How do you tell somebody they stink?
How do you tell somebody they stink?
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Discussion

AdamIndy

Original Poster:

1,661 posts

134 months

Thursday 30th August 2018
quotequote all
As the title suggests really, there’s a chap at work, nice enough but a moody bd at times. He reeks. Like full on “I haven’t washed myself or my clothes for months” reeks.

To put it into perspective, today, I walked into our small office which myself and 3 others use a couple of times per week. I saw him walk out of there 10 minutes earlier and hoped the smell wouldn’t have subsided. I was wrong. The stench hit me like Mike Tyson smacking me in the face with a rancid kipper. Something needs to be done as I can’t even go in there anymore and I’ve chosen to do my paperwork on a bench outside.

So, people of PH, what do you suggest? Just telling him “you fking reek mate, have a bath for fk sake” won’t go down well. How can I tell him nicely to not be so shy of using some soap?

Fill his lunch bag with shower gel? Have a pallet of deodorant delivered to his house? Maybe that’s not subtle enough.

Anyway, please feel free to add your stories/experiences of your fellow stinking work mates. I can’t be the only one in this situation.laugh

talksthetorque

10,821 posts

165 months

Thursday 30th August 2018
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One to delegate to his line manager.

signed A.Coward.


Purity14

1,919 posts

175 months

Thursday 30th August 2018
quotequote all
Pull to one side.
Tell them that yourself and other people find their body odour offensive.
Suggest antiperspirant over deodorant.
Hand them a can of quality spray, and say that you have brought this in, just for them - try to not make a scene about it and play it down.
Shame will kick in, and they will begin washing and smelling nice.

If that fails, then its time for humiliation.



Europa1

10,923 posts

218 months

Thursday 30th August 2018
quotequote all
I'm sure there's been a thread on this before.

anonymous-user

84 months

Thursday 30th August 2018
quotequote all
Get one of the useless bints in HR to deal with it.

I managed a coder, who stunk like he had died 3 weeks ago. We tried everything but nothing worked and the useless bint from HR advised we couldnt expense a tin bath and give him a possing in the car park., so we stuck him in a broom cupboard. He loved his new office and we didn't have to smell him and he knocked out brilliant code.

condor

8,837 posts

278 months

Thursday 30th August 2018
quotequote all
talksthetorque said:
One to delegate to his line manager.

signed A.Coward.
Indeed - that's often an interview question when someone strives for promotion to manager

Pericoloso

44,044 posts

193 months

Thursday 30th August 2018
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Anonymous email......moan

ApOrbital

10,590 posts

148 months

Thursday 30th August 2018
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What he said send a email saves him being embarrassed.

PositronicRay

29,015 posts

213 months

Thursday 30th August 2018
quotequote all
Send a link to this thread.

anonymous-user

84 months

Thursday 30th August 2018
quotequote all
Just start stinking yourself! Think how much you'll save in water/washing machine/soap/deodorant bills!

james-witton

1,363 posts

137 months

Thursday 30th August 2018
quotequote all
Vandenberg said:
Get one of the useless bints in HR to deal with it.

I managed a coder, who stunk like he had died 3 weeks ago. We tried everything but nothing worked and the useless bint from HR advised we couldnt expense a tin bath and give him a possing in the car park., so we stuck him in a broom cupboard. He loved his new office and we didn't have to smell him and he knocked out brilliant code.
I’m one of those useless bints.
Get his manager to speak to him. Say his personal hygiene Is causing a problem in the office. Explain that it is at a level that is causing disquiet amongst his colleagues. Make it quite clear that he has an obligation to attend work in an appropriate condition.
That SHOULD be enough to embarrass him into changing.
If it doesn’t you just treat it as any other form of misconduct.
It’s not a nice thing to do but that is the managers job. To manage. I’m sure HR will help if there is a HR department.

dudleybloke

20,553 posts

216 months

Thursday 30th August 2018
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Wear a respirator when near him.

Stella Tortoise

3,159 posts

173 months

Thursday 30th August 2018
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'Jesus Christ mate, you're doing a bit'

tbourner

129 posts

101 months

Thursday 30th August 2018
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I don't think a manager would have a problem with doing it.

threespires

4,466 posts

241 months

Thursday 30th August 2018
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I had this problem with one of the new cars sales chaps & wondered how to tell him. I chickened out & asked the sales manager to tell him. He just went over to Mr Smelly's desk & said to him - You effin stink!

At another dealership sometimes the girl on the pumps arrived at work reeking. Rather than say anything, I popped into town, bought some femfresh, put it in a brown paper bag and gave it to her.

silverfoxcc

8,467 posts

175 months

Thursday 30th August 2018
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AS you wak past him just say 'Fuuuuuuuuuck' and faint in a heap

zarjaz1991

6,844 posts

153 months

Thursday 30th August 2018
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silverfoxcc said:
AS you wak past him just say 'Fuuuuuuuuuck' and faint in a heap
I think this method will be the best.

J4CKO

46,879 posts

230 months

Thursday 30th August 2018
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We had a bloke at GMP who stank, got told and cleaned up his act, then got arrested for being a peado, so the whole stinking bit was secondary to bumming 12 year old boys and having a PC full of kiddie porn, he did smell cleaner but only in the way Mushroom soup smells better than unwashed arse, not sure how anyone can smell like Mushroom soup having showered, as far as I am aware there is no Lynx/Heinz tie in.

Another lady I worked with used to pong of sweaty fannies (sorry, but that is how it was) in hot weather, remember losing my composure when a colleague leans over and says "**** is a bit gamey today"


m3jappa

6,949 posts

248 months

Thursday 30th August 2018
quotequote all
Stella Tortoise said:
'Jesus Christ mate, you're doing a bit'
Pretty much this. I would say and have said in the past words to the effect of 'fk me, kicking up a bit today mate isn't it' hehe

Horrendous to be around and i can't work out how people can't work out they fking stink so badly it stops others being able to operate normally.

paua

8,953 posts

173 months

Thursday 30th August 2018
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Loud stage whisper - "water's not just for drinking, you know". Makes the occasional red face in supermarket queue.