Advice please!

[ILovePapaSmurf]

Ok, I need help. We have this co-worker whom I don't get along with and she has a problem which everyone notices. And I feel bad. She has an odor problem and it has been getting worse during the heat wave we are having in So. Cal. To make it worse, she has a fan that directly blows on her and her smell is circulating throughout the office, but mostly where my desk is located on the editorial section. I am trying to light candles around so I can at least smell something other than her, but it does not work. I want to tell her, but I think she will think I am a total bitch for telling her. So, I am asking, how do I do this? I think I've asked this before, but I don't feel like looking for the post. Yes, that's right, I am a lazy bitch...deal with it.

[Zens7s]

You should ask to speak to your human resources representative. Explain the problem and then allow them to take care of it. That is the function of this person. Under no circumstances should you say anything yourself.

[Denyse]

Yeah...What she said.
If HR isn't available, talk to your department manager. You have to work with her and going directly to her is a bad idea and could make for an uncomfortable working environment.

[slizzelizzel]

Put deoderant in her mailbox when no one is looking.

[JK]

Leave a bar of soap and some deodorant on her desk before she gets to work... but in a nice way, like a gift basket from Bath&Bodyworks or something. Kind of a tactical solution before dropping the HR-Bomb.

[Dave]

Drop the HR Bomb first, or talk to your manager, someone with authority about the stinky situation, but don't say anything yourself.

[TomHarrington]

What they said. HR is the way to go. Unless you can be tactful and subtle like, "For the love of Benji, can you please do something about that ghastly funk?"

[Razorback]

If there is no HR help then buy nose plugs or walk around spraying perfume all day. ;)

[Mighty Wingman]

Just keep walking in circles around her desk . Like :

* sniff sniff sniff * What the fuck is that smell ? Do you smell that ? It smells like feet and ass. I'm going to talk to the manager and see if they can figure out where it's coming from.

My first year in college I had a stinky roomy for few weeks. He was actually offending people who didn't even share a room with him.( earned him the name Pigpen) One day a bunch of us bum-rushed him, threw his ass in the shower with his clothes on and squirted him with shampoo dishwashing liquid. After that he never went more than two days without a shower. My nostrils were greatful.

I think the problem ( though he wouldn't admit it) was that he had some public shower anxiety.

[ILovePapaSmurf]

I should be mean and do that, but I decided that i am not going to. I am going to tell one of the 'big dawgs.' Seriously, she tried to talk to me earlier today about something and I had to stand next to an open door for air. I am sorry, but it really bad and I can't stand it. I mean, as much as I can't stand many of the things she does I look past those, but this I can't look pass...nor smell pass for that matter.

[ratm1966]

I actually had two troops a few years ago that had this problem. Well, I wasn't their direct supervisor when everything started, but soon became their supervisor.

They were our systems troops, so that meant they had to go from office to office working on computer issues. People would actually gag when around them. At my initial feedback session with them, I basically told them they will be required to bathe daily and wear clean uniforms when they showed up for work. I then told them that if they violated my policy, I would lower their Performance Rating, which could have an effect on future promotions.

It worked for a while, but then they got a new supervisor and once again became the smelly kids.

We had another troop who got so bad that we sent her back to the dorms with some other females from the workcenter. They were ordered to place her in the shower and bathe her. Of course, they were given this order infront of the entire work center (100+ people) so public humiliation was definitely a factor in the attempt at correcting the problem.

In the military, you can do more to correct problems than you can in the civilian world, and not get into trouble.

[highriskrc]

I think that the best way to deal with this is to give her a 'care' package in this fashion:
Get everyone in the office who notices her rather unpleasant odor to pitch in a few bucks, go to wal-mart and grab a few items like body wash, body spray, exfoliating scrub, and scented soap, give it to her in a basket with a small 'Thank You' card in it, making it look like you all are just thanking her for the work that she does in the office. Hopefully then she will take a fancy to the fragrances and then she will start purchasing the items on her own.
We did it when I worked @ food lion.

[psychofiend]

Ok, I need help. We have this co-worker whom I don't get along with and she has a problem which everyone notices. And I feel bad. She has an odor problem and it has been getting worse during the heat wave we are having in So. Cal. To make it worse, she has a fan that directly blows on her and her smell is circulating throughout the office, but mostly where my desk is located on the editorial section. I am trying to light candles around so I can at least smell something other than her, but it does not work. I want to tell her, but I think she will think I am a total bitch for telling her. So, I am asking, how do I do this? I think I've asked this before, but I don't feel like looking for the post. Yes, that's right, I am a lazy bitch...deal with it.
I'm not touching that with a 20 foot pole.
http://sc.groups.msn.com/tn/2E/F1/AGODFIGHTforallreligions/14/52f.jpg

[Matt1]

My advice is to take only Zens' and Denyse's advice.

[Gotherella]

Hire Assassin to take her down with a hose and some soap on a rope?

[slizzelizzel]

If you have a swimming pool, invite her over for a pool party. Then, fill the pool with soap while she's in it.

Hehe, gotta love the Beverly Hillbillies...

[Denyse]

I've ruined plenty of Jacuzzi pumps with bubble bath...Those hillbillies cost my community pool some money when I was a youngin'.

[Dave]

that would be your community cement pond, actually.

On a semi-related note, i saw in the paper yesterday where Ernest T. Bass from the Andy Griffith show died this week. Did this get any play at all anywhere else in the country, or is Birmingham just a Mayberry kind of town?

[Denyse]

Birmingham=Mayberry

[JK]

that would be your community cement pond, actually.

On a semi-related note, i saw in the paper yesterday where Ernest T. Bass from the Andy Griffith show died this week. Did this get any play at all anywhere else in the country, or is Birmingham just a Mayberry kind of town?

I heard it on the radio yesterday morning. Or was it this morning? Hell, I don't know- it was mentioned though.

[DJ Jr.]

Walk up to her when when it's just the two of ya. Tell her the problem in a understanding honest way,be firm but gentle. She'll appreciate that that she thinks it is just between you and her. She' is in denile and doesn't think she smells. So she doesn't think anyone else noticed as well. Be the "first" to noticed and tell her it's just "begininng" to be a problem. She'll be more receptive, not as embarrassed and might even thank you for looking out for her. Resolve at the lowest level ,always.

[Poopy]

Just tell her she stinks like poop. Then post pictures of her all over the office with the title "poop princess". She'll either shower, quit or sue the company. Either way the poop smell will be gone. Poop.

[slizzelizzel]

Haha, you're funny.


I hate you.

[ILovePapaSmurf]

Just tell her she stinks like poop. Then post pictures of her all over the office with the title "poop princess". She'll either shower, quit or sue the company. Either way the poop smell will be gone. Poop.
Wow, sounds like a great idea! And I'll give her a 'Poop Princess' Crown too!

Idiot.