How to get a colleague to change his disgusting habits

Shelga

Help me, I need advice urgently, before I go full Michael Douglas in Falling Down.

I started a new job 2 weeks ago. The guy next to me is only 20 and seems to have some kind of sinus issues. At first I thought (hoped) it was just a cold, but it’s been going on too long now. Basically he constantly does that disgusting thing that only guys seem to do (sorry but I have never ever seen or heard a woman do it) where he hocks back phlegm to clear out his nasal passage. It is so effing gross, it makes me feel completely nauseous listening to it all day.

He also just sits on his phone for hours at a time, not even pretending to be busy. And listens to music at full blast on his earphones.

How do I tell him to cut out all this behaviour? He seems totally oblivious to the fact that he comes across as completely unprofessional, and revolting.

It’s kinda like having to tell someone they have BO though, isn’t it- I mean how do you even have that conversation. But if I don’t, I will actually lose the rag completely at him one day soon.

Help!

Cina

Go to HR and explain it to them. Calling him out on it directly is a bad idea.

branie2

Try gently pointing it out to him

Deebles McBeebles

Wait until you are absolutely fuming with him, then grab him by his hair, pull his head back and spit in his mouth.

Or leave some of that sinus spray stuff on his desk. Whatever option seems more sane to you.

Boom_Bap

Sounds like he has a more than casual coke habit

Cee-Jay-Cee

Anonymous email to your HR/manager would be the first thing I'd recommend.

jam_mac_jam

What is it with men and their disgusting nose/ throat noises. Yes we all love to listen to you swallowing your own snots or blowing your nose all day.

Gross.

Tell me how

Shelga wrote: »

Help me, I need advice urgently, before I go full Michael Douglas in Falling Down.

I started a new job 2 weeks ago. The guy next to me is only 20 and seems to have some kind of sinus issues. At first I thought (hoped) it was just a cold, but it’s been going on too long now. Basically he constantly does that disgusting thing that only guys seem to do (sorry but I have never ever seen or heard a woman do it) where he hocks back phlegm to clear out his nasal passage. It is so effing gross, it makes me feel completely nauseous listening to it all day.

He also just sits on his phone for hours at a time, not even pretending to be busy. And listens to music at full blast on his earphones.

How do I tell him to cut out all this behaviour? He seems totally oblivious to the fact that he comes across as completely unprofessional, and revolting.

It’s kinda like having to tell someone they have BO though, isn’t it- I mean how do you even have that conversation. But if I don’t, I will actually lose the rag completely at him one day soon.

Help!

You are the new person here. Could you leave him out of it and ask for a different seat. Blame sunlight through window, draft/heat, whatever.

Listing 3 separate things you dislike about one person you've worked with for 2 weeks and wanting them to change would make me look closer to home for a solution.

norabattie

Keep offering him a tissue . He'll eventually cop on

jam_mac_jam

Just ask to move.

mad muffin

This one time… at band camp. There was this guy that did exactly the same thing.

So I waited till he went to sleep. Then beat him with a baseball bat to a bloody pulp.

Something like this…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy3MtznDeqg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Hea6JNK6ks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3uqv0eP7Tg

Pinch Flat

You’ve done the right thing OP by coming to after hours for some advice.

Just say it. Who cares.

I had and possibly will have the most gross person I've ever met when I go back to work. I'm the only one who calls him out and he's getting better.

I'd avoid the sinuses thing initially though. Just make him realise his behaviour impacts others.

Bio Mech

Definitely come onto Ireland’s least serious and most untrustworthy message board and ask for advice.

Shelga

Tell me how wrote: »

You are the new person here. Could you leave him out of it and ask for a different seat. Blame sunlight through window, draft/heat, whatever.

Listing 3 separate things you dislike about one person you've worked with for 2 weeks and wanting them to change would make me look closer to home for a solution.

I've never had this much irritation with anyone I've worked with in 10+ years. He just seems like he hasn't a clue how to conduct himself in an office environment.

Think I might just call him out on it, as suggested, and ask to move seats if that doesn't work.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Look for another job, new fish.

Interceptor

Exert dominance by stealing his mouse or phone from his desk and rubbing it in your armpits. Every time he clears his throat you should fish a big snot out of your nose and flick it into his face. If he has earphones in he won't be able to hear you rip big farts behind his chair either. Fight fire with biohazardous fire. He won't be long getting the message.

freshpopcorn

Ask to be moved.
He won't miss you and you won't miss him!

GBX

freshpopcorn wrote: »

Ask to be moved.
He won't miss you and you won't miss him!

To their Qatar office. If they dont have an office there, tell them to build it. They do cheap labour there and should have it open in no time.

wakka12

Offer him a tissue everyday when he does it even after he keeps saying no, make him aware that hes making a noticeabe and annoying noise. Tell him his cold sounds terrible and that noise he has to make sounds sore and that he should get some sinus spray for it

jcorr

Me, I would wear headphones to drown out noise.

But I work in IT. I'm not sure how that would translate into other types of office

Look OP at least you don't have a sexy colleague who vibrates the floor with her power walking. There's no solution for that at all.

Former Observer

Shelga wrote: »

I've never had this much irritation with anyone I've worked with in 10+ years.

Your guy seems like an angel compared to mine.

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057986405

Shelga

Former Observer wrote: »

Your guy seems like an angel compared to mine.

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057986405

I actually gagged reading that description!!

I hope things have improved...

blinding

Anything to be said for another killing !

The Tetrarch

He is odds on to be promoted.
Only fools do the work.

DrPhilG

I work with a guy similar to that. He's actually a decent fella, but he has chronic sinus problems and does a dirty great sniff/snort/hock every 10-15 minutes.

I've taken to wearing ear phones when he's on. Turns my stomach.

suicide_circus

offer him antihistamines

DeanAustin

God there are some bunch of sneaky ****ers working in Ireland. “Email HR” or “anonymous email to HR”???

Jesus Christ, I’m no fan of HR but putting this sort of nonsense in their lap drives me to having sympathy for them.

When did we become such a shower of pampered, confrontation averse sleeveens?

mikemac2

Burn the building down and you two will never have to work together again

lawred2

It's revolting in the extreme

circadian

Wasn't this same thread posted within the last 3 months?