Bob Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 . . . question somebody else's? I have a new guy sits near me, fairly high-up job, well-to-do, married with kids, etc. and to put it mildly, he stinks. I thought maybe he was staying in digs without a shower and bereft of deodorant. 3 days on and that can't be the case. Suffice to say, I find it much more pleasant to sit with the window open. I must, however, point out that I am currently working on a construction contract for Leicester's main sewage treatment works. Yes, it's that bad. So a question to you learned people - would it be rude to break it to someone that they give off an undesirable odour? How would you go about informing them, bearing that office relations have to stay at a bearable level? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazz1 Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 bring some spray in and offer him some whilst you spray yourself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Thats a tough one... Either he suffers the embarrassment, or you suffer the smell... You could just leave a tin of deoderant on his desk, maybe he gets the idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkey76364 Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Leave a can of deodarant on his desk for the next day and say you have no idea where it came from lol !!!! Is always hard to tell some one that they smell or any thing like that !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARTIN R Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Just tell him, he stinks Honesty is the best policy:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitesupraboy2 Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 we had this recently at work, a new guy started and he stunk, we all complained to our manager and after a month or so our manager said ok ill say something. So the day manager decided to say something pulls him into the office. Guy comes out and he had handed his notice, manager was quite relieved he didnt get to say anything sorry doesnt help in this case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraStar 3000 Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 bring some spray in and offer him some whilst you spray yourself I like Jazz's idea! Hold on! I work in Leicester. Its not me is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ross Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 How about giving him some of those magic trees to hang under his pits? Or maybe buy a shite load to hang round your desk? Failing that just tell him to his face. He smells like a shithouse door handle off a fishermans trawler. Maybe he'll get the hint. There's always clothes pegs for your nose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazz1 Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 dont know how people can go to work without being fresh, i always have a shower every morning even if im running late for work. This girl at work said she has a shower before she goes bed and not in the morning, to me thats sick as anyone could sweat overnight and smell of bio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSupra Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Ask him when his birthday is, or wait til the next opportunity to give him a present. I used to work for a company and i had the same thing - this girl who sat next to me stunk of undesirable odours, and we all chipped in, bought a deoderant and perfume set, wrapped it up and left it on her desk. She left the very next week, claiming harrassment....oops..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbo Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 See your boss and let him/her deal with it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Bring in a can of "oust" just spray it in his direction, he will soon get the hint. Also just say " oi whats that smell, damnnnnnn it stinks" see him try to blame something else and hopefully the next day he will be refreshed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penguin Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 hmm .... i'd say "mate - can you smell something?" - "shit i forgot to shower this morning".... if he's worth his salt he'll get the hint ... otherwise you claim sexual haressment - job done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Just take them to one side and say. These people don't know. Hinting is often a waste of time as they don't realise they smell. Whatever you do, don't do it in front of other people. We've had to deal with a few in the past, it was difficult first time, but now we just tell 'em straight away. "I don't know if you're aware of it, but you smell. Can you do something about it please?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Rob_ Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 oooh, could be a touchy subject...you never know he may be allergic to the stuff the they use in deoderants and soaps, therefore cant use them. there was a girl when we were at school with this problem, she reeked! and she got some stick for it too. it was a shame for her really! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonkin Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 See your boss and let him/her deal with it!! do exactly this! Have a word with your boss/HR, thats what they are there for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 do exactly this! Have a word with your boss/HR, thats what they are there for That's the kind of crap I end up doing. B@stards! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraStar 3000 Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 dont know how people can go to work without being fresh, i always have a shower every morning even if im running late for work. This girl at work said she has a shower before she goes bed and not in the morning, to me thats sick as anyone could sweat overnight and smell of bio Call me Mr Stinky but I'm a bath at night man. None of this splash and dash sh1t for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 You don't smell unless you haven't washed or are wearing dirty clothes. My step-dad never wears deodorant due to allergies but he never ever smells, after all BO is only stale sweat not fresh stuff. We have someone here that temps for us occasionally. She's such a lovely lady but she clearly doesn't wash, brush her teeth, shave (yes, she has excess facial and body hair) or clean under her finger nails (you don't even want to know about when she's wearing open toed shoes). I don't think anyone ever says anything to her because we're all too scared. I think if I had to share a room with her on a daily basis though I would. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisSZ Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Tell him - he's affecting your working environment!! Even if he does have allergies, he won't be allergic to warm water or clean clothes!! I have to deal with this all the time with my students - I tend to be subtle first then more blunt :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penguin Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Call me Mr Stinky but I'm a bath at night man. None of this splash and dash sh1t for me i believe the term is "wash and go" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jase_93tt Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Honesty is the best policy for such a sensitive issue and dont beat about the bush. If it was one of my staff, I would ask him into my office, and as difficult as it would be to raise the subject, I would first find out if he has a personal hygiene problem (he could have a long-term medical related problem that is causing the odour, so not necessarily lack of cleanliness in general), and take it from there. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colsoop Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Tell whoever is the HR person, you don't want to be accused of harrasement do you ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Let HR deal with it. That's what they're paid for... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewen Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Tough love needed. Tell him straight out, in private, and temper it with summat along the lines of the fact that you yourself would appreciate it if it was you in similar circumstances. Depending on your office protocols, you may want to e-mail your intent to the HR / Personnel dept first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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