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Worker's bad breath a tricky topic that must be broached
Q: One of my employees has a bad-breath problem. I'm very uncomfortable discussing this with her, but some people have complained. I'm her manager, but I'm not sure what to do. How do I tactfully handle this?
A: Personal hygiene is a tough issue to tackle, because private bodily functions typically are not discussed at work. So I'm afraid that I have bad news and more bad news.
First, forget about finding a comfortable way to bring this up. There isn't one. Your employee will take it personally because it is personal. This may be one of those moments when you wonder why you ever wanted to be a manager.
The other bad news is that you do need to address this. When personal matters affect work results or relationships, they become job performance problems. Hygiene issues often alienate colleagues and customers.
Here's a possible opener: "I need to talk with you about an issue that is somewhat difficult to discuss. Frankly, I'm a little uncomfortable bringing it up, but, as your manager, I feel that I should. I've noticed that there is a rather unusual odor on your breath. Since this might indicate a medical problem, I wanted to be sure you knew about it."
Should she get angry or defensive, help her see that you are being helpful. Reiterate your concern about her health and suggest that she talk with her doctor or dentist.
Some medical conditions produce chronic bad breath.
If she asks whether people have complained, reply that a few have mentioned it, but do not give names. That would create a whole new set of problems for you to handle.
Q: My boss is short-tempered and yells at me. This has been going on for quite some time, and I no longer can tolerate this disrespect from her. Please help me solve this problem.
A: Any manager who yells is immature and lacks self-control. So you can enjoy a quiet feeling of superiority the next time your boss pops her cork. To address the problem, however, you must consider her behavior patterns.
Does your explosive boss yell at everyone? If she's a chronically toxic person, the odds of changing her may be slim. But if you want to try, round up your co-workers and go talk to her together.
Does she yell at only some employees? If certain people seem exempt, they may have figured out how to communicate with her. Observe them and learn.
Does she yell only at you? If so, you need to determine why she's aiming at you. In a calm moment, explain how her yelling affects you. Ask if there's anything you could do to improve the situation.
I can hear you saying, "But she's the one who needs to change!" True, but you need to focus on things you can control, so learning what makes her angry might help.
- Marie G. McIntyre is an Atlanta-based workplace coach. Her weekly column is syndicated by Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service. Send questions at www.yourofficecoach.com.
