Employee asks her coworker to stop washing his hands because she's sensitive to the scent of the office soap: 'Does that mean she's not washing her hands?'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Sep 6, 2026 3:15 PM EDT

I'm sensitive to the smell of stinky hands.

Nobody wants to be a micromanaging coworker. It's one thing to be a micromanaging manager. It's not an ideal management style, but at least their employees are managed by the person who is supposed to manage them, not by someone else. When you're an equal to your coworker, you should not be going around telling them what to do about basically anything. If they smell bad, you should tell HR so they can address it professionally. If they're just plain annoying, there is very little you can say in the workplace that can actually fix that problem. If they're bad at their job, it's not like you can fire them! You might feel uncomfortable telling your manager that they aren't picking up the slack, because maybe that's not your call to make. The best thing you can do is just be friendly with your coworker and hope that they aren't a total disaster. 

Sometimes there are things that need to be addressed with your coworker that aren't as easy as asking them to pick up a shift for you. They might be saying a lot of unprofessional things that make the workplace uncomfortable. They might talk so much about unimportant things in your open-concept office that it's impossible for you to focus on the work that actually needs to get done. In cases like these, I can't emphasize enough how important it is to talk to HR. I know people say HR is there to protect the company, not the employees, but I highly doubt an HR professional will fire someone for mentioning a coworker who smells so bad they can't focus on work. If anything, they're probably not the only ones complaining about this issue if it's as bad as they say. The employee in this story desperately needs to talk to HR about his coworker, who wants him to stop washing his hands with scented soap because she is sensitive to the smell. 

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10661639936
    via F Cary Snyder

    A man washing his hands.

    Image for illustrative purposes.

  • 02

    Am I the bad guy for refusing to stop washing my hands because my coworker is "sensitive" to the smell?

    I work with someone who says they are very sensitive to certain smells. Recently they started complaining about the soap I use when I wash my hands. They said the smell bothers them and asked me to stop using it while we are at work.
    via u/AdelineRos
  • 03
    I told them I wash my hands regularly because I think basic hygiene is important. I also do not think it is reasonable to stop washing my hands because someone does not like the smell of the soap.
    via u/AdelineRos
  • 04
    They said I was being inconsiderate and that I should use something without a scent. I understand that strong smells can bother some people but I also feel like washing my hands should not be something I have to defend.
    via u/AdelineRos
  • 05
    Now things are awkward between us and I am wondering if I should have just changed the soap.
    via u/AdelineRos
  • 06
    AITA for refusing to stop using my hand soap because my coworker is sensitive to the smell?
    via u/AdelineRos
  • 07
    Efficient_Basis_2139 It's the work soap. Tell them to take it up with management if they've got a problem, since it's completely outside of your control. Alternatively, DO buy your own soap, but one with the most obnoxious smell as possible.
    via u/Efficient_Basis_2139
  • 08
    AdelineRos OP Haha love the second idea but yeah it's work soap, not mine.
    via u/AdelineRos
  • 09
    HUNGWHITEBO125 well see they can't do that, because they cant guilt/manipulate management into changing to accommodate their unreasonable demands
    via u/HUNGWHITEBO125
  • 10
    Economy-Cod310 As a person with legit smell issues, the first part of your response is de d on. The second part is kinda r de. I'm not trying to be an AH, I just know how I suffer if I get exposed to strong perfume, lotion, soap, etc. It S KS to be the person to be so sensitive that you have to ask. Some people actually get incapacitating migraines from smells, to the point of vomiting, light sensitivity, blurred vision. If this person is that way, the only thing this will cause is misery.
    via u/Economy-Cod310
  • 11
    NoCold5135 Does that mean they're not washing their hands? Nasty
    via u/NoCold5135
  • 12
    lycosthenes In that case I think the burden is on them to pay for the soap that can't be had for free if that's what they insist on, depending on who else has expressed a preference.
    via u/lycosthenes
  • 13
    lethal disaster13 Something no one seems to have picked up on... does this mean she is not properly washing her hands, especially after using the bathroom, and then touching the environment? Eta NTA she needs to take the problem to management or occupational health, not you
    via u/lethal_disaster13
  • 14
    DMargaretfootgoddess You know I think in all honesty you should recommend that she go see a doctor and explain that canned soap the smell of it bothers her because I got to be honest with you. I don't think I've ever used or been around someone that used a hand soap that I could actually smell without sticking my nose into somebody's hand. If her sense of smell is that sensitive, she might need to see a medical professional.
    via u/DMargaretfootgoddess
  • 15
    And I mean I got to tell you one of my favorite hand soaps is jergens in the original cherry almond scent and seriously 2 minutes after you wash your hands I can put my hand up to my nose and not smell it and neither can anybody else I mean. Unless you're using something really, really overpoweringly scented I have never had anyone notice the fragrance of a hand soap after I had washed and dried my hands. It just makes me wonder if there's something medically wrong and she may just have a very o
    via u/DMargaretfootgoddess
  • 16
    Xzandrite Please tell your coworker to direct her complaints to management so they can replace the soap with another brand that's unscented and hypoallergenic - and keep washing your hands as always! Some people have allergies and conditions such as asthma that react badly to certain fragrances and other inhaled airborne substances. The original post didn't make clear whether the complaint was about the soap provided by your employer or your own - practically everyone I know carries their own th
    via u/Xzandrite

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washing hands terrible coworkers cleaning clean employee coworker stories coworkers soap hands karen coworker Office hygiene coworker washing
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