July 6th 2023.
The hot weather is upon us, and with it comes the struggle of dealing with excess body odour in the office. It's not easy to stay dry when the heat is this high, and it's only natural that we sweat a bit more than usual. Unfortunately, this can make being in close proximity to someone with an especially strong body odour rather unpleasant.
It can be tempting to bring up the issue with them, but Liz Villani, Founder of BeYourselfAtWork, advises against it. She says that it would be too awkward and potentially damaging to their morale and confidence. It’s probably best to just grit your teeth and deal with it for a few weeks.
That said, there are certain cases where it might be worth bringing up the issue. If the odour is having a genuine negative effect on their work, like if they’re in a sales role, then it could be worth bringing it up. But if they work internally and don’t interact with customers, it’s best to leave it alone.
If you still think it's worth talking about, it should come from a manager and should be done with empathy and integrity. Liz says it's important to be human and talk to them because you care, rather than trying to put on a formal ‘management’ or ‘professional’ persona.
At the end of the day, it's not an easy topic to bring up. But if you think it's really necessary, approach it with care and kindness.
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