I have a disabled employee that is confined to a wheel chair. As such, he doesn’t bathe daily and there are times when the smell becomes over powering in the department in which he works. I have experienced the problem first hand and have been very hesitant to say something since the hygiene issue is directly related to his disability and the last thing any company needs is a lawsuit involving the ADA for discrimination. We are moving buildings and the department in which he works will place the employees in closer proximity to each other and the hygiene issue will become more noticeable. Has anyone experienced something similar or have any advice to offer? I know that employee’s must maintain proper hygiene and the smell that we are dealing with should qualify as unsanitary but the individual in question is disabled and not subject to the same standards as everyone else. Any and all help is greatly appreciated.



This is going to be an uncomfortable conversation regardless but any advice would significantly decrease my anxiety/stress over having to approach this subject with the employee. The company is located in Florida if that makes a difference.

Does he have a job coach or any agency behind him that perhaps helped him get the job with your company?

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

Does he have a job coach or any agency behind him that perhaps helped him get the job with your company?

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Thanks for the response. No, he has been with the company for a little over 2 years, another employee recommended him. I don't think he has a job coach or agency behind him, just the ADA and their big stick. The employee who recommended him is no longer here so asking for their assistance is not an option.

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Originally Posted by gregswelch

Thanks for the response. No, he has been with the company for a little over 2 years, another employee recommended him. I don't think he has a job coach or agency behind him, just the ADA and their big stick. The employee who recommended him is no longer here so asking for their assistance is not an option.

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If an able-bodied employee had a similar problem, how would you handle it? Of course, if the odor problem is tied up in the disability situation, that definitely makes for potential trouble.

I'd probably find a social worker or counselor in the area and run this past him/her. Or even a local attorney who is familiar with ADA.

It is not a violation of the ADA to treat the employee as you would another with this problem.

Human Resources gets this job unfortunately we deal with most of the unpleasant ones.

Have Human Resources talk to him, documenting the conversation, having someone else (usually a supervisor) in the room.

Before talking to him if you have an EAP available to the employees have those brochures available.

Also contact your local area Department of Labor and ask for the Vocational Rehab officer. Vocational Rehab may be able to work with him.

Usually there is a resource in the area that can get him help with those conditions if he does not have help. It is very hard for some disabled in a wheelchair to keep up with personal issues on their own.

I have a granddaughter in a wheelchair and she is constantly facing these issues the older she is and must have help with them.

She has a personal attendant that helps her at home twice a week.

If you are not threatening to fire, but simply trying to help and document this it will be okay with the ADA. Do not threaten to fire!

Good luck , this is not pleasant for either of you, but you must try and you must give the employee the chance to explain and try and help him the best you can.
Some states will actually mandate you hire him a job coach at work or a mentor if it does ever go to the Department of Labor. This would be an ADA accommodation.


Shirley

Being confined to a wheel chair does not stop someone from bathing. In fact he should have a special shower chair ( your HR can cousel him on hygiene if needed like they would any employee.) They can have lists of agenies that could assist, or if needed perhaps see if the company could help with a special shower chair that handicap people often use.

Don't assume that it is the wheelchair that is preventing him from bathing, there could be underlying issues at work as well. But Wildsporty is correct, you can talk to him just as you would any other employee. Don't threaten him.
I don't mean to be flippant, but the solution could be as simple as patchouli oil or giving him a window seat.