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.

I find Mitchum useless. The sure or dove in a box works, because it has aluminium and other chemicals in it.

You need to speak to her manager not HR

You wouldn’t be unreasonable to go to them for advice on how to deal with the situation, I wouldn’t go in to ‘complain’.

You need to raise it with the manager and HR. We had someone who stank of weed, it was so awful that when they came in people had to leave their desks and go for fresh air. We could smell them coming down the corridor from 25m away.

It was one of the worse times in the lab ever, we ended up letting them go because of the smell and telling them this was the reason why their contract was not being renewed too as the smell caused sickness/headaches in others.

Hahahahahaaa 😂

*this is is supposed to quote the Melania post.

As are the work-shy tendencies of HR.

I don’t expect HR to manage my staff. I have the difficult conversations.

HR is there to advise me on the policy - not manage my employees!!!

I would be annoyed if HR took over something like this.

people on these birds seem to think HR is in charge - they aren’t. The HR team in my company are all junior to me - nothing is ‘escalated’ to HR. It is escalated through line management to me.

Of course weight is relevant. Being a larger person myself, I'm aware how sweaty I can get, especially in warmer months, so it's imperative for larger people to be especially in tune with their bodies with regard cleanliness and good hygiene.

I'm overweight and uncomfortable in the heat but I know I don't smell when I leave the house every morning. If this woman smells as soon as she enters the office in the morning then the issue is personal hygiene/dirty clothes, not obesity. Fresh sweat doesn't smell.

You do sound terribly important and very senior. Noted.

My point is HR isn’t there to manage staff. That’s the job of managers.

HR are not there to talk to staff about hygiene or performance or timekeeping. That’s the job of managers - literally. It’s in the job description.

Calling HR work-shy is insulting when people expect them to do managers dirty work.

unfortunately there are lots of rubbish managers and leaders out there. Who dodge the difficult stuff. They make workplaces toxic. Then poor HR has to come in and pick up the pieces.

and yes I am senior. I know mumsnet hates senior females. But I am proud of my role and I love my job. So I am not going to apologise for it.

I don't "hate senior females" at all, @Bellyblueboy. I do loathe pomposity, especially corporate-based pomposity. I would be even less forgiving of it in a man.

Okay. Well have a lovely evening.

I am going to chill in the garden with a glass of wine - it’s been a scorcher. 🌞

Has this woman been told yet? 6 pages in and I was hoping for a resolution!

Does your colleague look unkempt?
Possibly the person has a disorder. I remember a student who had a disorder that made his body odour really strong.
I can't remember the name of the disorder

I walked behind a colleague this week and the smell was a surprise. Stale body odour but super strong. I have no idea who she is, she’s new. She isn’t fat. I’d find it incredibly hard to raise.

@Haugh

You could try Pitrok before your usual anti perspirant. Roll over wet skin as soon as you get out of shower, waft about a bit until dry.

https://www.boots.com/pitrok-crystal-natural-deodorant-stick-100g-10086279

Agreed with the travelling into work and sweating. That was me on Friday.
I was sweating when I arrived at work and probably didn't smell my best. Should have bought in some deodorant and a change of top but didn't think to do so. In this weather it's kind of understandable as you can shower but immediately afterwards, be sweating again. But in other times, it shouldn't be so difficult unless there is a medical issue.

I've also come back to see if OP has raised it too.

any updates @Pianoplayer190

@Catusrusty

You're not at all sorry so don't pretend to be. Firstly you said the other people who are larger that work with you don't smell. Then you decided to call a spade a spade and say that fat people can't function properly or keep themselves clean. You're fat shaming. That's why you are here. Also showering twice a day is bad for the environment, bad for your skin and unnecessary unless you are doing some very physical exertion.

THIS!!!!!