How to tell someone they have BO

Fireflyaway

Its uncomfortable for you but my feeling is you will just have to get on and do it. Saying people have commented / leaving anonymous deodorant will definitely add to the potential embarrassment so I'd assume responsibility and tell him its you that's noticed. I agree to mention it at the end of the shift and also praise the guy for his hard work - this issue is probably a symptom of that after all!
It could be he hasn't noticed. You can't always smell yourself! Or maybe he does but doesn't care. Or there is the third issue ( maybe not in this case as you state he is fresh at the start of a shift) that is depression. I once worked with a lady who had BO and looked generally scruffy. A manager spoke to her and found that a few months before unbeknown to anyone( she was new) she had delivered a still born baby. The poor girl was suffering inside and taking care of herself had just been forgotten about.

annandale

Give him advanced notice of the meeting and allow him to take someone in with him.

Do not surprise someone with a 'chat'. Particularly as he may end up upset.

powerful_Rogue

annandale wrote: »

Give him advanced notice of the meeting and allow him to take someone in with him.

Do not surprise someone with a 'chat'. Particularly as he may end up upset.

Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill!

What's all this talk about a meeting? Just a quick 5 minute informal chat is all that's required.

fairy_lights

powerful_Rogue wrote: »

Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill!

What's all this talk about a meeting? Just a quick 5 minute informal chat is all that's required.

And making it a formal meeting with a witness is only going to make the whole thing more embarrassing for the poor bloke.
The suggestions on how to improve his hygiene seem unnecessary too - he's a grown man and can surely work out what he needs to do once he's aware there's a problem.

takman

annandale wrote: »

Give him advanced notice of the meeting and allow him to take someone in with him.

Do not surprise someone with a 'chat'. Particularly as he may end up upset.

What a stupid suggestion, he isn't in trouble and isn't being disciplined. Planning to have a meeting and saying he can bring someone with him is way OTT.

He just needs to be told their has been reports of his BO so then he has a chance to sort it out. There definetly shouldn't be a formal meeting and this certainly has nothing to do with any kind of workplace union.

Savvy_Sue

annandale wrote: »

Give him advanced notice of the meeting and allow him to take someone in with him.

Do not surprise someone with a 'chat'. Particularly as he may end up upset.

Could you just confirm annandale, that given a choice between

a) a formal letter saying "Dear Fred, we want to talk to you about personal hygiene. Please attending a meeting at this time on this day. You may wish to bring a union rep or a colleague with you."

or

b) an informal chat at the end of the shift along the lines of "Hi Fred, could I have a quick word in the office please?" and then along the lines of "You're a great worker, but sometimes by the end of a shift it seems that you'd benefit from having been able to freshen up. Can we help out with that? You could keep wash supplies and a clean shirt in your locker, and I can give you an extra couple of minutes on your break if necessary."

You, annandale, would choose a)? Just checking, you understand.

Did have a further thought: is it possible that Fred needs a clean shirt at the start of the shift? If this is a uniform shirt supplied by work, does he have enough of them for a clean one each shift? And if it's just a standard shirt of his own, does he have enough for a clean one each shift? Does he come straight to work from home or is he out and about beforehand?

Pickle29

Good points, I still haven't seen him due to his shifts - intend doing it this week and quantity of uniform is not something I have thought of!

I do prefer the quiet chat approach, I have no intention of making it a formal meeting! Thanks

phillw

warby68 wrote: »

mid shift freshen up and we're happy with discreet arrangements for this etc etc.

Yeah, the worst thing you can do is essentially say: "all the other people can cope with not smelling for an entire shift, why can't you?"

Provide facilities and time for everyone to freshen up during the shift, get them all to do it.

NineDeuce

Is this really a topic for discussion?

fairy_lights

Pickle29 wrote: »

Good points, I still haven't seen him due to his shifts - intend doing it this week and quantity of uniform is not something I have thought of!

I do prefer the quiet chat approach, I have no intention of making it a formal meeting! Thanks

Another thought - is his uniform made of polyester? That could explain why he's getting a bit whiffy after a few hours in it.