Hi! I work at the front desk with clients. It’s the season when many people get sick, so my colleague decided to eat garlic every day to stay healthy. His desk is about two meters from mine, but the smell is very strong and it’s hard to breathe. I tried joking that he could eat spinach or radishes instead, but he believes only garlic will protect him from illness. I’m not sure how much longer I can handle it and the smell might scare our clients too.
How can I politely ask him not to eat garlic before work? Thanks

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  • Bring it to HR to address it! Try not to anticipate what clients might think! If it bothers you just report it.

  • Warmly suggest chewing cloves and name some benefits like vitamin C and other things. It helps with breath as well.

  • Its very difficult to counter someone's personal beliefs about the efficacy of certain products for health reasons. This really is more about the... image it portrays to clients. As front desk employees, you two are the face of the company, the first impression a client gets about the company, and this is the priority. While having a kind clear conversation about the odour and it potential impact on visiting clients might be necessary as the first step, you may not have a choice about escalating this issue to HR if clients begin to complain or you suspect clients are getting an unsatisfactory first impression about the company as a result. As a professional front-line employee, your colleague should know better and should be aware that first impressions matter. All it will take is one client to come in after a bad commute or other unrelated stressor and get the whiff of garlic for things to go sideways, and the MD or CEO to get an earful, and he could lose his job.  more

  • I've had to speak with employees in the past about personal hygiene. It's an awkward conversation, but necessary. The advice to be kind is true. ... But I believe that clarity is kindness. You must let the person know that the smell is strong/intense/ overwhelming. Then recommend the alternative products. Otherwise, people don't get the message and the problem persists. If you don't feel comfortable taking up the cause, then your supervisor should speak with your co-worker. The smell affects more than you. It's a workplace issue that should be addressed by management.  more

  • I agree, that you have to be kind and honest. You could also recommend that he try "Garlic" (not sure about the spelling) but it is orderless garlic).... Good luck. more

  • I agree, that you have to be kind and honest. You could also recommend that he try "Garlic" (not sure about the spelling) but it is orderless garlic).... Good luck. more

  • Be kind, but honest. If the smell kills you, for sure it will do so with customers, too. This is counterproductive for customer service. Your... supervisor will understand. more