Headache of a colleague

LegacyUser

A minor issue in comparison to others on this forum, but an issue I would like to get some opinions on none the less.

I started working for a company a short while ago. I was placed in a room within very close proximity (about one foot away) with one other colleague to which I still am still placed next to. Here lies the problem.

Two things above all really bother me about this person on a professional level and make every day I go into work a headache.

Firstly, they take and make anywhere up to over 2 hours of personal phone calls a day, not including break times. They <snip> speak to their family and friends here and back home (abroad), when I say speak I really mean shout. They shout down the phone for the most part. If they are not at their desk their phone is vibrating from calls and texts. Often if I leave the room when they are on the phone and come back a few minutes later I find they put their friend on loudspeaker and they look at me like "oh your back, great" turn loudspeaker off, and then continue to shout down the phone in their native tongue. I have worked in loud places before with several people talking on phones all day long, but they spoke at a reasonable level and it was integral of their job. But this is just ridiculous, its as if she uses work as a hub for her social life.

Secondly, they do almost nothing. I work on this persons lip with no dividers between desks so its hard not to know exactly how much they do. On average I would say they do less then 2 hours actual work out of an 8 hour day, some times even less. The rest of the time she is talking on her phone, texting on her phone, making small talk with any colleague that will engage with her, making coffee for herself, painting her nails, playing with the radiators or telling me about her weekend, they also seem to come and go as they like, coming in late and leaving 20 minutes early if nobody will notice (which they don't). I have never seen anybody work so little and get away with it.

I am less bothered about her doing nothing, as that does not directly affect me and its something that I have learned to block out. But the personal phone calls I can no longer deal with as it really does bother me.

You may be thinking why don't I just say something right? Well, as I work on this persons lip I don't want to make things awkward if I say something to her. Some things about her personality lead me to believe she will just tell me to f*** off if I do say it to her.

But would I be right in saying something to her? If so, what should I say? Or are there any other solutions?? I've been told I cant move room btw..

Big Bag of Chips

Could you go to your boss and just have "a chat". Not exactly make a complaint, but tell them you are finding it very difficult to work in the same space as her. If she's not getting work done that's asked of her then someone will notice. You may feel like nobody is taking any notice, but someone will. Is there room anywhere else for you/her to be moved? The space sounds really, really small and not exactly suitable for 2 people to work in anyway.

Rubberchikken

Speak to your boss.
The amount of hours she works/ doesnt work dont concern you as you say, but it must be incredibly annoying to have to listen to the constant chatter.hope you get it sorted.