HELP!! How to handle a person that smells like mold?

My wife works with a guy in his mid 50's that smells like mold BAD. The smell is so terrible that she can't eat at work - she works 10 hours a day so that is becoming an issue. They don't exactly share an office but there is a big hole in the wall so they can share the same printer and communicate about accounts, ect.. The way the office is set up they are away from other workers so it doesn't effect anyone else for more than a few minutes.

She is going to have to say something to him, none of the men in the office will say anything, her boss doesn't want to confront him so it is either quit or go to him.

Apparently he is a very nice, polite guy and does his job.

She says he does appear to be clean.

How does a person approach another and tell them they smell so bad it makes people sick? This is serious - she doesn't want to hurt his feelings or seem like a completely rude, insensitive person............

Looking for sincere responces,

Thank You.

Her supervisor will not deal with the problem. My wife has gone to her (the supervisor smells it too by the way), she will not do anything about it. The way I see it, no one knows how to approach him or they would have by now.

Other people smell the smell, they just have to smell it for more than a couple minutes at a time.

I have wondered if it could be his cloths but regardless of what or why the questions is how - How do you approach someone without crushing them. I mean, this is a sensitive situation - she likes him, she doesn't want to just walk up to him and say "hey dude you stink".

Has she tried one of those air fresheners that sprays every few minutes in the middle of the room, between herself and the smelly guy? That is very strange... I wonder also if your wife has a sentive nose? I sure do, it is quite a curse. I think it's understandable that no one will say anything, and because of this, your wife needs to tell her boss that she is at this point (quitting) if nothing is said. Why the heck would a person smell like mold? It must be his house! In that case there might be nothing he could do anyway... On my gosh, I really feel for your wife... Hey what about getting a different office and putting her lame boss next to this guy? She should say new room or I'M GONE!

There are websites that will send anonymous e-mails for things like that.

She may want to consider it. Just don't mention work, he may not make the connection.

Mold? Could it possibly be his clothing? I think it is a supervisor's place to talk to him about this. Tell your wife to speak to someone. And that person should speak to him privately. There is no excuse for marching up to someone and humiliating them when a discreet word or two said in kindness would be more likely to solve everyone's problems.

edit:

In that case, I personally would report the supervisor for not doing her job. In the meantime, your wife needs to find the nicest way she can to break the news to him >in private<. No doubt he will be embarrassed, but he'll appreciate it if she approaches him with a kind, caring manner rather than a "you stink, clean up your act" kind of way. Also, it might be easier for him to hear coming from a male coworker.

People smell, and some of them are highly offensive to some, while not offensive to others. Forget about his feelings, unless she is willing, and you two are financial capable, of her leaving her job because of this.

I can't say that I know of a case that involved unemployment benefits, because someone else smelled too bad to work in the office. She will likely be denied, so be prepared.

It is possible that her "issue" with his scent may be attributed to an allergy to a cologne, soap, or detergent that he is using. If she is willing, and she should be, to confront him, use this as the basis. I am assuming that he is not, in fact, moldy, but it may seem like that to her f she is allergic to something that he is using.

This puts to issue on her, so no hard feelings, and may resolve the problem. Good luck.

Lysol disinfectant spray can or Clorox disinfectant spray can is portable enough to be carried. She can spray it all around the area she has to work in.

he may have an illness that makes him smell this way
tell her to buy him some cologne
light some candles in her office
etc.......

I would suggest asking to be moved to a different cubical. If her boss is aware of his BO and is afraid of saying something to him she may have to take the complaint to human resources. Most elderly people have a tendency to keep moth balls in their closets and perhaps that's the cause of the mold smell. My mother in law has the same smell on her clothes too. Your wife could also bring some air fresheners to hang on the opening around her cubical or fabreeze<-- (sorry for the spelling).

Maybe she could ask about what cologne he wears, or what kind of detergent he uses.

She could let him know that it bothers her - but maybe not in a way that uses the words "you smell bad". She could say the smell is strong enough to give her headaches, and to tone down the cologne (if that's what it is); or maybe that she is allergic to the smell, that it makes her nose stuffy. It may NOT be him, but what he uses.

I'm sure she can work her way around this situation without any hurt feelings. If it turns out that it really IS him, then maybe she could say something about the "strong scent emanating from your office". She can eliminate the word "bad" and use "strong". That may work.

I hope this helps in any way. Tell her good luck for me.