When a Colleague Stinks, Literally

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  E.Robertson08/08/07 Report as spam
  1

  What if he has no obvious friends?

  The thing that has not been addressed......What if the guy has no friends?
  Been there done that!~
  Since my smelly co-worker had no friends, the crew would leave soaps & deoderants "available" in the locker room - no luck. He would take them but not use them.
  No one else was willing to confront him , but I couldn't stand it anymore and I took it upon myself to say something to the offender. I took him aside where no one would hear and was quite candid (yet polite & concerned) with him. All I got out of that was to have his wife call me and chew me out. (No I am not his boss - only a concerned (and sickened) co-worker. I was told in no uncertain terms that my co-worker did not smell and I was a blankety blank for saying that he did. Still the man comes to work smelling foul...
  What else can we do? How can the boss confront him without a lawsuit?

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  lobowolf08/09/07 Report as spam
  2

  Stink

  If he has no obvious friends, how about your becoming his first friend? Bring up the subject in a friendly manner, so he understands you are trying to help him. Later, he'll thank you for your advice.

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  E.Robertson08/10/07 Report as spam
  3

  pregarding your reply

  Please read the COMPLETE previous message. I did try to talk to him. He did NOT thank me.

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  Suziepoohbie08/13/07 Report as spam
  4

  HR Issue

  I know it is an uncomfortable situation to handle, but should the smelly guy be permitted to present a problem for the rest of the office? It's just like if a person consistently talk's too loud or has an abrassive,offensive personality. Foul odors are just as offensive as foul mouths,perhaps more so. If he doesn't accept the soft approach, it is time to get the boss involved. This is a true HUMAN RELATIONS issue and perhaps that department is best suited to handle it. One way or the other; if someone brings an element into the office that upsets productivity, management should intervene. If the guy can't take constructive criticism, then he should work somewhere where the odor isn't an issue. Or get his wife to take care of him since she enjoys the stinch.