IF your co-worker smelled bad, would you tell them? and what would you...
By saralee1
@saralee1 (1983)
United States
February 7, 2007 4:08am CST
suggest to them?
This happened awhile back, maybe 6 months ago. But, I had to take a co-worker with me on a regular basis to our job site in a construction area from the office since she didn't have a car. Immediately, I noticed she had a foul body odor. thinking maybe she just forgot to take a shower that day, I brushed it off as nothing. However, the next day, the same thing happened. Knowing we had a 25 minute drive, I rolled down the windows once again, and planned on telling her later. That night, on the way back to the office, I finally told her.
"You really need to take a shower, you stink"
Amazingly, she didn't get upset, and I learned a little more about her that day. seems she hasn't had running water in 7 years, living at a campsite. No showers, you see!
So, I let her use the bathroom at my place, and off she went.
yep! as easy as that!
have any horror stories? I think I just got lucky!
6 responses
@hariharbhat (1312)
• India
7 Feb 07
It is better to seek advice from such co-worker in sincere expression.Don't convey anytime that he/she is the person in question.Later afterthoughts would come to him/her and they would improve.
Try this,it will work.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
22 Feb 07
I once worked with a man who seemed to never wear deodorant he would shower but by mid day he would almost blow you down with bad body odor. I never said anything ot him I never had the heart to but that didn't stop a few other people from voicing their opinion we had to work standing next to each other and always moving about so it wasn't a distant thing. If I smelled I would want to be told about it I think but I would like to told in a gentle manner. Me, If I ever did say something to someone I would say whew I need a long hot shower, How about you? And then a person could tell you if that is the reson they stink is because they have no water.
@willocfc (963)
• Australia
7 Feb 07
I had the same problem with a co worker of mine once too, although i was a little more subtle than you and didn't say " you really need a shower, you stink" :P but i did take them aside and tell them about the problem and after that they made a more conscious effort in their personal hygiene.
1 person likes this
@saralee1 (1983)
• United States
7 Feb 07
Ok, this is going to be funny then, because I was in the same situation(sorta!) In school, I had 6 brothers and sisters. Our dad had us limit our showers to twice a week (that is gross, now that I think of it!) Instead of anyone telling me that I stunk, (which i knew I did, btw) they sent me to the nurse, along with other kids that stunk (they rounded us up) and handed us a bar a soap, deodorant, a toothbrush and toothpaste. that is how they told us! silly me, I thought it was for gym! ( I think back on this, and have to laugh MAO!)
well, by my senior year, my friend invited me over, and just blurted it out finally. "You stink!"
yeah, I was shocked. mortified. humiliated. but then I was mad (that came later) that nobody told me.
that was they way I was brought up, after all.
So, yeah, I was direct with my co-worker, however to my suprise, she had heard it many times before. she was just stuck in circumstance, not because she didn't want to do anything about it.
(and, oh yeah, I shower everyday now LOL!)
@racheld (840)
• United States
22 Feb 07
A woman that I work with smells like urine. She is the receptionist at our work place and the whole area smells like urine. It has been said that she wears diapers because she can't control herself, but even in the morning when she comes in, she leaves a distinct odor. I recently found out her house smells the same and no one has the heart to tell her. We leave automatic air freshners up at the reception desk and it still doesn't cover up the odor. It's gotten so bad that when you just walk past the reception desk, it hits you like a brick wall. I've only been here about 8 months and some of my co-workers have worked with her for at least two years, so I don't feel right about saying something. What do you think I should do??
