Really smelly colleague, unsure what to do!

Charityworker

I work with people with mild learning difficulties and get used to the smell of sweat and wee. I have a very low gag reflex and sometimes cant hold it in. Apparantly its against their 'human right' for us to ask them to wash. Never mind our human right to breathe clean air. The way I get round it is to wear lots of perfume and spray some on my sleeve so if things get really bad you can make out your about to sneeze and have a sniff of it.

scooby088

In my experience it is always best to be upfront about this, how will he know if he isn't told. Also agree it's better coming from a manager rather than a co worker. If the manager can't do it, go higher than her.

exarmydreamer

Whilst I was serving, I had to deal with a smelly private soldier who always came in unkept and smelly. I, as his line manager told him straight, sent him back to his room and told him to shower (I was a female sergeant). No body else would do it above me, he was fine with me and I never had to repeat it again as he got the message.

As a student, he may not have the cash for soap etc but if he loses his job he's going to find life a lot harder. Just tell him you have been asked to speak to him and that the customers have noticed the smell.:D

scheming_gypsy

We used to work with somebody who stunk like a tramps y-fronts. We just kept putting complaints in with the manager, but that was because we didn't like the manager and knew he was uncomfortable speaking to him about it.

Pricivius

Mistral001 has provided the solution which is usually recommended - memo to all reminding them of the need to uphold standards of personal hygiene and cleanliness in a customer-facing environment, maybe referring to any relevant company policy or handbook.

This should at least be the first step. Perhaps with a note at the bottom that anyone having issues or with queries should address them to a manager or HR.

ILW

Pricivius wrote: »

Mistral001 has provided the solution which is usually recommended - memo to all reminding them of the need to uphold standards of personal hygiene and cleanliness in a customer-facing environment, maybe referring to any relevant company policy or handbook.

This should at least be the first step. Perhaps with a note at the bottom that anyone having issues or with queries should address them to a manager or HR.

Surely that is a job for the manager?

Tiddlywinks

Read the ACAS advice:

http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3799

hcb42

Manager should deal, she cannot duck it!

However no harm with a colleague mentioning anything either.

I had to do this once in my first management job, age about 23 or something and the female culprit was a strong character, age about 30. House was awful as well, truly disgusting. Anyway I raised the BO thing with her and she said, Yes I know, I need to do something about it, I will try", went out and bought herself whole new wardrobe of blouses etc and smelled fresh as a new pin thereafter, I was gobsmacked!

bubblegum1985

I would ask the manager of the shop to have a staff meeting with everyone and remind everyone during that meeting about the grooming policy etc.

I don't mean a special meeting but have it as an agenda item.

Should be subtle enough to work.

j.e.j.

Oh dear. Difficult one. I worked in an office where it was actually the manager who stank.

The person above him is the person who needs to deal with it. The OP has no authority, as he is just a colleague. The whiffy guy could easily just ignore him, or could even try and claim harassment. And what if there are other more sensitive issues that are contributing to the problem, like for instance depression, which may result in self neglect.

Nope, it's the manager who needs to tackle this one.