How to react when an employee doesn’t pass the sniff test
Awkward!
That’s the only word that fits when you have to deal with an employee whose personal hygiene leaves him or her smelling like, well, like something co-workers don’t want to smell.
Should that situation occur with an employee you supervise, here are some techniques for coping:
- Be direct. Some managers may think it’s kinder – or at least easier – to leave a deodorant stick or a bar of soap on the offender’s desk. Don’t. This kind of anonymous “advice” can be seen as threatening behavior. You have the right, and the duty, to tackle head-on a problem that is affecting the work of other employees.
- Be aware of medical issues. Sometimes bodily odors may arise from a medical condition. When talking with the employee, don’t raise that possibility – it could lead to trouble over disability laws. But if the employee brings up a medical issue, be ready to discuss a possible accommodation, or refer the problem to your organization’s expert on disability issues.
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- Be aware of cultural differences. Somebody who eats a lot of spicy or strongly flavored food may end up smelling a little bit like that food. If you’re dealing with a person whose native cuisine is the cause of the odor at issue, be careful not to frame the discussion in a way that suggests their national origin is the problem.
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