Bad Smell

[booboopoo]

I work in a open plan office and I am perturbed at the smell from coming from a fat colleague, I know that this is due to the hot weather but it makes me feel physically sick, should I tell her or get her suspended until the Autumn.

[kazminx]

oh god i hate that!!! i really dont know what i would do but i think i would let the manager deal with it...saying that, when i was a manager i found that really hard to deal with....good luck!!

[Rufio]

Are you allowed to put a plant on your desk? Get a nice smelling one and position it between you, or potpourri or use a fan to blow the smell away from you. She is probably aware of the smell but there isnt much she can do about it, any hygiene products she uses will just be a poor attempt at covering up the smell not getting rid of it.

[redcrx]

why not take leave for a few weeks so as to avoid the situation?
If i was in a situation where a colleague was having problems in the heat then Id subtly discuss the heat and the fact that everyone is sweating a lot more etc. why not suggest that maybe if shes sweating more than usual that she tries a harder working anti perspirant.

[Trotbot]

If you work in a large company, raise the issue informally with HR, as they should be able to approach the matter tactfully. If you work in a small organisation, perhaps leave a polite, constructive note for them without being personal about it. Put a fan on your desk that blows air away from the person towards you.

I hope that you never give offence to anyone and risk a suspension. It may be that your question is just badly worded, but if you do genuinely believe that getting people suspended is a good option in these circumstances then that is quite sad.

[Backdrifter]

The trouble is, it's just as much a hindrance to your work as an intrusive noise or other sources of irritation. In a previous workplace we had to address this sort of issue a couple of times and in each case it was reported to the manager who willingly spoke to the "offending" person - although that particular manager had no problem doing it, so it depends on the person.

It'd be nice to think we could openly address this; we wouldn't have much problem if we were asking someone to turn down a radio or something but when they stink it's hard to know how to deal with it.

[Loosehead]

The poor woman is probably sitting with a load of freeze arses who are always cold so she probably has to sit there sweating because the air con is off or not working to it's full percentage. There is no deoderant that can cope with sweat to that extent. All the showering and washing the world is only temporary, there's very little that can be done. It's a constant battle in my office, I go to the gym most lunch times and when I get back having just showered I'm sweating buckets within a few minutes so I do sympathise with her. Tell you what get the air con turned up and she'll be fine.

[rugeleyboy]

i recently had this problem with an employee of mine!.... i tried the hint method, tried the polite telling him method and in the end i put �5 in his hand and told him to go to the chemist straight away as this is not acceptable!!

he went ,got some strong deoderant and we all lived happily ever after!!

[WendyS]

Keep a deodorant aerosol spray on your desk. Encourage your colleagues to do the same. Then, every so often say in a loud voice "Phew, isn't it hot? I'm sweating like a pig. Excuse me while I freshen up, otherwise I'll be stinking everybody out. Anyone else want to borrow this?"

Then undo your top two blouse buttons and puff it under your armpits.

That brings the sweating out into the open, acknowledges that it can be a problem for everybody in this heat and may drop a hint to her without causing her to lose face. If she doesn't get the message after two or three times of this happening, you can pass her the can saying, "Here, think you might need it too."

If this still doesn't work, maybe your boss might need to have a quiet word in her ear, but try not to humiliate her. She may not realise she has a problem, or may just have the type of glands which cause her to sweat more than average.

[Ollie Garchy]

Suggest you move this question to the People & Places section, where any one of Scanning, LittleBishop and MOnkeyTennis will be able to help you.

[booboopoo]

The problem is I am her line manager, we could do some of the suggested but we would need more than one plant to disguise the grotesque smell we would need a whole forest, and instead of a fan a wind turbine would be needed. I've not got a problem with her being fat but the smell is repulsive and I have to think of all the other slim nice smelling people who work here.

[redcrx]

ah right so it wasnt the way you worded your original question.

As Ollie said go and ask on people and places, theyll sort you out.

[noxlumos]

Oh Scanning is alive and well and now in the guise of booboopoo or is this satirical?

[China Doll]

If you're the line manager then it's your responsibility to address it really. Either that or get HR to do it for you.

[kazminx]

oowaah..now you've affended a few fat folk!!!

[Batty Boy]

Why don't you suggest what must fat people do in the hot weather, and tell her to wear tight lycra shorts, sandles and a vest top, that way she will not just smell vile but also look it.

[Ms.Hijinx]

I have been 19 stone and im now 9 stone and never ever when i was big did i smell any different than i do now its not her weight its her hygiene regime and the frequency of it and she needs to be told, what do the other members on your team think booboopoo? are they offended by her cos you could all drop little hints then

[Dick Cheese]

Could be worse, I work in an open plan office in Bradford (say no more)! The stench here in incredible and thats not even from the fat ones!

[IggyB]

stop making up all these office annoyance questions and get some work done...

[Whickerman]

booboopoo - you sound like an obnoxious bully. Now to your problem - see HR, and have them approach the issue. Then get a personality transplant you odious piece of filth. That girl probably doesn't realise there's an issue, but when you go making statements like in your 12.03 post above you show how crappy you are.