Colleague BO

[HappyHappy97]

Would you say something if you worked with a collegue who had extremely strong BO?

No
This is an issue for management.

I thought so, I'm just worried it'll be seen as bullying or being rude if I bring it up

To the colleague themselves, no.

To our/my manager, yes.

Mention it to your manager. That’s what they get paid more than you do for!!!

You don’t know if the management have already addressed this to no avail .

I worked with a lady in my previous job and she had been in the office numerous times with management and spoken to about her hygiene . They put perfumes , shower gels and deodorant in the toilets .

She was very aware of her odour problem and would try to mask it by pouring body sprays over herself which caused an even bigger problem . She was awfully embarrassed and many people made comments especially as she was a very very big woman . But so lovely and it was such a shame for her but she didn’t help herself . She regularly smelt like a wet dog who hadn’t had a bath for months . Colleagues would say they knew she was in coz you smell her before you saw her and they were bullying her . It wasn’t nice coz she was aware of what people were saying and some were doing it very loudly but managers could do no more coz they had approached the situation and they found it just as uncomfortable to have the conversation with her .

It’s a tough situation but it depends if you are friends with her and how she would react if you kindly nudged her to wear deodorant or maybe leave something in the toilet by mistake but it is a management problem and they need to be speaking to her .

Have been in a situation where an employee came to me to speak to their colleague who did in fairness really have a strong body odour. As the manager I had to have a conversation with this person, it was a bit awkward but had to be done. I did it on a Friday lunchtime as they finished then and I didn’t want them to have to feel awkward following the chat and would be able to go home afterwards if they were upset. It needs a lot of sensitivity and compassion, asking if they might have a condition that could be contributing to it, their home situation etc, taking an approach of concern rather than a personal attack. It was fine in the end but I did dread initiating the conversation. Would rather address it than have staff making comments that could potentially really affect the individual.

Yes, I worked with a chap who reeked... I mean it was just not BO. It was manky balls and ass too.
He was spoken to a few times by management and it would change for a couple of weeks or so, and go back to how it was.
Turns out he was in huge debt, and could not even afford to wash his work uniform. We were supplied with the top, but had to bring our own trousers. His had holes in.
Big shame, as he was a lovely guy, and hard worker. But you could tell when he had been in the lift etc

My husband had to have a word with an employee who had a strong odour. She was incredibly fit, great hygiene etc. She was aware, but not how bad it was. My husband supported her in approaching the gp (she was obviously upset, and didn't know what to do). She eventually discovered she had an allergy to coffee!
My point is, it's not always due to hygiene

So when she stopped drinking coffee did she stop smelling bad?

I've had my share of smelly colleagues. I had one lady who actually got sent home by the area manager and told to have a shower. An hour later she came in with wet hair. Still wearing the same clothes. It was a vicious circle. She would get depressed and let herself go, then people would avoid her because of her smell (you could smell her from the other end of the shop), then get more sad 😢.
Another girl there had really bad breath. I actually thought she farted or pood her pants, it was that bad. Turns out it was gird and she had digestive issues.

I worked with someone who had awful BO. I had a private word with home and he thanked me