Summer is coming and my co-workers stink. Help!

Dear Aunty B,

I work in an office with a warehouse attached and as summer is approaching I feel the need to take action. The problem is my warehouse co-workers stink – in the smelly sense and it’s only going to get worse.

What is the best way to approach them so that we can eliminate the stench without causing drama?

Any advice is much appreciated!

If you publish this – please don’t publish my name!

Thanks,
C

Dear C,

Are you nuts? You tell them. Straight to their face. What you do is tell them that summer is coming and they probably have not noticed but the general pong level is growing. Ask that in the interests of co-workers you would like them to wear deodorant. Buy a few bottles and leave them in the bathroom. Explain that if they have any special needs they can also be accommodated.

It is okay to have a bit of humour in the initial briefing but if anyone ignores you, pull them aside and put it to them like this: are they being respectful of fellow workers?

Keep stressing the respect aspect and the fact that they are in a shared environment, they are adults – not stinky teenagers whose brains are underdeveloped – and is there any particular issue that you can work with them on regarding their smell?

They might grab that deodorant just to avoid the topic!

So go on. And think what a community service you are doing: from the milk bar owner who has to serve them lunch to their poor spouses, we thank you one and all!

Good luck,
Your Aunty B