Edit: just spoke to a supervisor like 15 minutes ago, she assured me she would handle it 🤞🤞
Edit 2: i told him myself. He made a comment about being up front about things so i took that opportunity to let him know what was bothering me, and he took it well. Let’s see how the week improves.
Just started a new job about a month and a half ago. This person in question has already been spoken to by a supervisor about an “odor” about 2 weeks ago, and now it is unbearable.
I like to think I’m a patient person, and pretty considerate of others’ feelings, but i just know that no matter how i word this he’s gonna just take it as being bullied at work rather than taking advice on what needs to change.
If it helps: dude has a girlfriend that he just CANNOT stop texting throughout the day, and it’s obvious that she’s got him on a leash. He keeps misplacing things, and sometimes doing double the work because she won’t leave him alone.
I’ve been that guy. I had an old pair of boots that I would occasionally wear to work, and I had become nose-blind to the odor. One of my coworkers pulled me aside and said “Dude, I think those boots are starting to decompose.”
It was embarrassing, but I’m very glad he told me and I was more mortified that I was so oblivious. I thanked him for having the courage to do the awkward thing and bring it to my attention, and asked him to let me know if he notices it with any other footwear. Apparently, it had been the talk of the office, and coworkers would avoid me on days when I wore those boots.
So my advice is to say something directly, privately, and with kindness.
As for the girlfriend stuff, that’s a whole different level of personal. I’d leave that out of the conversation until/unless you know him better.
The girlfriend thing was just more additional info to help anyone out understand the kind of person i am dealing with. She might not have anything to do with his odor, but she’s not helping it either. Especially when on multiple occasions he’s mentioned not having a lot of money because his “lady” (the title he gives her is “my lady”) always needs something.
I won’t bring her into it at all, but i do appreciate the help.
One time I was working in a different office than I usually do, and made a comment along the lines of “what’s that smell? Do you guys smell that?” I was mortified to learn after one person left the room that it was his shoes, and they all seemed to think it was funny that I was unknowingly calling this person out.