How to tell employee they smell

[Dingdong99]

We've just taken in a new person at work

He's 23, and I've noticed he has a bit of bad breath, but the bigger problem is the body odour

It's a client facing role and I get that it's hot but still

I feel bad but need to say something. How would you deliver this without giving him a complex / making me hate him forever!

@CallistoMoon I think so. I've had recurring tonsillitis for years so my tonsils are pitted and I can "taste" when I have one
Because I know what they're like I can also smell if people have them, it's unmistakable
If you don't have a bad taste, can't see white stones in your throat and don't cough them up then you're probably ok

Its potentially about his wellbeing, not line manager.

I would tell the whole team that there has been some complaints so you are issuing a new policy. Don’t specifically pull him up individually. He probably has some awareness but maybe doesn’t realise how bad it is.

Which is the role of the line manager. By all means get Hr advice but just because it’s a difficult conversation to have doesn’t mean it should be had.

I disagree- telling the whole team you might as well put a neon arrow above his head. They’ll all know who it’s about. Just have the conversation directly. He may not be aware so a soft all team email isn’t going to have an impact

Be aware that some people, especially youngsters, whiff even though they've had a shower/used antiperspirant/ put on clean clothes. It's not just a question of not washing or poor hygiene.
Are there shower facilities at work ? Maybe flag these up, explaining that people who've cycled or run to work might want to use them, and in hot weather people travelling on public transport can get hot and sweaty too.
If there are not shower facilities, that is a problem in itself- hard to make positive suggestions if they can't actually wash at work.

I agree with this. Don't say that a customer has complained. It's untrue.

I’ve been in 2 workplaces with a smelly colleague. On each occasion the manager took the full team in for a chat but it did nothing. Especially as one of the offenders was very verbal during the meeting about it being disgusting that people came to work smelly. All the while his team glared at him thinking ‘it’s you!’

This. Best advice so far. Saves embarrassment all round and save a face to face conversation if things don't improve.

All you've done there is describe what everyone does! Although change the gel for soap as gels don't clean properly

Ugh I've had a few colleagues like this, glad you are doing something about it as our management were too useless

He stinks you smell him.

I worked with a guy who had BO. The loveliest guy ever. I was new to the office and everyone knew. It wasn't awful but it was bad enough. And honestly, it wasn't fair to him. So I had to sort the issue out for his sake as well as ours. So I took my boss aside and told him he had to tell him and it needed to be done by close of day.
That seemed to solve the problem.

Managers should have these types of conversations, not HR.

OP you just have to be factual and honest. I’ve had to do it. Yes it was tough but it needed to be said. Yes it improved things.

Obviously, the response will be something like he lives with his mum and dad in a five bedroom detached in Godalming, but:

1. Does he even have a shower? Lots of cheaper shared places don't. Council/social accommodation doesn't as standard (before we get the 'my cousin's aunt's babysitter has one fitted).
2. Can he afford to pay for the rent/water/electricity to run a bath/shower or two every day?
3. Does he have a washing machine? Does he have drying facilities? Is there even a launderette within walking distance?
4. Are you paying him enough to be able to resolve any issue from lack of money? Or will he be deciding between council tax or a second pair of shoes?

@AlfietheSchnauzer except they don't! Look at the threads about do you wash your legs and feet on here
Or how often do you shower
Or do you floss
My ex thought getting in the shower, splashing some shower gel about and the water would wash his feet was fine and had never flossed in his life
There's a whole thing about men not washing their bum as "it's gay"

Just tell them, I’d say something along lines of ‘have you forgotten deodorant again today?’ & then they’ll either get the hint & do something about or decide they don’t care enough to do anything about it

oh I feel for you, so awkward. My DH had to do this once, guy was quite a close mate so much much easier and done in humour. Your situation is tricky so discuss with HR.

This is a dreadful thing to say. Bad advice.

Nope, it's bad management to do a blanket comms when you need to be talking to 1 person.

Plus it's no good if he's smelling despite doing all of those things.

It’s more dreadful to be subjected to another person’s poor hygiene, that’s far more offensive

Cool, good attitude. Sure it's v constructive.

It's not an email to everyone,just go him.

**to

This is the best idea, make it general. I couldn’t embarrass someone by singling them out, I just couldn’t do it.

Send an email like my friends son got from the headteacher ‘we’ve noticed some of the boys are a bit pongy and we’d like you to remind them that there’s no need to be scared of a shower & a good anti perspirant’