Work Poll

2mommiesinoh

Background: You have been working with a certain person for 6 months. You are in a cubicle environment. You have talekd with them in and out of all department meetings about work and non-work related items. One day that certain person is having a conversation with another coworker and is being loud and you are finding it hard to concentrate. You know they may not mean to be loud but it is very distracting. You have never approached this cowroker before about the noise level.[Poll]

ctbride08

I said other.  If it was a one time occurence, honestly, i'd probably just ignore it.  I wouldnt feel a need to address the issue at all until a repeat offense.

2brides

I agree with CT. But if it was a multiple time thing, I would address it in person (at least I would like to think I would since I hate conflict.)

thiswillbe

Yeah, the first time or two (or probably ten, knowing me), I'd let it slide. After that, I'd approach the person directly and say something light-hearted and nice. If it didn't get better, I'd reapproach them or go to our supervisor.

Kershnic

I chose in-person on the poll, but I do agree with CT.  It depends a lot on how annoying it is to me, and how unusual this behavior is in my workplace.  

In general I think it's better to address things in person because meaning can get misinterpreted easily on email/IM.  And I pretty strongly believe you should try to work things out before you call in a supervisor, unless it's like a major safety or ethics type of issue.   

Two*True

Ditto everyone else.  The first time or two I'd let it go.  After that I may say something in an upbeat/positive way.

 

cookiemonster03

2brides:

I agree with CT. But if it was a multiple time thing, I would address it in person (at least I would like to think I would since I hate conflict.)

Agreed.

2mommiesinoh

Thanks for confirming what I had already felt like SHOULD have happened. I will admit I am apparently the noisy co-worker. And I really felt awful when my boss called me into his office to let me know someone had told him I was loud and distracting. No one has ever said a word to me in the six months I have been here. Had they come to me I would have apologized and been embarassed but nothing compared to how I felt being singled out and called to his office...which by the way is a cube just slightly larger than mine and right across the aisle from other co-workers who could hear the conversation.

unoriginal

Uggh,...As an adult you should be able to talk to someone face to face and not have to run to the boss to tattle.  Nothing makes me more insane than a person who is so passive aggressive as to probably complain to everyone around them about your behavior but never actually say anything directly to you.

I work with kids all day and that is exactly how they act...adults should be more mature!

lnelson20

Kershnic:

I chose in-person on the poll, but I do agree with CT.  It depends a lot on how annoying it is to me, and how unusual this behavior is in my workplace.  

In general I think it's better to address things in person because meaning can get misinterpreted easily on email/IM.  And I pretty strongly believe you should try to work things out before you call in a supervisor, unless it's like a major safety or ethics type of issue.   

This. Exactly. 

lnelson20

2mommiesinoh:

Thanks for confirming what I had already felt like SHOULD have happened. I will admit I am apparently the noisy co-worker. And I really felt awful when my boss called me into his office to let me know someone had told him I was loud and distracting. No one has ever said a word to me in the six months I have been here. Had they come to me I would have apologized and been embarassed but nothing compared to how I felt being singled out and called to his office...which by the way is a cube just slightly larger than mine and right across the aisle from other co-workers who could hear the conversation.

Yikes, this is exactly why people should talk to each other directly. Sorry, what a crappy experience.