Employees with personal hygiene issues are no laughing matter. While the employees who do not have the problem may want to address their co-worker and rectify the matter, this is a situation best left to the manager or the Human Resources professional. If this situation is handled poorly it has potential to cause a hostile work environment. When handled properly, the situation can be resolved and leaves conflict out of the equation.
There a couple of points to consider when approaching an employee regarding undesirable body odor. First, there is potential for this discussion to quickly turn emotional. Managers must hold the conversation in private where other employees cannot overhear. Second, the individual may be unaware that they have body odor or other hygiene problems. Managers must not mistake the person’s surprise for denial. It is important that they approach the topic carefully and do not put the individual on the defensive from the beginning of the conversation.
While there are a myriad of reasons for the cause of body odor, a few of the more common reasons are listed below. While this is not an all encompassing list, it is a beginning to alert managers to the many reasons why body odor occurs. Each person has a different chemical make-up, and managers cannot treat everyone the same when it comes to this sensitive topic. Each person’s situation must be treated individually in order to gain an amicable resolution.
Common Causes of Body Odor
- Certain medications
- Chemical interaction with certain soaps
- Unwashed clothes
- Not bathing on a regular basis
- Limited use of deodorant
- Weather
Body Odor- Ways to Overcome the Issue
- Make arrangements to meet the employee in a confidential setting
- Address the issue with the employee
- Have the employee alert their physician to the problem
- Move the affected employee's desk if possible in an extreme situation
- Follow up with the employee to make sure there is improvement
When an employee has a hygiene issue, it is not just their hygiene at stake. Their feelings also come into play. In general, employees do not want to stand apart from their peers for negative reasons. Employees want to fit into the organizational culture when they come to work each day.
This is an issue that must not go unresolved in the workplace. Managers have a responsibility to provide due diligence and a resolution for both the employee with the issue and those working around them. While it may be an uncomfortable conversation for a manager to have, it can be more uncomfortable for the employee when they discover their peers are gossiping about their problem.
Jennifer Streeter - For the past twenty years, author and executive coach Jennifer Streeter has been managing, coaching, and leading employees in a variety of ...
