Bad body odour - would you tell them?
By carmelbg
@carmelbg (519)
October 23, 2009 7:17am CST
If someone you knew had bad body odour would you tell them? If it was a work colleague, friend or family member would you be able to come out and tell them. I used to manage someone with bad personal hygiene and I had to have this conversation with them. I found it uncomfortable as its quite a personal thing to say to someone, nevertheless I still did it as it was making the working envirnmoent uncomfortable. They were also customer facing so it was not good for business. Could you tell someone they smelled bad?
8 responses
@BART78 (2927)
• Canada
23 Oct 09
...hi carmen...i encountered this before in my work place but it's not a bad odor issue, its bad breath, i throwed the same question on our community wall and one of the respondent gave me a nice idea and it works, try reverse psychology, like telling the guy "do i smell bad today?"..
@theptcnetworks (575)
• Pitcairn
23 Oct 09
so how did your friend reacted?
I also have a friend who has that BO, but since it was just mild, I didn't bothered to tell him, either directly or indirectly.. after some time, its gone.. so its fine..
@ruths77 (21)
• Australia
24 Oct 09
Good for you to do that, not easy for me to do that. If it's not really close friends, I might tell them like pretending talk about a new product and smells so good and recommend them to try, but if it's very close friends, talk to them when they're alone and try in nice way to explain it, I think not to worry how they will react as long you already try your best in nice way to help them and the environment as well.
@wjtexjonny (16)
• China
24 Oct 09
There is no doubt about it.colleague as well,friend as well,even my leader.He never mind it if nobody tell him.No malice,just remind friendly.
@suisuideying (88)
• China
24 Oct 09
i think i would embarrassed to say,very embarrassing,he will be very embarrassed.
say more later meet.
@frenzybabe (92)
• Philippines
24 Oct 09
If it affects other people especially their job, i would definitely tell him/her. I would talk to her privately or probably drop hints here and there. But if she doesn't get the clue, then ill talk to her directly and break it gently so as she wouldn't be embarrassed. I would explain why i have to tell her that, the effects to the client and to her associates. At least in this way, she would understand that it's not only her personal hygiene we're talking about but the repercussions to her relationship with other people.
@LdeL0318 (6402)
• Philippines
23 Oct 09
I would definitely tell him or her. The intention was not to humiliate or embarrassed the person but to at least let him or her know that he had that. It is better to tell the person so that he/ she would be aware and can make something to change it.
@mrfdg1972 (3237)
• Philippines
23 Oct 09
if it is a friend, family colleague, definite yes, you should. and you can say it in a nice like, "what's the name of your deodorant, it does not work good, why dont you try ______?"
