Difficult Conversations: Personal Hygiene in the Workplace

One of the more uncomfortable situations a new manager or supervisor can face is confronting an employee about personal hygiene.

There is no way around it – discussing issues of personal appearance, odor, and cleanliness can be downright awkward.

However, the damage done by doing nothing can be even worse. If left unchecked, a hygiene issue can not only damage an employee’s reputation, but it can damage the company’s reputation and business performance.

Before stepping into a conversation with an employee over personal hygiene, a manager should be sure to have first-hand knowledge of the situation. The next step is having a conversation with the employee.

In this course you will learn to address the issue sooner rather than later.

The longer the discussion is delayed, the more likely that the employee becomes the victim of office gossip.

Needless to say, this type of conversation is not easy.

The more comfortable a manager is with the facts of the situation and how to approach the discussion, the more likely it is that a successful outcome can be found.

Remember that your role is to support your employees’ success.

Ignoring hygiene issues does your employees no favor.

So, what are you waiting for?

Let's Talk About it ... Talk to Employees about their Personal Hygiene!