People are unclean nowadays!!!!!!!!!

[hellinahandcart700]

I have started a new job where I have to see and help people into work. I have been amazed by the amount of filthy, dirty people out there! These people are not disabled in any way and I get to know a lot about them and their circumstances. They smell of sweat, their hands and clothes are dirty (very dirty fingernails is common) and women's soles of the feet are literally brown! They are very unkempt and just don't seem to have any desire to be clean and fresh. Greasy hair is also common. Now I might get slated by some people but honestly, what has happened to people? I was taught to bathe twice a week making sure to wash everywhere, all the creases etc. Other days you have a good wash at the sink 2 or 3 times a day, washing under arms, face, genitals and feet! Do i say anything to them or could I be sued? How do you help people into work like this?

Yes.

And I've also got news for some MNers, not all houses have showers.

People who can't afford to wash properly are often fully aware of that, and can and do try to rectify it.
If someone just does not appear to care, then there are other issues going on that can vary from depression to autism.
If these people bother you so much, then get a different job where you don't have to deal with them... and also be very aware that it could be you on the other side of the desk one day.

I didn't say they were not engaging with me, they do and very well, that's how I know their personal circumstances.

So you're not very good at your job then, are you, if you aren't able to help these people surmount their barriers? Who on earth gave you this job? What are your qualifications and training? If I was your boss I'd sack you immediately I found out your disgusting attitude and prejudices, never mind your ignorance. And from someone who can't even be bothered to have a daily shower! What's your excuse??

Yeah, I'd love to hear what this training in mental health actually is! Very little, I expect!

You’re a dick head OP.

Firstly, showering twice a week and having a sponge wash in the sink doesn’t make you the queen of clean believe it or not. Bit gross actually, shower more. So there… I’m passing judgment on you like you are on others.

Secondly, why do you think they’re spending their money on alcohol? Do you think happy people drink themselves into oblivion? Clearly they are unhappy & do have mental health issues, so your training is shit.

Do you have ANY life experience at all? Because you seem as deep as a puddle, tbh.

Poor self hygiene is very difficult to deal with, as there could be a myriad of reasons why someone is this way. But at the same time, it is very unpleasant to be in the presence of someone who (quite obviously) has not washed for a while.

I used to work with someone with appalling hygiene who used to smell horrendous and looked visibly dirty. In an office environment it was very very unpleasant, multiple complaints were made, he'd be fine for a few weeks and then it would start again. I am going to assume there was more to it than just laziness, but it didn't make it anymore bearable for the people working with him.

As your job is to get them into work, I would speak to your manager about it. This is the sort of thing that could be a genuine barrier as to getting them into work, and addressing it might help.

Nice thread.

You seem to have made very little effort to understand why your clients stay dirty. You're all about drugs, alcohol and not caring ... not caring about yourself is a symptom of psychological dysfunction. Among people who are coping just fine with life, very few indeed make a conscious choice to abandon personal hygiene.

Scrubbing them up and pushing them into some job will do nothing to cure the psychological problems that eventually led them to your door. What ongoing assistance does your organisation provide? How do you support the clients to engage more successfully with life & society, to have hope, to feel good about who they are?

I find it very strange that you state at the off that the people deal with are not ill in any way. You then go on to say they choose to spend their money on drink and drugs, they need to learn to prioritise, but they’re okay. Addiction is a serious illness. But you’re trained to spot that you say. I think you may have missed some of the training.
I also feel, very strongly that IF (and it’s a big if) you work for an agency that deals with job centre clients, you should it be discussing your clients difficulties on a public forum, let alone judging people who are not in a position to defend themselves.
You just fancied a benefits bashing thread, didn’t you…