| Corporate Training news No Offense, But You Smell: An Odious Job for HR Professionals is Confronting Employees About Body Odor April 2005 A recent online poll at HR.BLR.com found that it’s usually the human resource professional who gets stuck with the uncomfortable task of telling a co-worker that he or she has offensive body odor. Three out of four HR managers responded yes to the question: “Have you ever had to confront an employee about body odor?” . Telling a co-worker that he or she has offensive body odor is not a pleasant job for anyone – but as the guardians of all things having to do with people, it’s usually the human resource professional who gets stuck with this uncomfortable task. HR.BLR.com (“State HR Answers and Tools Online”) asked human resource managers in an online poll: “Have you ever had to confront an employee about body odor?” Of the 633 participants, 74 percent said yes; 26 percent said no. The poll was conducted March 24-31. While there is no “rulebook” for confronting an odorous employee, HR.BLR.com offers these tips to employers: • You must talk to the employee – not leave an anonymous note or a can of deodorant on his desk. Just hold the conversation privately, discreetly, and with as much sensitivity as possible. • Realize that diet or a medical condition might be responsible for the problem. You might suggest, therefore, that the employee visit a doctor. You might also bring the company nurse into the conversation, if you have one. • Stress that this isn’t merely a personal matter – it’s a workplace disruption that must be dealt with. • Don’t be upset if the employee, out of embarrassment, seeks to end the conversation as soon as possible. Just schedule a follow-up meeting in a few days to make sure the problem is being resolved. Ultimately, making one employee uncomfortable now will help to retain others. visit www.BLR. com |
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