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AIBU?

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Original poster

To make a formal complaint about colleague?

89 replies

orangeju1ce · 06/08/2018 10:16

I have a colleague whose hygiene is absolutely atrocious. The same clothes are worn for up to three weeks at a time and the smell is horrendous. To make matters worse he has been wearing a coat(!!!) to walk to work in this heatwave which is only making things worse.

He has been like this for as long as I can remember but with the current weather it's becoming unbearable. His chair is stained black where he doesn't wash his clothes and his mouse and keyboard are covered with some kind of residue (dead skin I would assume).

It's not just me who has noticed- our manager has spoken to him several times however hasn't dealt with it directly and just said things like "are you taking care of yourself", so no improvement is ever made.

I am now at the point where I am considering making a formal complaint, myself and others are having to keep moving desks as it's unbearable- and I don't see it ever being dealt with informally.

Any advice please???

OP posts:
Mimmim112 · 06/08/2018 10:17

I think you need to make a complaint yes, your manager’s approach has been ineffective

ApolloandDaphne · 06/08/2018 10:19

That sounds awful and must make working in the same office unbearable. You definitely need to make a formal complaint so it is dealt with properly through the correct channels.

TheStoic · 06/08/2018 10:20

Yes, make a formal complaint.

How long has he worked there?

theressomethingaboutmarie · 06/08/2018 10:21

Yes, go ahead and make your complaint. I work in HR and had a situation with someone like that. It wasn't a pleasant conversation but I dealt with it.

OftenHangry · 06/08/2018 10:22

As harsh as ot sounds, do it.
It might actually be good for him. He might be pushed to get support if it's cause by some issues.
If it's not, he might get bit of a reality check.

OftenHangry · 06/08/2018 10:22

*caused

Original poster
orangeju1ce · 06/08/2018 10:23

Thank you all.

He has worked here for years and years (think 20 plus) apparently it has always been somewhat of an issue, however in the last couple of years it has really ramped up and become unbearable. I can't even walk behind him up the stairs.

OP posts:
TheStoic · 06/08/2018 10:25

Is he single? Imagine living with him. :-/

WhoWants2Know · 06/08/2018 10:34

I think your manager is failing in his responsibility to his employee. Is there any sort of occupational health service at your workplace?

Aprilsinparis · 06/08/2018 10:39

You must make a complaint. People shouldn't have to work in such a preventable environment. Oh, and before people say, he must have a medical condition, what medical condition makes you incapable of washing your clothes?

Original poster
orangeju1ce · 06/08/2018 10:41

Yes he is single. As far as I know he has never been romantically involved with anyone.

OP posts:
Heismyopendoor · 06/08/2018 10:42

Complain.

I worked with a guy like that once and lots of us complained, no one wanted to be on the desk next to him and he would spray lynx on top of his week old clothes all the time.

He was eventually sacked. Sad but no one was scared of the air con coming on any more and blowing his smell in your face

Original poster
orangeju1ce · 06/08/2018 10:43

Yes thank you @Aprilsinparis you are right- I really think there is no excuse to poor hygiene. He is also single, no children, no outside engagements, and is in good health so really no excuse.

OP posts:
Original poster
orangeju1ce · 06/08/2018 10:44

@Heismyopendoor - we have to strategically place the fan to work around him

OP posts:
YaLoVeras · 06/08/2018 10:46

WE had a man like this in an office I worked in years ago and people put post-it notes of shower nozzles on his screen.

A complaint was made and he said that he was on beta blockers Confused

Apparently he did shower although not every day, no way, but he put back on the SAME clothes. He really couldn't seem to figure out how to shower and put on clean clothes.

He died, it's awful I know but people felt guilty and then said he probably doesn't smell as bad now he's dead.

LakieLady · 06/08/2018 10:47

YANBU. Take it to HR if your manager won't/can't address it.

We have a colleague who goes through phases of being pretty smelly. He gets spoken to, it gets better for a while, then it gradually gets bad again. Thankfully, we spend most of our time working in the community, so don't have to sit in the same room often. When we do, it can be really unpleasant sometimes.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 06/08/2018 10:48

How awful OP, to face the continued stench.
Yes, you must make a formal complaint, this is intolerable.

387I2 · 06/08/2018 10:51

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387I2 · 06/08/2018 10:53

Maybe your formal complaint, and then how your manager handles it, is the only way he's going to be able to get the attention he needs from e.g. social services. He might not realise himself that he needs it, nor know how or where to ask for it.

ThatGirl82 · 06/08/2018 10:58

YaLo, although it is really horrible to work with someone who smells, it sounds like your colleague was treated pretty awfully. Someone should have taken him aside and spoken to him directly, instead of putting nasty post-it notes o his desk. What mean people.

OP yes if your manager hasn’t been able to deal with the matter then I’m guessing a complaint is the only way, hopefully someone in HR can deal with it directly but sensitively. It’s not easy telling someone they smell, I have had to do it, although he wasn’t at all offended but did say he felt other people were too sensitive about personal hygiene matters Confused.

Thinkingofausername1 · 06/08/2018 11:00

Could he be homeless?

Cindie943811A · 06/08/2018 11:01

Had a colleague once like this — she took the mail/files around the offices and you could follow her “trail”. She looked smart enough but it was BO. Her senior casually raised the subject of BO with her and another clerk hoping she’d get the message. All she said was “Well I don’t have a problem because I wear a thick vest to soak up the perspiration “
The matter was passed on the HR and there was a dramatic improvement

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 06/08/2018 11:04

YaLo, that's shocking and I'd imagine could be seen as bullying. Yes, it's an awful situation to work with someone like that, but at the end of the day he was a human being. Shame.

CarefullyDrawnMap · 06/08/2018 11:04

He died, it's awful I know but people felt guilty and then said he probably doesn't smell as bad now he's dead. I find it baffling how people who behave like that think themselves in some way superior to someone who clearly has problems. Smelling bad is nothing compared with that kind of crass insensitivity, which reeks to high heaven.

ApolloandDaphne · 06/08/2018 11:04

What are you talking about 38712? His mum is diseased? Do you mean deceased? What has that got to do with a man probably in his 40's, who has been working in a job for 20 years? It sounds like he has terrible hygiene habits, and no sense of smell . I doubt he needs social services involvement. He needs a shower daily, deodorant and a washing machine which is used regularly.

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