What do you do about an employee that has a foul body odor?

[pdx_prog]

This guy reports to me unfortunately. He is a draftsman that sits within 15 feet of me and the fucker stinks like nobody's business. My boss has talked to him on two different ocassions and one day about 4 months ago three of us in the office couldn't stand it any more and we ganged up on him to tell him how bad he smelled. The fucker wears the same shirt for 4-5 days in a row most of the time and his personal hygeine is just hideous. He lets his damn fingernails grow out until they break off and they are thick and yellow. He gives everyone the fucking heebie jeebies.

He just can't understand why he smells......he blames it on his wifes pot roast, which is a crock because it smells like pure old body odor. I am sitting here typing this and gagging. We have 5 different little air fresheners with little fans that are turned right straight at him most of the time and he NEVER gets the damn message.

The last time we talked to him he cleaned his act up for a long time but he's right back to stinking again. I got to get out of here, I'm seriously about to throw up.

[Midlodemocrat]

1. God, that is flat out disgusting. No advice, though. I don't know

what you can do about it. Sorry.

[Phillycat]

2. Write him up - I'm sure your company has some sort of dress code.

He is in violation of that policy. Keep writing him up until he either cleans up his act or gets fired.

Oh, and :puke:.

[pdx_prog]

6. The guy that sits behind me went to HR and told them

to write him up. That was the same day we ganged up on him so our HR admin called me and thanked me for doing her job for her.

I swear, it's getting worse as I sit here...

YES....:puke: :puke:

[BOSSHOG]

3. I know how we'd handle it in the Navy

but you may want to chat with your human resources folks. You should not be subjected to such nonsense. Pot roast my ass..

[tjwash]

14. hyuk!

nt

[Blue-Jay]

4. You've done all you can do.

It's time to leave it up to the higher-ups at this point.

[BreweryYardRat]

5. Tell him to shower, now, or fire him.

[MissMillie]

13. that might get you a lawsuit

From what I understand (and I'll admit, I don't know the specifics) but even telling an employee that they have an order is grounds for a lawsuit.

[Lex]

25. Unless he has a contract with specifics otherwise, most

employees can be fired for any reason except for race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

There are some protections for workers over 40 (age discrimination) and pregnant women.

Firing someone because they have poor hygiene and refuse to clean up is perfectly legal in most cases.

[ceile]

7. He's not homeless, is he?

Do you know his living circumstances? Maybe at this point in time he doesn't have access to clean clothes or shower on a regular basis? :shrug:

[pdx_prog]

9. No, he has a home.....

He buys a lot of clothes at yard sales and things though....he's supporting his wife and daughter on a fairly meager salary.

I remember him complaining about the price of water back last year. I think he's skimping on showering ar laundering one...

Bleeechhh...

[ceile]

10. There's something to be said for frugality, but

yuck!!

[grace0418]

11. Soap is not expensive. And there are camp soaps that work for clothes and

hair and bodies, if he can't afford all three. So a meager salary is no excuse.

If he has been warned before, you have grounds to fire him. Document this, because it's making the environment unbearable for you. He sounds like he needs psychiatric help.

[Sequoia]

21. Throw him in the washer with the clothes

and hang him on the line to dry for that sun kissed freshness.

[Sequoia]

22. Throw him in the washer with the clothes

and hang him on the line to dry for that sun kissed freshness.

[azmouse]

8. If you have cologne with you put a dab under your nose.

It'll help with the immediate problem.

Wow! This guy must be something else to not take the hints. I wish I had better advice. Good luck.

[SoyCat]

12. HR/head boss, etc. should draft a memo to all personnel stating the hygiene requirements as well as

the actions that will follow noncompliance. When he continues to stink up the place, he can be fired.

Until then, I'd be careful of what I touch (that he's touched). His nails sound like they have a fungal infection.

[SPKrazy]

15. Mentholatum Under Your Nose

but I'd write him up for poor hygiene per your company's dress and hygiene codes documenting all attempts to correct the problem. Following your progressive discipline policy is the only way to address it.

[Jimbo S]

16. Something mean you could do...

Way back when I started my first job my co-workers complained about the woman who did payroll. They discussed the idea of next time walking into her office with ear plugs shoved up their nostrils.

Don't think they had the guts to do it, though.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

17. If the guy is otherwise good at what he does and doesn't have an unbearable personality...

Getting him fired is not going to help matters, and it's mean. The guy may have some serious problems and need help. Sounds like reaching out to the guy may be more helpful than getting him fired. HR definitely needs to get involved.
Duckie

[liberal hypnotist]

18. Had a similar problem.

Those who suffered from him got together at lunch time and we'd talk about taking showers and what kinda soap we used. Then, we started having contests on who took the most showers and of course included stinky in the contest. After about 4 days, he came in smelling Ok. Of course he relapsed a few times and we'd have another shower contest. Eventually, he got the idea.

[SOteric]

19. 'Accidently' douse him in a bottle of sparkling water.

Then 'accidently' cover him with liquid soap.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

[Whoa_Nelly]

20. Check out this site that has an outlined plan

http://www.altrexps.com/pdfs/Employee_Hygiene.pdf

And, you may want to anonymously contact the your state's employment board and ask what to do. Seems to me that if someone is practicing poor hygiene, then that person also places all in the workplace at risk by exposing them to whatever bacterias and/or viruses he is bringing into the space.

Good luck! :hi:

[Lowell]

23. In the army we used to give them a blanket party

we'd sneak in in the middle of the night, warp the asshole up in a blanket. Soften his ass up a little then drag him into the shower and scrub him down with a wire brush. I remember handling it a couple times like that. All it would take was once and they usually straightened right up.

But then that is not an option for you. I remember back a few years at where I work now we had a woman who stunk like a dead goat. Christmas she found a large package, gift wrapped, at her desk. It was a case of Dial soap. She still didn't get the picture. After a number of trips to the manager and HR we finally got some action. That kind of nastiness is often the sign of mental illness. We had the bitch Baker acted for 48 hours. The HR escorted her to a psychologist and the doctor had her committed against her will for two days. She was pissed, but smelled like a rose the next time we saw her.

[Lowell]

24. Deleted

Duplicated a post somehow.

[gr8dane_daddy]

26. As a supervisor, I had to deal with this very matter....

We eventually got rid of him...he had performance issues. Otherwise there are two things to consider: is it a cultural or medical thing? It doesn't sound like cultural (I'm assuming he's a red blooded american). Some cultures don't put much emphasize on hygiene. Second it could be medical. Has someone suggested this? Otherwise tell him to stop eating pot roast.

[Skittles]

28. very delicate issue

I had to talk to a young gal at work about her hygiene and it turned out she really didn't know how offensive it was - turns out she grew up very neglected, left for days at a time at home to care for younger siblings, and simply never learned proper hygiene - she just wasn't bathing and washing her hair and clothes enough - it was so nice to see her completely turn around from one heart to heart - a very rewarding experience that was.

[Parche]

27. smell

Holy crap, keep him in your office!! dont send him here in downtown Portland!!! hahah

Wow I can smell it from here, and I thought it was the Willamette!!!!!haha

[ncabot22]

29. It is a difficult topic

I would talk to him again, tactfully. Just be honest and tell him he stinks (tactfully, though--maybe, I've noticed an odd odour coming from you--you need to do something about it). Maybe he has a health problem or an emotional problem. Serious depression can cause some people to forsake hygiene.

If he doesn't listen to you then throw tact out of the window and say "you reek...take a shower".