Since the employees are complaining, this situation is probably affecting work productivity. Therefore, the supervisor is duty bound to deal with it. Sometimes a medical condition can cause an unpleasant body odor. According to the Huffington Post, there are 7 surprising body odor causes: stinky feet, too much broccoli, stress, dirty bras, a rare genetic disorder, drinking too much alcohol, and diabetes. The supervisor should first have a serious discussion with the employee to determine whether a medical condition is the cause. Always start the discussion by highlighting the negative impact the body odor is having on productivity. If a medical condition is not the cause, then try to get the employee to identify the problem and the solution. "Pride of ownership" means that employees are more likely to correct problems if they own the solutions. If the employee fails to identify a solution, the supervisor should offer some alternatives. If the employee fails to cooperate with this approach, the supervisor would have no choice but to pursue progressive discipline.
Friday, June 27, 2014
Stinky Feet
What should a supervisor do if an employee's personal hygiene is so bad that other employees are complaining? How does
a supervisor handle the situation without insulting the employee?
Since the employees are complaining, this situation is probably affecting work productivity. Therefore, the supervisor is duty bound to deal with it. Sometimes a medical condition can cause an unpleasant body odor. According to the Huffington Post, there are 7 surprising body odor causes: stinky feet, too much broccoli, stress, dirty bras, a rare genetic disorder, drinking too much alcohol, and diabetes. The supervisor should first have a serious discussion with the employee to determine whether a medical condition is the cause. Always start the discussion by highlighting the negative impact the body odor is having on productivity. If a medical condition is not the cause, then try to get the employee to identify the problem and the solution. "Pride of ownership" means that employees are more likely to correct problems if they own the solutions. If the employee fails to identify a solution, the supervisor should offer some alternatives. If the employee fails to cooperate with this approach, the supervisor would have no choice but to pursue progressive discipline.
Since the employees are complaining, this situation is probably affecting work productivity. Therefore, the supervisor is duty bound to deal with it. Sometimes a medical condition can cause an unpleasant body odor. According to the Huffington Post, there are 7 surprising body odor causes: stinky feet, too much broccoli, stress, dirty bras, a rare genetic disorder, drinking too much alcohol, and diabetes. The supervisor should first have a serious discussion with the employee to determine whether a medical condition is the cause. Always start the discussion by highlighting the negative impact the body odor is having on productivity. If a medical condition is not the cause, then try to get the employee to identify the problem and the solution. "Pride of ownership" means that employees are more likely to correct problems if they own the solutions. If the employee fails to identify a solution, the supervisor should offer some alternatives. If the employee fails to cooperate with this approach, the supervisor would have no choice but to pursue progressive discipline.
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Resisting Change
Change is sure to come. It doesn't matter where we live, where we work, where we socialize, or where we eat, change will come. Despite the fact that people know change is coming, they will still resist it. When people get settled into a comfortable routine, they don't like it when someone changes what they are doing and they have a tendency to dig in their heels. This is particularly true in the workplace when people get used to doing something a certain way, they don't want anybody to upset the apple cart as the saying goes. If a supervisor in the workplace wants to change the way things are done, the employees will get upset. There are two possible reasons for their reaction, one technical and one social. From the technical perspective, people will have to learn something new-a new way of doing it. That probably means stopping everything an attending training. For some employees this feels like starting over. From the social perspective, reorganization probably takes place and the employees will have to move to a new desk, in a new location, and work with new people they have not worked with before. They were very happy with the previous team arrangement. Jack sat in the same cubicle with Jill. Now he's in the cubicle with Rebecca. Jack and never got along with Rebecca but now he has to work with her. What a bummer! If any managers want to manage change, they should recognize the two reasons people resist and take steps to minimize the negative aspect. Good luck managing change.
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