Q: How would you recommend dealing with the poor appearance and cleanliness (in terms of clothing) of an employee? Previous attempts have met with his defensively blaming the source of the complaint and suggesting that had he been female he could have sued for sexual discrimination/harassment.
Jun 06 2006
Answered by: Peter Done Ask a question
It is important to give the individual feedback because they might be unaware of the problem or there might be a medical reason and unaware it is impacting on other people. While giving negative feedback is never easy there are steps you can take to make it easier on both yourself and your colleague. It is important to book a room or office where you can talk in private and people won’t overhear. Pick a time that is suitable for the colleague concerned and think about the most appropriate person to raise the issue, perhaps it should come from their line manager. Raise the issue in a polite but direct manner and then give the individual the opportunity to react or ask for advice. Remember that there could be a medical reason or another personal reason for such health problems, and it is important to listen to and be understanding towards the individual so that the individual is made to feel as comfortable as possible.
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