Co-Worker not smelling so good

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What do you do if one of your co-workers have this "not-so-good-smell" going on with them? I mean those with strong body odors, that you'll get dizzy once you're beside them especially if they are hanging the IV (arms raised). Do you confront them or just pretend that your not smelling anything?

Specializes in Obs & gynae theatres.
Could be cultural.Some cultures dont believe in wearing deordorant or bathing.

Which cultures don't believe in bathing??? :confused:

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Oh, man. I have been there, too -- working with someone who was extremely smelly. The thing is, there are some people who can't wear deoderant due to health reasons (lymph node issues, etc.) so maybe that's the case? Sometimes it's religious ... that's why I have never said anything when in a similar position in the past ...

Corn starch can help under the arms. Or antibiotic ointment, in lieu of deodorant. What religions teach that being smelly is holy? I'm sure there are some, just curious which ones.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
I vote for Management to handle this. That's why they are managers and get paid more - to deal with this type of thing.

If you know the person well, you could gently and privately just broach the subject. Could be clean body but dirty clothes. I have to wash my collars carefully, like by hand with extra soap, as I perspire heavily and I notice that the clothes themselves smell, not me. Or if I don't treat fungal rashes, which are sort of permanent due to elevated blood sugar, I can smell me. So I think others probably can, too, and so I take extra care. I wash at work and apply meds and put on a clean undershirt and shirt if I'm working more than my regular shift.

The best approach is the anonymous letter to the Manager - totally anonymous - no fingerprints, no handwriting, nothing to ID you, if an anonymous note to the person herself doesn't work. Be nice, it could be you.

I would think this was a joke, if not for the comments about suing on another thread. Don't sign it, if you want to be anonymous, but they're not exactly going to fingerprint a letter regarding body odor. :)

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Specializes in LTC, Acute care.

I work with someone in the same predicament but thing is I haven't figured out how to tell him this or even if it's proper for me to do since we are of opposite sexes. I was sorely tempted though during the Christmas season to buy him a secret Santa package filled with deodorants but then I held myself back because I didn't know that these deodorants will be used. I guess I'm pretty much used to his smell but sometimes it bothers me if we're in patient's rooms together just because I feel the patients might think the smell is from both of us. Actually, one time he moved close to a patient to do something and as he stepped out, the patient was like "phew, he stinks" and the nurse in the room agreed with the patient while holding her nose. I felt so bad and embarrassed for him but I guess he didn't hear the comment because he didn't even break stride as he left the room. We work with some guys and frankly I think a guy will listen better and be less embarrassed if another guy talks to him about something like that but so far none of the guys we work with have stepped up so we still are subject to this odor.

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I went to work today and I still haven't got the guts to tell her! Good thing we're not assigned together. Hehe.

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Which cultures don't believe in bathing??? :confused:

These things are not taught usually in sociology. This I came to know because some nationalities have this distinct smell. Maybe its what they eat. Their noses are immune to their odor.

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I work with someone in the same predicament but thing is I haven't figured out how to tell him this or even if it's proper for me to do since we are of opposite sexes. I was sorely tempted though during the Christmas season to buy him a secret Santa package filled with deodorants but then I held myself back because I didn't know that these deodorants will be used. I guess I'm pretty much used to his smell but sometimes it bothers me if we're in patient's rooms together just because I feel the patients might think the smell is from both of us. Actually, one time he moved close to a patient to do something and as he stepped out, the patient was like "phew, he stinks" and the nurse in the room agreed with the patient while holding her nose. I felt so bad and embarrassed for him but I guess he didn't hear the comment because he didn't even break stride as he left the room. We work with some guys and frankly I think a guy will listen better and be less embarrassed if another guy talks to him about something like that but so far none of the guys we work with have stepped up so we still are subject to this odor.

Aww, I feel bad for that person. I think he wouldn't take offense to the gift if it was a bunch of toiletries and not "specifically" deodorants. Maybe a gift kit from Davidoff that includes a bar of soap, lotion, and the most important; the "deodorant".

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This is out of the topic:

I once had a classmate way back in high school and she was really pretty. The only problem is she stinks like a dead cat. And she's always the talk of the batch and I was wondering if she knows that our whole high school batch is talking about her bad odor.

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Specializes in Army Medic.

First off, and this is just my opinion - going to management over something like this is rude, and is going to make the person feel ostracized.

Cowboy up and tell them they smell bad, big deal. You're all supposed to be on the same team here.

What would you rather receive if you were in their shoes? A co worker telling you that they think you've got some funky body odor, or management coming to you saying people are complaining that you've got funky body odor?

Yes, it's an embarrassing topic - but a whole 30 second conversation will probably fix the entire problem!

There are medical conditions that will affect the bodies odor as well. Being malnourished, the types of food you put into your body, etc.

In all honesty, they're probably just not putting on deodorant. If you think it's a cultural thing THEN it might be appropriate to put it forward to management, but if this is your average American who knows better - you need to just step up to the plate - in the amount of time you've spent posting, replying to, and reading through this thread you could have told her ten times over!

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You know, my fiance had a horrible odor coming from him off and on for a year! I never wanted to say anything, but he is one of the cleanest people ever! After a year I let him know he smelled gross and he preceeded to tell me he had an infected tooth up in his nasal cavity and anytime he had a cold it would secrete a mucous type fluid, hense the odor. We got him to the endodontist and he fixed it. . lol

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OK.

DirtyBlackSocks... ummm, well, let me just get right down to it. You need to change your dirty black socks.

:hpygrp:

Sorry, had to do it... just had my second :cheers:. I am a flea-weight as far as tolerance goes :D

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Specializes in CTICU.

Wait until she hangs an IV near you and say "Peee--ewww! Did you go to the gym before work? I can loan you some deodorant if you want?"

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