Working with people who smell

Deiwos · 27 Sep 2011 at 15:06

My desk at work is downwind of the aircon unit and directly between me and the aircon unit is a girl of quite a large stature. She smells. It's that kind of BO where it's a bit like stale sweat, like she doesn't know soap exists and insteads walks near the shower periodically and claims this is washing herself.

The smell is one that lingers and can be smelt from further away, plus it really gets up your nose.

Now I know I can report it to my manager but I can't work out if I'm being overly sensitive to this and it's not as bad as I think, or just that other people are putting up with it like me.

So, people of OcUK I ask you, do you work with/near someone who smells and if so, have you done or do you do anything about it?

cm1179 · 27 Sep 2011 at 15:07

get a female colleague to tell her. you do realise what you could do to this woman if you handle this wrong?

Gilly · 27 Sep 2011 at 15:07

Report it. That's a part of your manager's job.

They should be trained in how to deal with challenging conversations.

Westie · 27 Sep 2011 at 15:08

Go run up to her and maniacally spray frebreeze all over her! Then walk off! She might get the hint!

Hastarius · 27 Sep 2011 at 15:08

Buy a bar of soap, put it on her desk discreetly.

Cosimo · 27 Sep 2011 at 15:09

Tell your boss.

Dugganator · 27 Sep 2011 at 15:10

Speak to you boss about it. As crazy as it sounds sometimes people dont know they smell so have to be told to have a bath/shower more then once a week. I have worked with people like this and normally a friend chat will resolve the issue but this might be better coming from your manager. Hopefully they wont take it to heart.

Father Ted · 27 Sep 2011 at 15:11

Go up to her and throw a bucket of soapy water over her then slam the bucket on her head, subtle yet effective.

The IPB · 27 Sep 2011 at 15:12

My Dad had to tell someone at his work that they needed a bath, their response was that they bathed twice a week, and wasn't this enough? lol

kokuten · 27 Sep 2011 at 15:12

go tell her she stinks.. and then hit her..... romance is never dead

wildman · 27 Sep 2011 at 15:13

Take her outside and hose her down with a fire hose and deck brush army style. I sugges use of carbolic soap, it cleans the places no other soap can clean !!

Participant · 27 Sep 2011 at 15:13

I sometimes walk into the purchasing manager's office while he's in there, just to rip out a rotten fart. He doesn't seem to mind; maybe you should just put up with it?

InertProtocol · 27 Sep 2011 at 15:14

Stick lots of air freshners under her desk.

Then call her a stinky minger...

The IPB · 27 Sep 2011 at 15:16

Walk up to her, fart directly on her then proclaim she now smells better.

Rameses · 27 Sep 2011 at 15:16

Print out a little note about it so to hide your handwriting, and buy a box of soap and when everyone's gone, put it on her desk.

Cosimo · 27 Sep 2011 at 15:19

Surround her desk with deodorants air fresheners and soap.

edscdk · 27 Sep 2011 at 15:19

Gilly said:
Report it. That's a part of your manager's job.

They should be trained in how to deal with challenging conversations.

Oi fats, you stink... £$%^ off home and wash

/job done

nickrose · 27 Sep 2011 at 15:20

Amusing as some of these suggestions are...

Seriously, you need to let your Manager deal with it. If handled incorrectly you could end up in a whole heap of trouble.

I have had to do this in the past, and whilst not an easy job, it has to be done.

HNR1 · 27 Sep 2011 at 15:21

Robbie G said:
I sometimes walk into the purchasing manager's office while he's in there, just to rip out a rotten fart. He doesn't seem to mind; maybe you should just put up with it?

he has more than likely got a scat fetish and thinks you are coming on to him

mrk · 27 Sep 2011 at 15:24