A Stinky Problem

[Redrum]

We have a young lady in our office who is new to the company, we have noticed a very unpleasant smell when she has been around, the smell is so pungent that it has even affected the seat where she has been sitting, the pen she has held, and the phone she has used...its not a 'feet' smell, or a body odour smell, personally it smells really bad, like a rotting flesh smell....many other work colleagues have commented on the heady aroma but no one will tackle the problem....it's making us feel a bit ill now...the smell is like something has died....seriously. I feel so sorry for her, but not sure how to go about telling her.

[Velvetee]

So Redrum, are you saying, you or one of your colleagues has actually been and sniffed her chair?

There is a condition called Fish Odour Syndrome, where sufferers give off obnoxious odours, often smelling of rotten fish or meat, no matter how much they wash, the odour doesn't subside. Perhaps she has that.

If not, maybe she's just a dirty skanky bint, who has poor hygiene. Whatever the problem, your line manager should tackle the problem and tactfully discuss it with her. Things will only get worse as the weather gets warmer.

[DEN53]

I remember Redrum - a few years ago, the office I worked in - one of or managers had a bad BO problem - he wore the same shirt for 5 days - he had more rings under his arm than saturn !! In the end the senior manager had a word with him - unfortunately it has to be done. The girl will have to be told. It does sound like a 'woman's monthly problem' , this would smell bad if she is not keeping herself clean.

Good luck

[Lil O'lady]

Check the electrical wiring. Slow electrical burn-outs produce a pungent fishy smell.
I am suspicious that this is an example of cyberbullying however. It would be possible to raise this issue without any personalisation added - a 'person' rather than a lady, 'place of work' rather than office. But by posting specifically about your office situation you can let your mates see it and all have a good laugh, can't you? The professional way to deal with any problem is directly face-to-face or with your line manager, not by rushing to the internet.

[horselady]

Where did the fish odour bit come from? Redrum didn't mention a fishy odour. I have no idea what could be the problem, poor girl, and poor all of you for having to put up with it.

[Redrum]

Thanks for all your replies so far, the smell is certainly not a 'fishy' smell, it reminds me of a dead animal smell, rotting flesh...seriously...it is very unpleasant - I do feel so sorry for this 'person' as they must have not a clue they smell so bad....how on earth it manages to impregnate the phone etc is beyond me but it reeks,...what could be causing this i wonder....the problem has been reported but the line manager has done nothing about this to date despite of the complaints from other colleagues. It is a very tricky, delicate subject of course, but I would be horrified if it were me that had a stench and didnt tell me so I could do something about it - medical or otherwise....

[zzxxee]

there is never an easy way to address problems like this but you have to do it and head on she may thankyou in the long run it maybe a medical problem shes not aware of

[Velvetee]

I mentioned Fish Odour Syndrome, as that is the name of the condition, the smells can, however, manifest themselves in different ways. I did also mention rotting meat Horselady, which would also equate to rotting flesh, as mentioned by Redrum.

[Eve]

Does the smell follow her rather than being in the area she sits?

I work in a really old building and some pidgeons nested behind the wall where I sit. They cleared the nest a number of times and have found at least 2 dead birds and the smell is horrendous.

There is also stagnant lying water and the smell now is there most of the time, even with the window open and it's just horrible.

Does she look like she wears fresh clothes each day (tops at least) and like she is clean?

[sn�gs]

It is the smell of success... she'll have your job by this time next week...

[Sachs]

awww. I'm feeling sorry for her :0(

[Totterdown]

When she is told she is going to feel very embarrassed. So I hope that everyone in that office has the sensitivity not to be watching when they know she is being told, not to be caught by her talking behind her back and not say any more to her unless she brings it up. If it is that bad, I'm surprised she has not been told of this problem before she started at your company. She would not have only now started to be lax in her hygiene. It could be a medical problem.