Workmate personal hygiene issues
Discussion
I'm not an expert, but my approach would be to request a formal meeting with your manager and HR / Occupational Health.
This will do one of two things:
1. Your manager will actually do something about it for fear of HR becoming aware that he's not done anything to date - I get the impression from your comments that he's likely just ignoring the problem and hoping it will go away.
2. HR / Occupational Health will get involved and advise you what can actually be done.
This will do one of two things:
1. Your manager will actually do something about it for fear of HR becoming aware that he's not done anything to date - I get the impression from your comments that he's likely just ignoring the problem and hoping it will go away.
2. HR / Occupational Health will get involved and advise you what can actually be done.
24lemons said:
Well it appears Santa didn’t bring any cleaning products to my colleague sadly. She smells worse than ever and we all had a word with our supervisor again yesterday only to be given excuses about possible medical reasons.
According to colleagues who went to the Xmas dinner, where she was present, there was no smell at all so it appears that she can clean up when she wants to.
As I am sat on the next desk to her, what are my rights in this as I find it severely affects my ability to do my job. I am only new to to it as well and I need to concentrate as I’m still learning. I feel I cannot do this at present.
I'll say it again -speak to HR.According to colleagues who went to the Xmas dinner, where she was present, there was no smell at all so it appears that she can clean up when she wants to.
As I am sat on the next desk to her, what are my rights in this as I find it severely affects my ability to do my job. I am only new to to it as well and I need to concentrate as I’m still learning. I feel I cannot do this at present.
Mention it again first to your supervisor and say that if he doesn't mention to HR you have no option but to mention it to them yourself.
If you ( or he) doesn't want to do this then your only other options appear to be a) find someone who is friends with her to think about saying something ,b)carry smelling salts around with you or c) leave - the last 2 options seem drastic and probably only to be considered if the HR piece has been tried and failed.
JQ said:
Speak to the manager and demand to know what exactly is being done and when things will improve.
We had someone similar in our office and they were spoken to very directly and told what needed to happen going forwards. Matter was resolved in 24 hours. I suspect your manager is scared to have the conversation.
Exactly what happened in a case I had. The problem was the guy was cycling 6 or so miles in every day in his work clothes and some awful non breathable waterproofs. Then not changing his clothes at work or seemingly every day! We had someone similar in our office and they were spoken to very directly and told what needed to happen going forwards. Matter was resolved in 24 hours. I suspect your manager is scared to have the conversation.
Email was dispatched to my manager who promptly responded saying he didn't want to get involved and it was for us (as his peers) to tell the guy his hygiene wasn't good. I pointed out that could be considered bullying. He didn't reply. Then a few days later asked if I'd aired my concerns to the colleague. When I said I hadn't. He basically told me he wouldn't be doing anything.
Over time I've come to realise that this "manager" approach to everything is delegation. Everything, even the non trivial stuff he should be involved in with, he delegates to his number 2 (who is a kiss arse!) And he gets the hump if you put things in emails as a colleague found out! Doesn't want the paper trail as it will show him up as not listening!!
simon_harris said:
As a manager the worst conversation I ever had to have was with a team member that had a BO problem. When I sat him down and raised the issue his first response was "I know" he then went on to explain that as a YTS he couldn't afford the bus fare so had to walk to work every day (about 7 miles) and because he was living with his parents, girlfriend and very young baby it was difficult to get a bath every day (no shower in the house) but he did have a sink wash every day.
