To tell a colleague that their breath smells so bad I feel sick?

[dirtywindows]

Just that really. Working very closely so sitting near and talking together. I offered him water but he refused. Has a break mid morning and I offered him tea which he also refused. At lunch he didn't eat anything declaring he only ever eats one meal in the evenings. I honestly could barely concentrate and kept trying to think of how I could tactfully say - for gods sake eat something or brush your teeth because you stink and I'm going to be sick! Managed to get through the day. I don't often work with him but next time WIBU to say something? And if not then how would you say it? Or should I just carry mints to give him?

TisGlorious
It's new to me since I haven't worked in that kind of environment for many years. Someone must have invented the term since then. What does "line" mean in this context?

What I find surprising is that it seems to be universally assumed that everyone has a "line manager". I can think of many occupations in which this expression would never be used.

Well of course most people have a line manager, i'm confused as to what your confusion is? your line manager is your direct manager, the person directly responsible for you or that you report to. Its not the same thing as 'head of department', as you HD may not necessarily be the person you report directly to.
I'm also not sure what you mean by I haven't worked in that kind of environment for many years. what kind of environment are we talking about?

I've worked in Merchant banks, NHS, HE Colleges and volunteered etc, they all used this term, but not exclusively, 'Line manager'

Cut and pasted from WIKI:

line manager
noun BRITISH
a person with direct managerial responsibility for a particular employee.
a manager involved in running the main business activities of a company.

Like I said - there are countless occupations that don't have that sort of hierarchy. They just have a boss.
Anyway clearly these magistrates don't have a "line manager" and that's just one example.

Like I said - there are countless occupations that don't have that sort of hierarchy. They just have a boss.

A 'Boss' directly in charge of every single individual in company? I've clearly never worked in an environment like this before. However, the term line manager could still be applied even in this scenario, it just means everyone has the same direct boss.

Can you give an example of these types of occupations?

You're just thinking of big, white-collar companies and organisations, aren't you? I'm pretty sure that the stable lads and girls who work for the racehorse trainer down the road from me don't have a "line manager". Nor the chef at the pub. Nor the people who work in the village shop.

I needn't bore you with any more examples. Not everyone uses this corporate bollocks speak.

But ..the OP is talking about an office environment, and 'Line Manager' was used in this context. You asked what it meant and when it was explained to you your response was, It's new to me since I haven't worked in that kind of environment for many years. Someone must have invented the term since then. . It hasn't newly been invented. It's a common term used in office environments. I take your point however, that it wouldn't be used in the occupations you described.

By line manager I meant direct manager. Their will be someone with oversight of the magistrates checking on performance and behaviours. The reason I mentioned this being party of many management training sessions is because it typical of the sort of conversation that's difficult to have but has to be addressed.

Good luck with sorting it OP!

There not their, sorry.

It shouldn't come down to whose "job" it is anyway. It doesn't matter who tells him, as long as it is done in a considerate and tactful way.

The focus should be on his welfare, and not the discomfort of others.

May I intrude? :-)

Magistrates don't have a 'line Manager' as such...but the lady who posted can speak to the main chair of her bench or the deputy chair of her bench who may well assist her with this.

I don't think hints are the best way to go when someone has poor hygiene at work. You can still be sensitive...but I think a person needs to be told, 'there's no easy way to say this and it is a sensitive subject...but I've noticed that there is an unpleasant odour around you/when you speak...do you have any idea what may be responsible for this?'

It might not be poor hygiene, as others have mentioned!

I would like someone to tell me if my breath stank. If rather know! Just choose the words carefully or as someone else said, pass the buck and get your manager to say something.

Ive not RTFT but I'm a dental nurse and used to bad breath, but the only time I've ever smelled knock-you-out-bad breath, like could smell it in the surgery when you walked through the door, was a patient with diabetic ketosis. Real heavy, strong smell. Maybe you could bring up with a manager and position it that you know very bad breath can be a sign of more serious illness and could they discreetly have a word? Or offer some mints or gum every time you work together and maybe he'll get the hint? It's a tough one to broach that's for sure