Just got anew roommate at work and share my office,BUT he have a bad body odor,any ideas how to handle this?

This guy just started and he is a nice kid and young but avoiding this odor keeps me from doing my work in my office.

I try to put myself in the other's shoes in regard to if I had to hear this news, who would I prefer to hear it from?

The answer is clear. I would much rather get it from my office mate than be embarassed in front of my boss as a new employee. I would also respect the person for being straight with me and not whimping out by telling the boss. After all how hard is it to figure out where the complaint might have come from? After talking to the boss, the guy is libel to come back and ask, "Do you think I smell?" Then what do you say?

Tell him politely as possible over lunch one day. He will be grateful to you.

Talk to your supervisor when it effects your work.

Go to him in private and explain it to him in a respectful manner.

get a fan

Scented candles or airfreshener and ventilation.

give him a few days to settle in, maybe he's been really busy or too poor to buy cologne.
if it keeps up for several weeks, talk to his supervisor.

Find out when his birthday is and give him deodorant as a present.

I agree, with first answer, you have to work with him every day. Leave it up the manager and make sure your name is left out.

Most people can't smell their own body odor, so he probably isn't even aware of it. Unfortunately, no one has had the courtesy or respect to just tell him. Be honest with him.

Buy him a perfume.

PULL HIM OVER TO THE SIDE ,AND TELL HIM THAT HE KIND OF HAS A BODY ODOR,AND YOU DID NOT WANT TO EMBARESS HIM OR ANYTHING.

lmao... if i weren't at risk for loosing my account i would have something really smart *** to say. seriously man... pull him aside and tell him as nicely as you can that he smells. maybe buy him a welcome gift... consisting of deodorant, cologne, and soap.

you could bring in an array of candles and light them, or bring in an unopened stick of deoderant and tell him that you are allergic to it, but your wife bought it not thinking and you didn't want it to go to waste, as you through the receipt away. He may catch on, but you would be doing him a favor in the long run....really!

BUy some deoderant and put some on in front of him, saying you have to wear it otherwise people would start to complain. Then offer him some cologn. hopefully he'll get the picture

Ask what kind of deodorant he uses. Then suggest the one you use. Or unscented even. Sometimes deodorants with a scent will have a bad reaction on certain people. Chemical reaction. I know. I had to switch to unscented because the deodorant I was using was actually making me stink! I didn't know until a friend gently broached the subject with me. And this was how she did it.

If he is a old friend, just tell him that he has a odor and he should take better care of his hygiene. Don't tell him what to do but let him make the decisions. If it doesn't change, then make recommendations as to what you do.

If he is a new friend, ditto.

dont say anything some one is going to say something if you didnt hire him you really shouldnt plus people might start talking about you if you go run to the boss i would keep my distance buy a little bowl of poupouri keep it on your desk/if your really mad and have to say something -
when hes around you and you smell him say hey theres a really upsetting smell in this office should someone have more respect say right dont you agree and walk away

I can understand your problem, you can ask him to keep himself clean & tidy. If u r unable to talk to him directly then u can gift him a perfume/deo. If still the problem persists then i think u shud talk to him directly with no hastles, it's not the matter of an hour or two, u have to stay with him u dnt knw for how much time.

Scented candles are going to just mix with his BO and give you a brand new scent that's "tolerable" same thing with sprays that have a perfume smell.

Giving him deoderant will get the message across but it won't be terribly tactful.

Since it's not a personality or work conflict, your supervisor may not be needed yet. Showing initiative to handle the situation may work more in your favor.

Take your coworker aside, and explain your concerns. Explain you don't wish to offend him, but you have a sensitive nose and his particular odor is noticable (keep it tactful and bland. Don't accuse him of bad hygine. It could be he showers daily but has a physiological problem).

If he apologizes and promises to do something about it, yay. If he gets offended, mollify him but remind him that it IS a problem. If he doesn't care and blows you off, THEN go to the a supervisor because now it's a conflict.

If he says he's tried everything and can't stop it, suggest this: www.approachit.net it's a site with this biological odor eliminator spray. Works great. I have an associate in UPENN hospital who uses it to control odors in patient's rooms.

Good luck with your coworker, just make sure you keep it friendly, not accusatory.