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by AliasAnonymous on February 13th, 2007

AliasAnonymous

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My co-worker smells so bad, it's making my work enviornment uncomfortable. I've told my boss, but he doesn't want to hurt his feelings. What do I do?

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Answers. 19 helpful answers below.

  • by Jenniferocious on February 13th, 2007

    Jenniferocious

    I suggest talking to your Human Resources representative.

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  • by Fashionista on February 4th, 2009

    Fashionista

    It is your bosses responsibility to make sure your working environment is suitable and comfortable to work in, and that includes ensuring that staff do not smell offensive, keep themselves presentable, etc.

    If he refuses to do anything, he isn't doing his job properly and you should go above his head. If he is your HR rep, go to the rep above him. If you can't do that talk to your area manager, or similar, etc etc. This goes beyong 'offending' him, as this person if offending you!

    Your boss may not have a problem with excessive BO but he needs to be aware that other people, most people, find it unbearable.

    If anything still isn't done, try leaving subtle hints on your collegaues desk, like a mystery parcel of deodorant, shower gel, etc. It shouldn't have to come to this though.

    Best of luck!

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  • by MG1942 Has a Life Penguin on February 4th, 2009

    MG1942 Has a Life Penguin

    In the service, we would take a guy like that into the showers and clean them with a deck brush and floor soap
    (institutional floor soap has a good bit of lye in it, and it burns a little). They usually got the message after that.

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  • by dr asif bly on February 4th, 2009

    dr asif bly

    u should talk to him and give him some suggestion.

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  • by Theby on February 4th, 2009

    Theby

    Put a cake of soap or some deodorant in his drawer. I had a similar situation once and everyone was complaining about the smell. The cake of soap I put in her jacket pocket did wonders!!

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  • by Curious on February 4th, 2009

    Curious

    Discretely put some breath mints, deoderant and perfume/cologne in their area/desk. They may get there feelings hurt, but they will probably get the hint ..

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  • by anddeb on February 4th, 2009

    anddeb

    Tell the person that you like him as a person , but that he need to do something about his body odor. Better to speak up now, before it gets worse.

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  • by Anonymous on February 4th, 2009

    Anonymous

    Say, "Hey, dude, here's a piece of gum." That might help A LITTLE. Then keep offering soap, shampoo, lotion, body sprays, cologne, etc. Hopefully they'll get the idea.

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  • by mir_ny on February 4th, 2009

    mir_ny

    I have this same problem. I bought an air freshener and spray it anytime the smell overwhelms me or she passes by and her odor hits me in the face. :-(

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  • by MixedBabe on February 4th, 2009

    MixedBabe

    If you are gutsy enough, you could say "Don't stand too close to me, I'm starting to feel sick and I think I'm about to vomit."

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  • by Mikeisha on February 4th, 2009

    Mikeisha

    Put his funky ass in the shower!

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  • by GothTroubleMaker on February 4th, 2009

    GothTroubleMaker

    Quick fix Spray stuff when he's not looking.

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  • by Tenaciouscj on February 4th, 2009

    Tenaciouscj

    Could you get together a group of your workmates and all go to the see the boss and tell them the smell is making your working environment unbearable? If that's no good, then I suggest getting together a basket of toiletries for the smelly co-worker - soap, deodorant, toothpaste, mouthwash, etc.

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  • by elaine2angel on February 4th, 2009

    elaine2angel

    iv had this problem when i have worked with Asian workers, some dont believe in deodrant (im not being nasty, i actually asked one Asian guy once, im not one to hold back!!!) It wouldnt bother them what you said either, i can only suggest you take in one of those on the desk air freshners, obviously not one that you spray directly at them either!!!! lol

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  • by Ganja_Goddess on February 4th, 2009

    Ganja_Goddess

    I had to deal with this once as well. We let our boss know and she pulled the lady into her office and politely reminded her that our company had dress and hygiene policies that she was to follow. I wouldn't be able to tell someone that but my boss at the time wasn't really one to care about people's feelings. The stinky one started worrying a little more about her stink but ended up quitting a few weeks later. Good luck with that!

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  • by MixedBabe on February 4th, 2009

    MixedBabe

    Put a bar of soap and a stick of deoderant and maybe some mouthwash on his desk.

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  • by budaman on February 4th, 2009

    budaman

    spray him with Axe when hes not looking.

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  • by Kenz on February 4th, 2009

    Kenz

    Have a pool party?-Lmao,,,...(Make sure you put soap in the pool ; )

    Or just tell him the truth ask him about this question tell him someone eles smells bad and then be like what would you want me to do??-Then say he smells bad and run offr ; )

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  • by ChuckExAnon on February 4th, 2009

    ChuckExAnon

    Keep your eye out for an opening working under a boss that's qualifed to be a boss. Yours sure isn't! Like your co-worker, your boss "stinks", too!

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