Regarding the advice to the young office worker:

Re-think this one! She should NOT up her freindliness level to the courier unless that is what she naturally and spontaneously wants to do. It is quite possible that he will get the wrong impression, and her gossipy co-workers will be whispering about her when she's out of the room (if they aren't already.)

Which brings me to the second angle of this situation: I know there are lots of reasons to keep quiet and not question your co-worker's behavior .... but, on the other hand, why not question them about they way they talk about the courier? Maybe this young woman could teach them a thing or two. At least she'd be taking a stand.

I would have to disagree. She's younger than the staff, working part time while going through college. The older ladies in the office have their clique that works well for them. The younger part timer is buying her time until she is done with school and then she will be out of this office and on to a profession. She shouldn't change a thing, or be any nicer to the courier.

She isn't going to change any minds if she confronts the ladies in the office with their behavior, only potentially make her own work environment worse. As long as the ladies in the office aren't rude to, or embarrass the man... why point anything out to the staff? Sometimes you just have to pick and choose your battles and what keeps peace and harmony in your life.

I admire this young co-worker for her concern. She shows more maturity than her more seasoned co-workers. I think she should continue to be pleasant to the courier, not raise her level of friendliness, because it definitely could arouse the courier - but on the other hand - it may lift his spirits; something that probably doesn't happen to often for him. I'm not a guy, so I don't know. So keep it safe, and just be pleasant.

As far as dealing with her co-workers, I like the response "I never noticed that..." Referring to the couriers stares, or smells. She would be being truthful, because she hadn't noticed any of the older co-workers complaints about him. At the same time, if the co-workers are smart - they'll be enlightened by her maturity in engaging in gossip and being so petty. Maybe one or two will choose to mimick her behavior. But beware, there's always a "Negative Nancy" in a group, who will dismiss this woman's maturity, because seeing oneself in a bad light has a tendency to bring out the worst and she may instead use comments like "Oh, you're too young...you haven't been around long enough...." not grasping at the opportunity to just become a better person in general.

Meant to say "her maturity in NOT engaging in gossip..."

She should just do what she is doing ... being polite to the courier and not gossiping about the young man behind his back. Perhaps the gossipy harridans she works with will take the hint and stop.

She shouldn't say anything to her co workers, if she confronts them, it will just make them angry. She should just continue being nice to him.