Is there a way to tell an employee they smell and need to work on their hygiene?

[mart33n]

What is the name of your state? CA

I have an employee that now has very strong body odor. I just can't stand to be around her anymore so it is making work difficult. I know I have a right to fire employees without cause here, but it would really be a shame since she is otherwise a good employee and has worked here for a long time. Is there anyway I can tell her to work on that without it getting in legal trouble for harassment or something?

 

[cbg]

Is there an HR department? If there is, this should really come from them.

If not, come back and we'll work it out. I've had to do that once or twice as an HR manager.

 

[mart33n]

Is there an HR department? If there is, this should really come from them.

If not, come back and we'll work it out. I've had to do that once or twice as an HR manager.

No HR department. This is a small family business.

 

[cbg]

Have you had complaints from anyone else?

 

[mart33n]

No, but she is the only other office worker. The others are in the field.

 

[cbg]

Okay, let me give this some thought with that in mind. Remind me if you don't hear back from me by tomorrow evening.

 

[Just Blue]

No, but she is the only other office worker. The others are in the field.

Is is a "hasn't bathed in a month" kinda smell or she just doesn't use deodorant kinda smell?

 

[mart33n]

Okay, let me give this some thought with that in mind. Remind me if you don't hear back from me by tomorrow evening.

Okay. Thank you

 

[cbg]

Sometimes it's a medical or even a religious issue, too. I once had to deal with an employee whose religion mandated certain bathing restrictions. Do not ask me any more what religion it was; I don't remember any more. But we had several other employees from his home country who, while complaining to me about the smell, acknowledge that the religious angle was real and not just an excuse.

 

[mart33n]

Is is a "hasn't bathed in a month" kinda smell or she just doesn't use deodorant kinda smell?

I can't say I've ever experience the "hasn't bathed in a month" smell, but maybe. I'd say it's like she didn't use deodorant after a workout except way way more powerful. Like standing within a few feet of her it smells more like your nose is directly in her armpit. The smell just kind of lingers too and it takes a while to air out the place out.

We're subcontractors and I've worked in this industry for a long time so I'd say I'm used to smelling sweaty construction guys on occasion, but she actually is worse than them in the summer.

 

[mart33n]

Sometimes it's a medical or even a religious issue, too. I once had to deal with an employee whose religion mandated certain bathing restrictions. Do not ask me any more what religion it was; I don't remember any more. But we had several other employees from his home country who, while complaining to me about the smell, acknowledge that the religious angle was real and not just an excuse.

Maybe it's medical then. I don't think it's religious because she's been here for years and this has never been an issue before.

 

[not2cleverRed]

Maybe it's medical then. I don't think it's religious because she's been here for years and this has never been an issue before.

So... It's a recent development.

 

[cbg]

Medical is a possibility, but just plain poor hygiene is also. Let me think about the best way to approach it for a bit.

 

[mart33n]

So... It's a recent development.

Fairly recent in comparison to her whole time employed here. I'd say I first noticed the issue around Christmas, but it would just be in a blue moon for like a day or so. This past week it was constant and stronger and I just can't handle it anymore.

 

[not2cleverRed]

Fairly recent in comparison to her whole time employed here. I'd say I first noticed the issue around Christmas, but it would just be in a blue moon for like a day or so. This past week it was constant and stronger and I just can't handle it anymore.

That's fairly recently. So either she's changed, or you changed.

Let's eliminate the possibility that it's you. Get a physical. (It's unlikely, but can't hurt.)