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Annoying and sloppy co-worker?
Pattie Hunt Sinacole offers some advice on how to address bad habits in the office
Q: As an experienced account executive, I am in our corporate offices rarely. When I go in, I am assigned a cube or an office. I don’t have my own. My company calls it hoteling. I call it disastrous and callous. Maybe that is for another column, another day, another drama.
A: When I do work in the office, there is one woman who is beyond loud. She stops in and chats it up for at least 15 minutes. If I am not in the office for a while, she will stop by for 20 or 30 minutes. When I work in the cube next to her, she is checking her phone, ordering clothes and shoes online. When I come into the office, I need to concentrate on my work. I always pray that I don’t get a cube near her. Many of us avoid her. She also makes a mess in our break room. Some of us bring in coffee, muffins, or some type of pastries in the morning. She will leave the boxes open and there are crumbs all over the counters, after she is in there. She has a lot of gall. How do you recommend we manage this?
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A: Disagreements between co-workers are a common challenge in any office. Open offices sometimes contribute to the problem.
Confronting a co-worker is hard. Some co-workers could “hear” your feedback, while others will likely become defensive.
Most of us spend a lot of time working. Like you, I need quiet to concentrate and do my best work. Some are able to listen to music, podcasts, etc.
Most employees who work in an office, appreciate a reasonably quiet work area. When I have been presented with this type of question in the past, I typically suggest mentioning the concerns to the person. You may be reluctant though, which I understand.
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There are also non-verbal ways to signal your need to avoid engaging in chatting. You can explain you are wearing ear buds because there are a lot of distractions and noises that interfere with your ability to be productive. She may “get it,” which would be ideal. Perhaps this hint might curtail her behavior.
You could make a few comments such as: “When I come into the office, I am the type of person who needs quiet.” Or “I am unable to talk right now; I am crushed with work.” This is a very reasonable request. Sometimes starting with gentle requests is easier than having a full-blown confrontational conversation. It also may help if other co-workers make similar requests.
Regarding the mess left in your kitchen, I often see signs in company breakrooms or kitchens. The intent of the signs are to encourage people and visitors to clean up after themselves. “Please keep this area clean.” Or “Wipe down counters after you use them.” A suggestion specific to your concern: “Clean up the crumbs, or no more muffins! 😊” Others I have seen: “Dishes don’t wash themselves,” “Thou shalt clean your own dishes,” or “You can do anything you set your mind to, including cleaning your own messes.” Another sign I have seen: “Just gonna set that dirty dish in the sink and call it a day?” I have also seen offices create customized signs with an animal licking a plate (eek), Superman swinging in and cleaning, or even a rat nibbling on crumbs. These signs can be effective. Good luck. A well-meaning box of pastries shouldn’t turn into a hassle.
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