WWYD in realation to work colleague's poor hygiene

[scuzy]

i am not great with confrontation but if something doesnt happen I am going to have to approach management but have no idea how or what to say

someone who sits near me in work (constantly wheels over on chair with questions) has the most vile smelling teeth/breath. he smoke (as do I) but its a smell of plaque on teeth. they are awful. so much so that once he left my desk before lunch i hung out the window as could feel myself heaving. someone came over and said they knew why i was doing it and laughed it off saying "if i ever smell like that please tell me".

its unfair on others that have to sit around him/converse with him.

wwyd? approaching him myself is not an option as what the hell do i say???

OP if its really that bad you should say something. DH had an awful infected abcess in his mouth once and god it stank, he needed antibiotics etc could it be something like that - dirty teeth rather than infected ones couldnt smell THAT bad surely?.

MadamDeathstare - its funny you say that about liking the smell of smoke. I am a non drinker, I have never liked to drink alcohol of any kid and yet i LOVE the smell of beer and pubs. My DH has the occasional bottle of something and i have been know to sniff the empty bottle - get even more wonderful smelling when im pregnant. I hate the taste but i love the smell

You could send him one of these.

I agree with asking HR to deal with it. Tell them you've done your best but you find it utterly unbearable and it's affecting your work.

I had a friend whos breath smelt of poo. Actual poo. I never said anything to her and often wonder if anyone will.

love your name - BeStillMyBeatingFart .... ha ha class!!

thanks guys. i mentioned it briefly to his line manager. he agreed and said he found it too. he said to leave it with him.

I lve the name, too, Fart

I do wonder a bit about you and your pooey friend, though.

Why didn't you tell her?

And are you sure you weren't just projecting, with a name like that?

Did you know there is a What would you do topic?

'dirty teeth rather than infected ones couldnt smell THAT bad surely?'

They can! Plaque bacteria left to decompose for a few weeks/months can reek. It sounds like the guy needs a few hygienist appointments, especially if you can see the plaque on his teeth!

thanks for that contribution TrillianAstra

AKissIsNotAContract ... he definately needs a few dentist trips. and it does reek! thank god he is now gone home. windows open!

Don't suppose you get dental insurance as part of your work package? If he's getting it for free then there's no excuse.

I didn't tell her because saying; 'By the way, your breath smells of poo,' is unsurprisly difficult!

Not something you can slide into a conversation either!!

Was bad though, you had to stand quite far back from her or to the side so her breath went the other way when chatting!

I can see the OP's issue, I really can.

To be perfectly honest i'd tell them, or at least get someone neutral to have a quiet word. I used to work in an office and they're was a similar situation where they told HR & the boss had a quiet word, the poor girl was mortified that no-one had told her and took it personally, she left a month later:( If I smelt bad breath/or body odour i'd want somebody to tell me. hope you get the situation sorted out OP and find th best resolution for it x

Regular drinks of water might go a little way to help too. How about asking for a water-cooler in the office (and make sure it's located within easy reach of this person)?

I suspect the smoking is just making another cause of his bad breath worse.

He probably has stomach issues too!

I don't smoke ,but smokers I know; don't have breath like poo ...it smells like smoke sometimes minty smoke!

Bad oral hygiene + smoking = probable gum disease. And you can actually see plaque on his teeth. No wonder his breath smells rank. Does he have a wife/girlfriend? Not that that is any help in your situation but I'm just curious as if my DH had bad breath he'd be getting told!

OK - professional opinion here. This needs to be dealt with by his line manager. You need to raise it informally with the line manager. My advice to the line manager is to call him in confidentially and say "I have noticed you have have a problem with bad breath and would like to help you to deal with it partly because it might hold back your progress and partly because I want to prevent you facing any embarassment". In a large organisation he then needs to be advised that he is being referred to occupational health for further professional advice and the issue can be addressed as an appraisal target, ie, to deal with personal hygiene. In a smaller company more detailed advice will have to be given and a suggestion to seek help from his own GP/dentist.

Note - the manager says he has noticed it personally not that he has received a number of complaints - he gives the impression that he is dealing with the issue before it is raised or noticed by anyone else.

Good luck - poor sod - let's hope mumsnet mums will do their jobs properly and deal with grubby children before they start work.

Your colleague clearly has some form of gum disease, this is not easily treatible, it requires deep root cleaning and can cost a lot of money. It used to be done by hospitals free but there was a three year waiting list.

Brushing every hour wouldn't make the smell go away.

Eww I used to work with a woman whose teeth were brown and her breath stank of poo. Actual poo. It was hideous.

I don't get the problem with leaving an anonymous note. Nobody has to feel embarrassed (except the recipient, and they're going to feel embarrassed regardless of HOW the news is delivered) and the problem hopefully gets solved.

I'm an ex heavy smoker. Believe me, the stale smell on your breath/ clothes/ hair/skin will be equally as offensive to others. You don't notice it til you quit.

Agree with MadamDeathstare.
Don't know if an anonymous note like that would amount to bullying, but I bet it would feel that way for whoever received it.

Agree with MadamDeathstare. I'd much rather be kindly taken to one side by someone, than receive an anonymous note, which is the coward's way.

Just pass round the mints.

OP you said in your own post 'if I ever smell that bad I hope someone tells me. I think the kindest thing would be to have a private word, talk about reasons, e.g. the gum disease might be the culprit and suggest he visits a dentist.

Don't be so English, just be honest and kind.