His biggest concern was that we were going to release him (he was from a poor background and saw getting into IT as his only route to improving his life chances). From that day on I paid for his bus fare and made sure there was always some deodorant in his desk. and the problem went away. Sad thing is I can't even remember his name now! I hope he went on to do well.
yep not a nice conversation and sometimes there are reasons behind it. I had a few complaints about a woman in her 50's so I asked her line manager to have a informal chat. it wasn't really a BO smell just a horrible strong stale. Line manager came back and said the lady just burst into tears as she went on to explain basically her husband was a sHis biggest concern was that we were going to release him (he was from a poor background and saw getting into IT as his only route to improving his life chances). From that day on I paid for his bus fare and made sure there was always some deodorant in his desk. and the problem went away. Sad thing is I can't even remember his name now! I hope he went on to do well.
t house and took her wages for gambling and drinking and a bit of domestic abuse going on also. There was no money for washing powder or soap. Always thought she was a bit odd but made sense when I found out. I sorted a bag of ladies smellies for her and told line manager to sort her out every month with whatever she needed within reason. Apparently she was a bit teary when given it, small things mean a lot to some. she never smelt bad again either. 2nd one I dealt with I had a conversation. kept it informal and just had a chat and then discussed training to move it on and have a joke. Tried not to make a big thing of it. She was suffering from stress which didnt help.
3rd one was one of the lads deciding gaming was more important than showering. He'd turn up to work pungent and having a weak gag reflex there was no way I was having him in my office if I could help it. We had weekly team meetings so I brought it up about personal hygiene and about the comments flying about. Didnt mention names but it improved, not 100% but a big improvement.
Nethybridge said:
I suppose it depends on the workplace square footage,
large expanse of open plan or teeny small offices ?
but how can a brace of oxters, however rank, permeate the
entire airspace of a work environment to the
point of people feeling ill ?
Come off !
I'm sorry, I think a fair amount of OCD outrage and exaggeration is at work here.
A good anecdote always requires a bit of embellishment on retelling.
An office of 8 people, even open plan, isn't likely to be huge. Add to that the possibility that you can't open windows etc, and they're sitting close to them, those 2 oxters and the other cocktail would easily fill the air.large expanse of open plan or teeny small offices ?
but how can a brace of oxters, however rank, permeate the
entire airspace of a work environment to the
point of people feeling ill ?
Come off !
I'm sorry, I think a fair amount of OCD outrage and exaggeration is at work here.
A good anecdote always requires a bit of embellishment on retelling.
I know it would be an issue with me, and we can in theory seat roughly 20. To the best of my knowledge I don't stink, but our building is often far too hot, so I'll mention the topic at work just in case.
24lemons said:
The other one though, it’s like a mix of wet dog, anal glands, mothballs and vinegar. It stings the nostrils!
I worked with someone like this 30 years ago, although he opted for stinky cheese instead of vinegar. When he changed roles, his company car was passed on to a female colleague who refused to drive it due to the ingrained aroma, and odd staining in the seats (he must have secreted this foul stench in a liquid form.....).
Even after being valeted twice, the car was dispossed of after a few weeks...
BunkMoreland said:
JQ said:
Speak to the manager and demand to know what exactly is being done and when things will improve.
We had someone similar in our office and they were spoken to very directly and told what needed to happen going forwards. Matter was resolved in 24 hours. I suspect your manager is scared to have the conversation.
Exactly what happened in a case I had. The problem was the guy was cycling 6 or so miles in every day in his work clothes and some awful non breathable waterproofs. Then not changing his clothes at work or seemingly every day! We had someone similar in our office and they were spoken to very directly and told what needed to happen going forwards. Matter was resolved in 24 hours. I suspect your manager is scared to have the conversation.
Email was dispatched to my manager who promptly responded saying he didn't want to get involved and it was for us (as his peers) to tell the guy his hygiene wasn't good. I pointed out that could be considered bullying. He didn't reply. Then a few days later asked if I'd aired my concerns to the colleague. When I said I hadn't. He basically told me he wouldn't be doing anything.
Over time I've come to realise that this "manager" approach to everything is delegation. Everything, even the non trivial stuff he should be involved in with, he delegates to his number 2 (who is a kiss arse!) And he gets the hump if you put things in emails as a colleague found out! Doesn't want the paper trail as it will show him up as not listening!!
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