Body odor is a sensitive topic, especially in the workplace. It is something very personal, and a lot of people can understandably feel awkward, embarrassed, and even upset if this topic is broached. It doesn’t get any trickier when a female employee is involved since you have to employ the same level of tact, thoughtfulness, and delicacy to find solutions to the dilemma.
Talk to a female employee about body odor by being discreet, diplomatic, and considerate about her emotions. Discuss matters behind closed doors, identify possible culprits, and help her find solutions to this dilemma. To lighten the mood, show her a bit of your funny side.
In this article, we will discuss ways you can tell a female employee she has body odor without making her feel too embarrassed, defensive, or appalled. I will give tips on how you can deal with this in the most discreet ways possible and offer lines you can use to help her realize you’re willing to help her. We will also tap on the usual culprits of body odor, so if you can’t wait to help her get on her way to a rosier future, let’s start!
How To Talk to a Female Employee About Body Odor
You can talk to a female employee about body odor by being discreet and sensitive about the issue. Discuss matters in private and let her know that you’re eager to help — you can even ingest some humor to diffuse tension. Then, offer to assist her in finding solutions to this sticky situation.
1. Do It Behind Closed Doors
Body odor is a highly sensitive topic, especially since it is closely linked to hygiene. It would be understandable if your female employee would feel embarrassed or angry if anybody told her she has body odor because of poor hygiene. However, if you’re in a predicament where it has become absolutely necessary to do something about it, it’s best to tackle this issue privately.
Invite your female employee to a private discussion in your office or in a conference room at work. It should be a closed-door encounter so there would be no chance of anyone eavesdropping or barging in in the middle of your conversation and making your female employee feel even more upset.
You should pick a situation when you believe your employee will be as open and accepting of criticisms as possible. If she already has a lot of struggles going on, either at home or work, then it’s probably best to postpone this discussion.
Be direct with your approach. Tell her early on that you would like to discuss a delicate issue with her. However, clearly state that, although it might make her feel uncomfortable, it isn’t something she should be worried about. Effectively leading a team means you must be able to handle various situations diplomatically, even the most tricky ones.
Here are some lines you might want to use:
- “I’d like to quickly talk to you about a sensitive topic. It isn’t something you should worry about since it doesn’t have anything to do with your work performance. Are you free later before noon?”
- “Would you step into my office, please? We need to briefly talk about a tricky situation here in the workplace, and I’d like to know about your take on it.”
2. Be on Her Side
Telling your female employee that she has body odor might take her completely by surprise. Remember that there is a possibility that she’s completely unaware of her smell, and this is the first time that anybody will discuss such a delicate issue with her. The key is to always be tactful and show empathy.
Let her know and feel that you aren’t attacking her. In fact, you are on her side and are eager to help her work toward effectively addressing this issue. Managing a team of diverse individuals is challenging, and one way to be effective as a leader is to know how to tailor-fit your approach to different personalities and situations.
Have a box of tissues handy since there’s a chance she’ll feel humiliated and cry. A lot of people shed tears when they experience strong emotions. Let her know it’s okay and give her time to process the situation and compose herself.
Here are some ways you can help diffuse the tension and make her feel better:
- “I’m sorry that you’re upset, and I completely understand why you’re feeling that way.”
- “Let’s figure out together how to get through this. Would you like me to help you?”
- “I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings, but I think it’s best that you hear this issue from me rather than from anybody else here at work.”
3. Get Down to the Bottom of It
After you’ve told a female employee about her unpleasant odor, it might help make her feel more at ease if you tackle the matter as professionally and impersonally as you can. Treat it like how you would any sensitive topic at work. Aim for results rather than dwell on the issue.
Uncover possible reasons why she has body odor. It could be due to a variety of factors, and you must help her pinpoint the culprits so you can help her figure out how to eliminate the problem completely.
Here are some of the most common reasons why people have body odor:
Hygiene
Apocrine sweat glands, found in the human body’s hairier regions (such as the scalp, armpits, and genital area), are the main culprits of body odor. When these areas aren’t kept dry and clean, microbes thrive, and an unpleasant odor is apt to develop.
Health Issues
Certain medical conditions, and the supplements or medications being taken for them, can affect how a person smells. Here are some of the more common health issues that can affect the scent of a person’s sweat:
- Diabetes
- Gout
- Hyperhidrosis
- Hyperthyroidism
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Infectious diseases
- Obesity
- Anxiety
- Hormonal fluctuations
- Menopause
Diet
Foods high in sulfur can significantly affect how your body smells. There are also certain components in some of the food and drinks we regularly consume that may trigger body odor. Here are some foods (and drinks) you might suggest that your female employee should avoid to help get rid of her body odor:
- Garlic
- Onions
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Cabbage
- Red meat
- Spices
- Hot sauce
- Alcohol
- Coffee
4. Fall Back on Humor
Depending on your relationship with your female employee and her personality, you might want to inject some humor into this sensitive situation. This might help dampen the blow when you reveal to her that she has body odor.
Give her time to process the information you told her, then assure her that you’re eager to help find solutions to her problem. As they say, laughter is the best medicine, and it can certainly help mend a bruised ego.
Here are some lines you can work with:
- “Would you like me to help you sniff for solutions to this dilemma?”
- “I just caught a whiff of (sniff, sniff) … coffee brewing in the pantry. I’ll get us both a cup, and we can talk about this issue some more.”
Key Takeaways
Telling your female employee, she has body odor is extremely perplexing and embarrassing. However, it is crucial to keep the spotlight on her and make the experience a lot more tolerable and agreeable. Be sensitive and empathetic, yet adamant in helping her find solutions to this dilemma.
Never call out your female employee in public, and don’t make a mockery out of it. Talk to her in private and allow her to express initial emotions, whether it be anger, embarrassment, or shock. Tell her you’re on her side and help her uncover ways to get out of this delicate predicament.
