Smelly CoWorkers
By TeamCholent
@TeamCholent (2832)
United States
June 30, 2011 10:58pm CST
A few weeks back we had this really bad smelling co-worker at our office. No matter how much we asked and pleaded they refused to get fresh so the time came and they were fired. It just wasn't fair to everyone else who bought air freshener to try and neutralize the smell.
On the radio they were discussing this very same topic and it seems its a growing event. Has this ever happened to you and how would you deal with a smelly coworker?
3 people like this
12 responses
@celticeagle (165954)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Jul 11
Yes, it has happened to me. I did have a large woman that set right across from me at one job I had years ago. I went to the supervisor and she talked to this person. She did end up getting fired. I felt bad but actually it was a collection of several things so I didn't feel like it was all the bad body smell.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (165954)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Jul 11
Back then I did feel bably. That was about twenty five years ago. Now I would just do what had to be done and move on.
1 person likes this
@TeamCholent (2832)
• United States
1 Jul 11
Until you mentioned how long ago you experienced this I thought it might have been the same person. Our worker was fired for many factors, the smell just happened to be one of them(she also cost us thousands of dollars in errors).
1 person likes this
@frontvisions101 (16043)
• Philippines
1 Jul 11
Thankfully, I haven't had this kind of co-worker. Or maybe I haven't noticed them yet. Maybe if you ask him nicely about taking care of his hygiene then he'll straighten up.1 person likes this
@frontvisions101 (16043)
• Philippines
2 Jul 11
Thankfully, that's the case.
Now your building is bad-odor free, cherish it.
Now your building is bad-odor free, cherish it.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
5 Jul 11
Came into a department as a new supervisor, had to talk to a guy who had some significant body odor. I remember being very indirect.
@laniekins (4579)
• Philippines
1 Jul 11
On my previous job, we have Production Operators who works on the machine without A/C so they really sweat a lot and 98% are males. They are really smelly but I do not care cause I understand their nature of job. But in the office is a different case, I don't think I can stand with officemate that is too smelly. Thank God it haven't happen to me and pray will not.
1 person likes this
@TeamCholent (2832)
• United States
1 Jul 11
I can understand that as their work involves toil. With this worker, they were in an office that had plenty of A/C, the issue was not the heat of the day but rather the lack of shower for days on end. Hope you never experience the same thing we did.
@laniekins (4579)
• Philippines
4 Jul 11
I see, well I've experienced it once only when he came to me, I've noticed that he didn't take a shower but it's bearable. Most Filipinos do take a shower before going to work, even going just a walking distance from their home. There are a very few, mostly poor and men who didn't take a bath before going to work or somewhere else.
I had this one experience at the mall, there are two cute Asian guys, I wouldn't reveal their nationality. I was merely near to them, after they go, I step on the same spot as where they've been and I moved back, I can't bear the smell. It's obvious that they didn't take a bath plus the original smell of their body, I think it's because of what they eat. They look clean outside but when you go closely you will smell a rotting mouse like.
When my brother went home from KSA, he told us that there are other nationalities that didn't take a bath too. He hardly breathe on the bus with that foul smell of his co-worker. That is an ordeal he's dealing with every single day in KSA.
@sophiecheer (931)
• Philippines
2 Jul 11
I can tolerate someone with dirty clothes-like there's a smudge or something in it. But if he/ she is reeking of odor..forget it! I don't like smelly things much more smelly people. It is just a matter of hygiene and personal care. If people neglect to take care of their body, they are much less likely to take care of other things.
But there are some industries or work nature that personal hygiene is not made appropriate or less likely to be put more attention. Like for example mechanic/ automotives.
@TeamCholent (2832)
• United States
2 Jul 11
That is a given. I am not expecting a mechanic to come to work in a suit and tie but in an office you have to dress the part and also act the part and ensure your odur is fine.
@sophiecheer (931)
• Philippines
2 Jul 11
A mechanic whose work dress is suit and tie! That indeed is funny! Indeed we need to dress appropriately in our work. And I think that personal hygiene must be practiced by anyone-an act of consideration to others, especially to our fellow co workers.
That indeed is funny! Indeed we need to dress appropriately in our work. And I think that personal hygiene must be practiced by anyone-an act of consideration to others, especially to our fellow co workers.
@TeamCholent (2832)
• United States
1 Jul 11
Wow, in the food business it should be a must! How can one handle food if they can't handle their own hygiene? I agree 10000% with you! Shower power or stay home! 
@marriedman111399 (1207)
• United States
1 Jul 11
it has never happened to me but if it did I would ask them to freshen up because the smell is bad coming from them and it is bothering me to work with them. I would also tell them that they might get fired if they dont clean up. I would offer to but them some stuff to help them get clean if they would use it. I hope it does not happen to me. I do run into people that come into the place I work at that smell and I cant stand it sometime. I just have to leave the area.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
1 Jul 11
I think that most likely this coworker was feeling down on themselves and so that is one reason why they did not shower. They just lacked any kind of motivation to worry about hygiene, and it probably go to the point that they did not even notice their own stench, or it started to become a good aroma for them.
It's not fair to everyone else, no, but now this person is jobless and probably even worse off. Not that it isn't partially their own fault, but I just wish something else could have been done, maybe a writeup instead of being fired.
@GemmaR (8517)
•
1 Jul 11
I hate it when people are like that. There is no excuse for not being clean and healthy, and if people actually smell then it can have an effect not just on their work, but also the work of others around them meaning that the company will suffer in the long term. Because of this I think that it was right that he was fired, as personal hygiene is very important indeed. I have a friend who has bad body odour, and whenever I go into his place of work I can smell it if he is in there. I don't know whether his co-workers feel the same, but I think that they probably do because I can notice it just from walking into the shop.
@surfer222 (1714)
• Indonesia
1 Jul 11
i honestly don't understand why people can get fired because of their smell, because some people are just geneticaly produce more odor than other. For example, my feet didn't sweat easily so after work if i open my shoe and my socks it doesn't as smelly as my friend. My other friend is the opposite, he take a bath on 7 AM, by mid-day his body already start smelly. So in my opinion we should not fired people just because he is smelly, maybe it his genetic and nothing he can do to stop it. If the company think that his smell is a problem then at least the company should consider asking him to go to the doctor first before they fire him.
@denise8589 (10)
•
1 Jul 11
my friend doesn't wash much and this annoys me because he makes out hes doing it under protest but protest against what? soap c'mon man!
the sad thing is hes 50 and hes lost his sense of pride in his appearance.
