Aibu for wanting to speak to HR regarding a smelly colleague?

[Pianoplayer190]

Long story short, I have a colleague who has worked with us for years but has an awful smell.

Unfortunately her body odour is overwhelming and makes me feel very nauseous. I’m very sensitive to bad smells and I get a waft of the bad smell because she’s placed herself directly next to me.

Shes morbidly obese. We have quite a few larger colleagues that work with us but they never have an odour. I’m just really struggling to get through my day without walking up to HR and saying there’s an issue.

Ive not said a word to other people as effectively that’s just me being vile then. But I need to share the issue because I’m struggling to get through my day. I can’t move office space or desk.

The smell is like faecal matter, a period pad left in the sun and a wet mop. That’s all I can say and I’m really and truly suffering. I heaved at lunch today while eating.

AIBU if I complain.

It’s for her manager to deal with.

No me & a colleague did this some years ago about another colleague. Our manager had a word with him & he was really upset but it was horrific to sit beside. To be fair the next week he came in clean shaven & washed & we never had that problem again!

It’s not being dealt with 🥲

HR will rapidly punt that to the manager to deal with. Probably better to go straight to them tbh.

It’s not being dealt with

Well it won’t be if you don’t talk to anyone about it, what do you mean?

Well obviously first stage is to speak to the persons manager but if you’ve done that and no change then yes speak to HR, that’s not unreasonable. Whatever someone’s size they (assuming no major health issue) can shower and wash clothes. It’s horrible for people to have to sit next to that kind of smell all day. So no, not unreasonable at all.

YANBU report to their manager.
It must be so horrible having to work in that environment when it's so bad you are heaving.

I couldn’t sit there. I’m terrible with smells and genuinely retch when I smell something like you describe. That sounds vile. I think you should go to HR. Amazed how she can’t smell the herself.

I had to speak to someone once that I line managed - not sure who was the most embarrassed.

Likely it will be their line manager that speaks to them, but raising it through HR is the right way to go.

I'm not sure why weight is relevant?

If it's that bad then I think you need to speak to them. You're at work for a huge chunk of time each day. You shouldn't have to deal with that day in day out. No matter someones size, if they take care with their personal hygiene, they shouldn't be smelling like that.

I can totally understand how it would impact you.

It's a very difficult situation but I think I would raise it with my manager. It would then be for them to find a way to bring it up.

Speak to HR, YANBU but it may turn out that the person in question has a medical problem and it may not be something they can improve.

YANBU. Although you have been kind enough to keep this to yourself so far, others will discuss it behind her back. Not just at work but in general life. It is better for someone to have a discreet chat with her (at the end of the working day is always best) so she has the opportunity to make the changes she needs to.

Yanbu, many people would say what's that smell especially if they pop in and don't realise it is a person making the smell.

Damp clothes that aren’t washed properly smell just like this. I personally would go directly to her and tell her you’re sensitive to smells and can smell her clothes (don’t make it about her) and could she please change the detergent. If the smell continues then escalate to her manager.

I’m so sorry but it is. There’s a certain smell. Like unwashed areas.

Yanbu

No one’s doing it🥲I wish someone else would raise it so I didn’t have to be the first.

Tricky one but does need to be addressed.

Just speak to your manager and ask them to deal with it?

You're not being unreasonable to have a confidential word with HR. But, do not use that description of the smell when you discuss it, that was really graphic and not required.

Why is her weight relevant?

If I eat and I catch a bit of the smell I cough repeatedly to avoid heaving to the point of being sick in an open plan office. My body doesn’t smell perfect after the heat but I always have 2 showers per day and use extra strong deodorants.

Same and it was about their breath 😬. I wanted to die but she took it like a champ and said she was grateful for the feedback as she hadn't noticed herself, and would make a dentist appointment to see what was going on. Was sorted.

Also had to do the same with someone consistently pissing on the toilet seat and not cleaning up after themselves (chucking toilet roll next to the toilet instead of down the pan). I tried the old "mass email" trick, new signs in the toilet to no avail. Eventually had to do a 1-1.

Fortunately I manage managers now so thank feck for delegation is all I can say!