Advice re: gross coworker (NTTGPR)

Svenny1011 · June 2012

Ummmm, so I've got this coworker who burps nasty, loud, juicy burps everyday, multiple time per day. He's on the other side of the office from me, but I can hear it. It is disgusting. He's not a bad guy, and for the most part is pretty normal - maybe the most normal person in the office. I actually like him, except for this this nasty a$$ habit.

So, in all seriousness, can someone tell me how I can approach him without being a total biyatch and tell him to stop? It really horrifies me every time I hear it, and I can't understand how no one else notices (including his wife, who effing works here, and I know he's done it when she's over there talking to him). Or maybe they do and they aren't saying anything either.....

ah625 · June 2012

You don't approach him, you tell HR and they do it. That's just another reason they exist. I hope it ends quickly, that's just nasty.

Svenny1011 · June 2012

I would, except our HR department is in Colorado (I'm in California), and even then, the HR lady is worthless. She has never done anything HR-ish in the 5+ yrs I've been here. Therein lies a large part of the problem, I guess.

ksgsmu · June 2012

ah625:
You don't approach him, you tell HR and they do it. That's just another reason they exist. I hope it ends quickly, that's just nasty.

this! Unless you know him pretty well then I would just be direct but nice.

ksgsmu · June 2012

Svenny1011:
I would, except our HR department is in Colorado (I'm in California), and even then, the HR lady is worthless. She has never done anything HR-ish in the 5+ yrs I've been here. Therein lies a large part of the problem, I guess.

Then I would just talk to him directly...

vpine · June 2012

I shared a coworker with an older lady who FARTED everyday and would turn to apologize to me and would grab lysol can and spray and spray because she was embarrassed. I told my supervisor about it but nothing could be done because HR said it's a bodily function she couldn't control. I work at hospital, worked with that coworker for 2 years and she retired, supervisor gave me own office after that.

bettywhitettgp · June 2012

I find it hilarious when people (who are trying to have children) find bodily functions so disgusting. Guess what, kids belch and fart all the time. Sometimes, they do it for hours. ON PURPOSE. They pick their noses and eat it. The blow out of their diapers, pee on the floor, and vomit.

Belching is not always something that you can control. Extreme reflux causes some to belch loudly, and often. It may suck for you to hear it, but guess what, it might suck worse for your coworker. Reflux belching hurts like a mo fo.

And, he may just be a disgusting human being, but I wouldn't go running to HR over this, for crying out loud. Wear ear phones and listen to music if it bugs you so much!

angelsnight · June 2012

bettywhitettgp:
I find it hilarious when people (who are trying to have children) find bodily functions so disgusting. Guess what, kids belch and fart all the time. Sometimes, they do it for hours. ON PURPOSE. They pick their noses and eat it. The blow out of their diapers, pee on the floor, and vomit.
Belching is not always something that you can control. Extreme reflux causes some to belch loudly, and often. It may suck for you to hear it, but guess what, it might suck worse for your coworker. Reflux belching hurts like a mo fo.
And, he may just be a disgusting human being, but I wouldn't go running to HR over this, for crying out loud. Wear ear phones and listen to music if it bugs you so much!

Adults vs kids....there's your answer. So, you wouldn't be bothered by an adult in your office who cried and had a tantrum when they didn't get their way, or got too tired in the afternoon?

bettywhitettgp · June 2012

angelsnight:
bettywhitettgp:
I find it hilarious when people (who are trying to have children) find bodily functions so disgusting. Guess what, kids belch and fart all the time. Sometimes, they do it for hours. ON PURPOSE. They pick their noses and eat it. The blow out of their diapers, pee on the floor, and vomit.
Belching is not always something that you can control. Extreme reflux causes some to belch loudly, and often. It may suck for you to hear it, but guess what, it might suck worse for your coworker. Reflux belching hurts like a mo fo.
And, he may just be a disgusting human being, but I wouldn't go running to HR over this, for crying out loud. Wear ear phones and listen to music if it bugs you so much!
Adults vs kids....there's your answer. So, you wouldn't be bothered by an adult in your office who cried and had a tantrum when they didn't get their way, or got too tired in the afternoon?

Read the next paragraph, sugar. The part about it possibly being out of his control.

