How to tell an employee they have body odour (what to say)

Before you start

• Find a private room and a time near the end of the day, so they can leave afterwards if they want to.
• Do not mention who complained, and never raise it in front of anyone.
• Be ready for a medical or personal reason, and know what support your company offers.

1. OPEN WITH[Name], this is a slightly awkward conversation, and I want to have it privately because I care about how you are seen here.
2. I have noticed a body odour on a few days recently, and I wanted to let you know before it becomes something people talk about.
3. I am not assuming anything about why. Sometimes there is a health reason, or something going on at home.
4. Is there anything I should know, or anything we can help with?
5. Thanks for hearing this. As far as I am concerned, it stays between us.

Replace the [brackets] with real details. Say it in your own words; the structure matters more than the exact wording.

If they say…

What to avoid

• Hinting with deodorant left on their desk or a team-wide email.
• Joking about it to soften it.
• Dragging it out. Two or three sentences is enough.

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• All 24 scripts