If a person has really bad body odour...?

[lofthatch]

If a shop assistant has really bad body odour, would you send feedback to the shop?

If a colleague in the same office or building as you had the same issue, would you say something (or maybe have a word with HR)?

For context, at my local supermarket there's an assistant (probably early 20s) who has this issue. I went in yesterday and it was really bad, a sort of mix of BO and urine. I wanted to be respectful of him but I really wanted to get out the shop as soon as I could.

Rightly or wrongly, felt a bit sorry for him. It could be that he grew up in a home where no one taught him hygiene basics or he might be struggling for cash or a multitude of different reasons. Or maybe he's just lazy and gone nose blind, who knows! I wouldn't want him to get in trouble but does his employer have a duty of care to have a quiet word?

Lack of cash isn’t a reason to smell. A bar of soap is peanuts.

Not sure what you can do about it though.

No I wouldn’t send feedback to the shop. Get a grip. I might gently say something to someone who actually worked for me, where I knew the situation better and had some duty of care to them, but I wouldn’t give it more than a seconds thought if it was just someone who I interacted with for a few moments in Tesco. It’s just a smell. It’s none of your business. And his manager almost certainly already knows.

Do you send positive feedback to people over every trivial thing?

Not being able to afford hot water/a working shower is though. Poverty and hygiene are very closely linked and just thinking you need a bar of soap isn't true. You need hot running water, a working shower (that you're allowed to use - may be homeless/sofa surfing); a washing machine for towels otherwise you're just wiping the smell back on! Etc.

It is only when you have all the things needed that you take it for granted.

Also, the smell could be medical related. I think feedback would still be fine as no one wants to go through life like that, as long as it's done respectfully.

Do you send positive feedback to people over every trivial thing?

No of course I don't. 🙄

I’m sure his colleagues and boss already know.

There is a man who works in my local Asda who really smells of BO. He used to be a manager and I noticed now he is on security. He has been smelly for years.

Wow.

Lack of access to a bathroom, hot water, clothes washing facilities etc are very much linked to poverty.

Bad BO isn't necessarily because they can't afford soap or hot water.

I work with a guy in his mid 20's who has the absolute worst BO imaginable. He often smells of half cooked onions 😷

But, I know he has an issue with hyper hidrosis. He'll come into work all fresh and showered. Clean clothes, but within a few hours he's got pit stains and is stinking up the place. He can't help it. A lot has to do with physical movement, stress or the temperature.

When I found out it was a medical condition I gave him a bit more mental slack from myself rather than judgement. He still does smell awful though 🫤

Bad BO isn't necessarily because they can't afford soap or hot water.

Yep, I think this was my thought. I don't care about offensive smells...it's more that this guy might be in a really bad situation and can't talk about it.

'None of my business' is one answer but if no one is ever willing to approach it, he could be in for a lifetime of bullying or being isolated.

On my bus to work, particularly on warm days I am on the bus with the great unwashed and/or non deodorisers. But I do know some people still smell. I have noticed when I am a bit depressed/anxious that my arm pits are a bit funky. Not sweaty though.

I actually don't think I've ever read anything like this is my life. This is a stranger a shop assistant and you want to make a complaint against him smelling? It's none of your damn buisness, what's wrong with you?

Your so judgemental you would actually take time from your day to write a complaint? I'm appalled tbh.

You mean bullied by people like you??? Who bully him via complaints to his bosses? Please do not dress this up like you were trying to do him a favour.

If you haven't got anything better to do than write complaints against shop attendants not because they rude or unhelpful but because you didn't like their smell then you need to address your own circumstances not someone elses

I agree, he might of just smelt on that one day due to having got up late etc, maybe doesn’t realise smells, it’s an issue his manager will hopefully deal with if persistent or family might mention it to him but I’d stay out of it if you’re just briefly interacting with him

I wonder whether it’s his clothes too, sometimes clothes can become ingrained with someone’s strong BO and unless washed in very strong detergent regularly it can become quite ingrained, as they wear the clothes, their heat seems to bring out the ingrained smell again 😑

If I had to sit next to them on a daily basis I probably would speak to HR or the person's line manager. Purely as I'd be too embarrassed to raise it directly with my colleague who smelt.
If it's someone working in a shop I'd say nothing. Their boss must know and not care. They could have a medical issue? A customer or their dog/child might have urinated on or near them and that's what caused the smell? Who knows.
But yeah, just put it down to one of those things that's not your problem.

Do you think his colleagues/manager don't notice the smell if it is that bad?

What do you hope to achieve by complaining about him?

It is only a brief interaction you have with him, leave him be.

If it was someone like a hairdresser where there is more intimate and prolonged contact I could see an issue, but not in a supermarket.

MYOB. Imagine the shame if you complained about him. Poor lad.

Just avoid him. Why would you feel the to haul him into a disciplinary when he really has done nothing to you. Quite mean.

Another reason for no deodorant/anti-perspirant could be cultural. I worked with a man who absolutely stunk of BO. Clean clothes daily, clean hair/nails but as the day wore on, his BO would get worse. Another colleague from the same country said it was common not to wear deodorant there.

I did when I was going into a restaurant to pick up a takeaway lunch. 3 times in a row I could smell the front of house lady. It was really bad and so I sent in a feedback message, i had to because front of house was right by the salad bar and offputting. From what I can tell since, it was dealt with

I've noticed this in the general population since the cost of living has increased; walking into a cafe it's apparent that people are not washing themselves/their clothes as often as needed. I've got every sympathy as people are struggling to survive. I've even noticed in crowds outdoors; the smell of unwashed hair. I do think it's linked to the cost of living as I've not noticed it to this extent before. It's shocking that we're in this situation, in a wealthy, developed country, where many people can't afford basic hygiene.

In a supermarket? Absolutely.

I don't want my groceries handled by someone who doesn't appear to wash. And it's very neglectful of the manager to be allowing it.

..

would you send feedback to the shop?

It sounds like anyone who works with him would already know, so that seems a bit pointless.

Im sure you arent the first person to notice, I feel like its down to the management to say something. I probably wouldnt say anything unless it was a friend/relative or one of my patients (nurse).
Just be grateful he was your shop assistant and not your dentist!