And last time I checked, tantrums weren't a bodily function, genius! Now change that to a co-worker crapping their pants or vomiting on themselves, and my answer wouldn't change.

angelsnight · June 2012

bettywhitettgp:
angelsnight:
bettywhitettgp:
I find it hilarious when people (who are trying to have children) find bodily functions so disgusting. Guess what, kids belch and fart all the time. Sometimes, they do it for hours. ON PURPOSE. They pick their noses and eat it. The blow out of their diapers, pee on the floor, and vomit.
Belching is not always something that you can control. Extreme reflux causes some to belch loudly, and often. It may suck for you to hear it, but guess what, it might suck worse for your coworker. Reflux belching hurts like a mo fo.
And, he may just be a disgusting human being, but I wouldn't go running to HR over this, for crying out loud. Wear ear phones and listen to music if it bugs you so much!
Adults vs kids....there's your answer. So, you wouldn't be bothered by an adult in your office who cried and had a tantrum when they didn't get their way, or got too tired in the afternoon?

Read the next paragraph, sugar. The part about it possibly being out of his control.
And last time I checked, tantrums weren't a bodily function, genius! Now change that to a co-worker crapping their pants or vomiting on themselves, and my answer wouldn't change.

I did read it sugar, thanks...your first point wasn't directed to the scenario of it being a medical condition, your point was saying people who want kids shouldn't be disgusted by people who burp, fart, etc, period...regardless of whether it is a medical condition.

There are PLENTY of disgusting people in the world who think nothing of belching in public, so while he may suffer from some medical condition, he may also just be a disgusting person and wanting kids shouldn't mean a person should be just fine with gross behavior in public.

JustWonderin805 · June 2012

GhostMonkey:
angelsnight:
bettywhitettgp:
I find it hilarious when people (who are trying to have children) find bodily functions so disgusting. Guess what, kids belch and fart all the time. Sometimes, they do it for hours. ON PURPOSE. They pick their noses and eat it. The blow out of their diapers, pee on the floor, and vomit.
Belching is not always something that you can control. Extreme reflux causes some to belch loudly, and often. It may suck for you to hear it, but guess what, it might suck worse for your coworker. Reflux belching hurts like a mo fo.
And, he may just be a disgusting human being, but I wouldn't go running to HR over this, for crying out loud. Wear ear phones and listen to music if it bugs you so much!
Adults vs kids....there's your answer. So, you wouldn't be bothered by an adult in your office who cried and had a tantrum when they didn't get their way, or got too tired in the afternoon?

You work somewhere that this doesn't happen?

You made me snort, GM.

I have to agree with Betty, here. I could understand if it was a problem and he was doing it while he was in a setting that dealt with customers. But, if he's in an office setting, it's just something I would get over.

Maybe it's just me and the fact that my co-workers/managers/boss are super open. The co-workers I'm really close with tell me when they have to poop, so belching and the like don't bother me. It helps that I work with animals, and have to deal with the pooping/farting/belching side of things pretty regularly.

kristykay123 · June 2012

Svenny, why are you constantly bashing your co-workers on here? Who cares if someone burps? I hate it when people chew or talk with their mouths open but I'm not going to say something if they're a co-worker. Nor would I report them to HR.

lovely4321 · June 2012

That is kind of odd! But I would just ignore it. It isn't that big of a deal.

artistlife · June 2012

I agree with Betty. After you have changed a few liquid poops, had a baby vomit down your shirt in the middle of dinner at a restaurant, or leak breast milk out on your shirt while you talk to someone at your desk, yeah, your feelings will change. I would let it go for now. BTW- yes all those things and more have actually happened to me.

Svenny1011 · June 2012

1. Bodily functions don't gross me out at all. I simply find it rude to burp out loud at the workplace when others can hear it. Poopy diapers, farts, whatever - they don't bother me expect when they are constant and the person isn't trying to hide it in any way. There's a difference between not having control, and having complete control over it.

2. I know the guy well - there are 10 people in my office. He doesn't have acid reflux or anything similar. I on the other hand do have acid reflux, as well as IBS, and I'm not farting and burping all around the office.

3. KristyKay, I don't constantly complain about my coworkers. When was the last time I did that? And I'm not going to go running to HR. That wasn't my idea, and I agreed that wasn't the way to handle this.

I would have a hard time believing that if someone else heard this, they didn't end up annoyed or somewhat grossed out by it after months and months of it.

Clec - your advice was helpful. I think it is a good way to handle it - bring it up lightly to him and see how he reacts. Seems like the best way.

artistlife · June 2012

I'm sorry, I misunderstood your post. The use of nasty, disgusting, and horrifying led me to assume you thought it was nasty, disgusting, and horrifying. You should tell him how it annoys you.

kristykay123 · June 2012

Your admin.

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Advice re: gross coworker (NTTGPR)

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