myself terribly stinking. I think I probably stepped into a skunk or something it was that bad, not a body odor but some horrible stench I never had before. It doesn't help that I am very sensitive to smells. No-one mentioned it to me, but I could tell they knew. I was extremely embarrassed as it was, and if someone had said something, it would have been absolutely devastating to me at that time. But it was a one time occurrence only and never happened again. Still don't know what that was.
Wishing you courage to tackle this delicate matter if the stinky business continues.
In theory but good luck with that. We had complaints on an employee who really over did the perfume, called HR and they threw it right back on me saying oh yes we realize that can be a difficult conversation, good luck.
Most HR depts. are totally worthless.
So are managers if they're passing the buck and expecting another department to do the heavy lifting every time something is difficult.
Some people don't know (which I think is crazy). I had a friend who would ride his bike to work every day. Yes, sweaty stinky sit and work. I mentioned it to him and he had no idea. Yup. It happens.
Just tell him that he smells and be over with it. This whole " don't want to hurt someone's feelings" thing has gone too far. You're a professional, carry yourself like one.
Someone on here said something about mentioning that it may be a medical condition. Do not say that. That will get you in trouble.
As a manager myself I would say " I've had some concerns about the smell that you are bringing into the office and wanted to make sure you were aware of it." Done and Done. The rest of it is up to that person.
There are a few smokers in my office. A couple of them REALLY smell of cigarette smoke all the time, especially when they come back from breaks. One in particular, NEVER smells like cigarette smoke, but I know she smokes.
For those people who smell like smoke? I ask them not to come in my office because the smell irritates me and makes it hard for me to breathe. They all comply. If they have something to say, they stand at my office door.
Ugh...nothing worse than a stinky co-worker. Polite but direct confrontation is the best way to handle it. If the employee comes in again smelly, it needs to be addressed. Touchy situation, but necessary.
"I'm not sure if it is hygiene issue or maybe something in your clothes, but there is an odor coming from you that several people have complained about. Please make sure you bathe regularly and wear clean clothes to work".
Once it's done, it is up to the employee to rectify the situation. Good luck.
As a person who sweats alot and only bathes every other day, since i'm not employed it's not bothering anyone. When i was working as a machinist a female co-worker snuck up behind me and sprayed me with a fragrance. I was not emberrassed because I knew i tend to sweat alot and that causes a stink. And I'm not the kind of person that wears cologne. So maybe your co-worker doesn't know he has BO, but chances are he already does know but thinks it's a non-issue and it shouldn't bother anyone. In your case what i would do is get a spray air freshener and spray it around the office.
There are a few smokers in my office. A couple of them REALLY smell of cigarette smoke all the time, especially when they come back from breaks. One in particular, NEVER smells like cigarette smoke, but I know she smokes.
For those people who smell like smoke? I ask them not to come in my office because the smell irritates me and makes it hard for me to breathe. They all comply. If they have something to say, they stand at my office door.
Smokers don't realize just how far that smell goes. Plus its not just smell but a little passive smoking.
As a manager, i have had to do this on several occasions over my career. All you can do is politely and professionally explain that he needed to bath more frequently and consider the use of deodorant. they always say they have never been told anything like this before and are positive they don't smell.
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