Really smelly colleague, unsure what to do!

Sambucus_Nigra

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.

Recommended by whom?

This sort of petrified management stinks. Worse than the OP's colleague.

The manager needs to address it, with the colleague in a face to face meeting. No catch all memos, no asking colleague; just good old fashioned management. That's what she is paid to do.,

Pricivius

In my experience, recommended by HR and employment lawyers as a first step. A reminder to all can do no harm and may be enough without embarrassing anyone or singling people out.

gardner1

just be upfront

tell him he stinks and give him a bar of soap.....

Sambucus_Nigra

Pricivius wrote: »

In my experience, recommended by HR and employment lawyers as a first step. A reminder to all can do no harm and may be enough without embarrassing anyone or singling people out.

Really?

Have you got any evidence of that?

All my management training says manage, not hide behind blanket memos.

Pricivius

What evidence do I need of my own experience? I've not suggested it's in statute, case law, ACAS guidance or any other officialdom but my own personal experience. The OP asked for suggestions and I have offered what has previously either worked, or at least been used as a first step in my own experience. You may not agree and your experience may well be different but it does not invalidate my experience.

Tiddlywinks

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.

This is the cowards' way to manage... in this kind of situation, a manager needs to be sensitive BUT still address the issue rather than issue 'hints' in the form of a memo.

If the individual does not have the awareness to know how they smell then they will not have the awareness to know that any generic memo refers to them.

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

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

OP - why not print this booklet from ACAS (which outlines how to deal with difficult conversations) and then hand it to the manager along with a quiet and polite request that they address the issue.

thegirlintheattic

[QUOTE=Charityworker;58661499_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.[/QUOTE]

So everyone else has to gag on your perfume. Lots of perfume is about as bad as BO.

Sambucus_Nigra

Pricivius wrote: »

What evidence do I need of my own experience? I've not suggested it's in statute, case law, ACAS guidance or any other officialdom but my own personal experience. The OP asked for suggestions and I have offered what has previously either worked, or at least been used as a first step in my own experience. You may not agree and your experience may well be different but it does not invalidate my experience.

If it's been recommended to you as a management practice - I'm interested. Because I am a keen learner and want to know what good practice models this method comes from.

If it's just you saying you have experienced managers do it - that's a different matter. But you said it had been recommended...hence asking.

Evilm

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

So everyone else has to gag on your perfume. Lots of perfume is about as bad as BO.

I agree with you here - the naturally bad smell of BO is far less likely to effect me than the unnatural smells caused by perfumes (which can even make me unwell if they are strong enough). applying extra perfume to cover someone else's stink just punishes everyone else - especially those with Allergies!

This needs to be dealt with head on by the management not weaseled out of.

Pricivius

From an employment law perspective, there is no harm in issuing a memo to all staff. it can also help if the offender tries to suggest they were not aware of the policy they are breaking (less likely in this instance, I appreciate). It can also serve as an ice-breaker to the 1to1 conversation if it still has to be had - did you see the memo I sent last week? It had come to my attention that a few people's personal presentation was below par so I issued a reminder to all. Etc...

This also prevents the individual suggesting he is being picked on and singled out from the outset - it is unlikely that everyone else is perfect and he is the only one with any issues (shoes not polished, top button undone, shirt untucked or not ironed etc...).

If a company came to me saying that they had raised the issue with the individual, among the first questions I would ask would be - was he aware of the policy? When was he last reminded of the policy? Is everyone else perfectly presented at all times? People are naturally defensive when challenged. The other issues to bear in mind are potential discrimination in terms of mental health issues.

It may be viewed as the coward's approach, if you like. However, there is always more than one way to skin a cat. People's personalities must be considered. I am naturally risk averse and cannot see the harm in a general memo. It gives everyone a reminder, may solve the issue and everyone can see that steps are being taken.