Scent Of An Employee....Wooahhhhh!!!

It's true, we have a nation of stinkers, and if you've ever worked with someone who has poor hygiene...whether it's bad breath, body odor, or too much perfume or cologne-- you know how distracting it can get-- to the point that it becomes unbearable to function and interferes with your work performance.

Handling workplace body odor issues is the pits for co-workers. This is just as embarrassing for the manager because they have to confront the employee and it can be a touchy situation. Poor hygiene can alienate an employee from their peers and cause productivity problems. It might be easier to ignore at first, but when it adversely affects performance it’s time to take action.

If you work next to the stinky offender and confronting your co-worker is your only option, I would suggest the conversation at the end of the day. This way the employee doesn't have to sit there feeling self-conscious for the next several hours. There is no way out of this being an awkward situation. No matter how gentle or non-judgmental you go about it, the individual will be offended to some degree. Avoid meeting the individual in tight and closed areas. Suggest meeting in a conference room or outside instead of your cubicle for better air circulation. If you work next to the person you may suggest to your supervisor that you work at home or you need a window. Another option is to claim that you have allergies upon hire. Have you come across any foul offenders???