Dude ... perhaps some Right Guard?

Here's an interesting stat I found while flipping through Training + Development, a magazine that circulates through our office. It states that an online poll conducted by Business and Legal Reports (BLR) found that 74% of HR professionals have had to talk to an employee about his or her offensive body odour.

BLR suggests these tips for HR when dealing with the malodorous employee:

• Talk to the employee personally, privately, and with as much sensitivity as possible.
• Realize that diet or a medical condition could cause the problem. Suggest that the person visit a doctor, or you can include the company nurse in the conversation.
• Emphasize that this isn't just a personal issue; it's a workplace disruption that must be resolved.
• Don't be surprised if the worker tries to cut the conversation short out of embarrassment.

BLR says that it's worth making one employee uncomfortable in order to keep others.

... Mr. Smith, before we hire you, may we contact your former employers?
... Noooooo!!!