How to Deal With a Colleague Who Has Body Odor

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Learn the cause of body odor and how to address the issue

Co-authored by Tami Claytor and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: September 5, 2024 Fact Checked

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• How to Address Body Odor at Work
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• Why Body Odor Occurs
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• How to Manage Body Odor
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• Video

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Body odor can feel like a taboo topic to discuss in the workplace, but it’s easy to address with a little empathy and discretion. In this article, we’ll cover how to respectfully tackle this issue on the job. We’ll also cover why body odor can be a persistent issue for some people, and how you can confidently conquer any body odor issues you might be having at work

Things You Should Know

• Talk to a supervisor (like an HR rep) if one of your colleagues frequently has poor body odor.
• If you’re a manager, speak privately with the employee in question. Be polite and treat them with empathy and respect when you address the issue.
• Keep in mind that body odor can be caused by things out of a person’s immediate control, like certain medical issues, including diabetes or liver disease.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

How to Address Body Odor at Work

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1. 
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   Report the issue to a superior if you’re an employee. Conversations related to body odor are best addressed by an HR rep or supervisor rather than a regular employee. Don’t bother dropping hints—just report the situation and let a superior handle it.
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   Speak to the individual directly and privately if you’re a manager. Take the person aside rather than speaking with them out in the open, since body odor can be a pretty sensitive issue to discuss. State the issue clearly without beating around the bush.

   • Steer clear of phrases like “This is difficult to say…” or “I don’t mean to offend you…” These can do more harm than good, even if you’re trying to cushion what you’re hoping to say.
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   Make the conversation less awkward by practicing empathy. Remind the employee that everyone can be a little smelly from time to time—this can help them feel a little less called out. Explain that you want the best for them and their career, rather than mentioning that people have complained.

   • What not to say: “Please don’t take this the wrong way, but some people have complained about your body odor.”
   • What to say: “I just wanted to give you a heads-up that your body odor has been a little noticeable over the past few weeks. It’s not a big deal—I know that I definitely don’t smell like a rose all the time—but I just wanted to let you know. Is this something you could keep an eye on in the coming days and weeks?”
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   Factor in cultural or medical reasons for the odor. A variety of different circumstances and conditions can cause body odor, including a person’s diet, exercise habits, and medical history. The employee might not have much control over what they smell like.

   • Important note: In the United States, body odor can be covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act if it’s related to a medical condition. In this case, you may have to give the employee extra accommodations so they (and their coworkers) can comfortably work.
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   Address body odor in your workplace dress code if you’re the manager. Outline clear policies regarding personal hygiene in your workplace dress code. That way, if someone violates these rules by coming to work with bad body odor, you’ll have an easier way to address the issue.
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Section 2 of 3:

Why do people have body odor?

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1. 
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   Medical conditions A variety of medical conditions can lead to foul- or strange-smelling body odor.

   • Diabetes: Diabetic ketoacidosis (a dangerous complication of diabetes) can give body odor a more fruity smell.
   • Kidney or liver disease: These conditions may create a bleach-like body odor.
   • Trimethylaminuria: Also known as “fish odor syndrome,” this incurable condition can cause a person to have a persistently bad body odor. For some people, this condition is genetic.
   • Hyperhidrosis: Hyperhidrosis is a medical term for sweating a lot, which can lead to body odor.
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   Cultural reasons Some research shows that people of certain ethnic backgrounds (like Native North Americans) are less likely to sweat than other groups (like Caucasians). This could explain why some people are more prone to sweating (and body odor) than others.

   • A person’s diet can also factor into their body odor. Someone who frequently eats foods like onion, cabbage, garlic, broccoli, MSG, curry, or curry might have a worse body odor.
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   Poor hygiene Body odor is caused when bacteria on the skin mixes with sweat. People have more body odor when they exercise, are stressed out, or if the weather is hot. If the person in question doesn't shower or bathe each morning, doesn't use deodorant or antiperspirant, or doesn't wear clean clothes each day, they may have noticeable body odor.
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Section 3 of 3:

How to Manage Your Body Odor at Work

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1. 
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   Wear antiperspirant or deodorant every day. Apply antiperspirant or swipe deodorant in your underarms each morning to prevent yourself from unpleasant body odor later on.

   • Antiperspirants can be helpful if you sweat frequently, while deodorants prevent bacteria from developing on your skin (and help improve body odor overall).
   • If sweaty feet are an issue for you, consider using foot powder.
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   Wear odor-friendly materials to work. Slip into clothes made with natural materials (think silk, wool, and cotton) before heading to the workplace for the day.

   • Steer clear of garments with a tighter weave, like nylon, which can increase sweating and lead to body odor.
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   Clean the sweatiest parts of your body twice daily. Before and after work, take a little time to wash and dry the parts of your body that tend to be the sweatiest, like your underarms, feet, and groin.
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   Get a doctor’s note if your body odor is out of your control. Your workplace is required to accommodate you if your body odor is tied to a medical issue. Getting a doctor’s note helps confirm this for your employer.

   • When requesting a doctor’s note, ask them if they have any advice on how to best manage the body odor. You can then relay this info to your supervisor.
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