Annoying Co-workers

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workout junkie

Cathlete
Anyone have any problems with annoying co-workers? And what'd you do about it?

This is going to sound like whining, but I just can't help myself. I have some co-workers that sit near me and make annoying sounds - humming, whistling, singing...it goes on for a good part of the day. Ear plugs don't help much and I don't want to have to resort to using my ipod all day. Any suggestions on what to do? Should I say something or send an email?

They are my co-workers and I don't want to tick them off too much because I do have to work with them. I know I'm not the only one bugged by them. Also, my boss sits in the same area and he must hear the same stuff unless he's able to tune them out. He probably doesn't have the guys to say anything though.

Another guy plays his radio at that level that just sounds like irritating noise. Maybe I wouldn't mind so much if it was different music, but it really puts me on edge. And the werid thing is sometimes he uses headphones, but other times he doesn't. I don't get it. Some people can be so inconsiderate...or maybe I'm just easily annoyed.
 
You could easily ask the guy with the radio to either use headphones or turn it WAY down - I wouldn't think twice about doing that, and I doubt that he'd be too terribly annoyed. :) The other guys - the whistler, is harder, because it's HIM making the noises, not some other "thing" like a radio. Perhaps the best solution is to talk to your boss, and see if you can work out an acceptable office policy regarding noise levels. He can then handle it across the board, rather than pointing out individuals, which may make it easier. Then, if people keep up with the noisy activity, you can email them and mention the new "noise pollution" policy.

m.
 
Oh man I have one of them--this really loud mouthed guy who's constantly whistling, singing, and/or talking at a decibel level of about 56. God forbid anyone have anything to do that requires actual thought, b/c he's just too distracting.

Fortunately I have only one of these, & I'm his boss. So when he starts I usually say semi-jokingly, "cut that out, it's distracting me!" I've almost broken his habit, thank goodness. I only b*tch at him once a week or so now, it used to be a couple times a day.

Maybe you could talk to your boss? Or you & some of the other coworkers who're also being bothered by this? (power in numbers & all that) Just tell him the noise pollution is disruptive & distracting you from your work, let him be the bad guy (it's what he gets paid for).
 
Does it count if you're a SAHM and the "co-workers" are male ages 8, 8, and 11? Oh, and occasionally a 48 yo male?
 
i have a co-worker who stomps his size 13s on the floor and it drives me nuts. so one day, i acted like i didn't know who was doing it and said really loud, "who is stomping?" and sort of made a joke out of it, but made sure he knew it was annoying. he didn't really realize how much he did it. he is a programmer and has lots of energy and stomps when he is under pressure and has a lot of pent up energy. now, if he stomps excessively, he makes a joke about me getting mad, but not in a malicious way. we just joke about it now, and i know he is not doing it to annoy me any more. sometimes, using a little humor and acting ignorant about it will diffuse any ill-feelings that might have flared up otherwise. just a thought that worked for me...
 
I did try the humor approach once - yelled out jokingly "who's humming and singing"? Unfortunately it didn't do any good. I think one of the guys had his headphones on (when he's listening to his ipod is when he seems to be most annoying), and the other guy must not have heard me.

Not sure what I'll do, but I'll take all of your suggestions into consideration. It stinks cuz I'm the only female in the group, and if I say something I'm sure they'll think I'm a you-know-what. I hate to whine to my boss, but I just may have to. Otherwise, one of these days I'm going to just explode and that'll be ugly.

Thanks everyone!
 
I have a particularly annoying coworker. Fortunately, though, I only work with her every other week and for 1 night. She is really very sweet and caring and will give you the shirt off her back, but what makes her annoying is that she is very lonely and tries *way* too hard to be a part of every conversation. She butts her nose in and has to comment on everything. Add to this that if you've done something, she's done it more often and better. If you've gone somewhere cool, she's 'been there, done that'. She also constantly makes comments that she's related to William Wallace (Braveheart) and Ivan the Terrible, etc. One night she got so bad about that, I piped up and said, "Heck, we're all related to Adam and Eve eventually!" Most of the time I am able to ignore her, though.

I know that didn't help, but it's nice to know that you are not alone!

And Melody, I don't think they count as coworkers, just co-conspirators!
 
Wow, seems like there's one (or more) of these in every office. I like the idea of letting your boss be the bad guy on this one--that's what he's paid for.

I have a coworker who has great headphones but refuses to use them and instead plays music on his computer. Plays it at a really low volume, so I don't hear the music--just a constant low noise and just enough lyrics so I know what songs are being played (generally stuff that I hate--I really dislike his taste in music). This coworker then has the nerve to make fun of a few people in our office who are excessively loud. It drives me nuts, but he is vastly senior to me and there's not much I can do about it.
 
Wow, seems like there's one (or more) of these in every office. I like the idea of letting your boss be the bad guy on this one--that's what he's paid for.

I have a coworker who has great headphones but refuses to use them and instead plays music on his computer. Plays it at a really low volume, so I don't hear the music--just a constant low noise and just enough lyrics so I know what songs are being played (generally stuff that I hate--I really dislike his taste in music). This coworker then has the nerve to make fun of a few people in our office who are excessively loud. It drives me nuts, but he is vastly senior to me and there's not much I can do about it.
 
>> I don't get it. Some people can be so
>inconsiderate...or maybe I'm just easily annoyed.

Humming, whistling, singing...some people do it without even thinking about it. And it doesn't sound that annoying (not like teeth grinding, belching, chewing with one's mouth open, cracking knuckles or some other sound would be).
 
>> I don't get it. Some people can be so
>inconsiderate...or maybe I'm just easily annoyed.

Humming, whistling, singing...some people do it without even thinking about it. And it doesn't sound that annoying (not like teeth grinding, belching, chewing with one's mouth open, cracking knuckles or some other sound would be).
 
>Plays it at a
>really low volume, so I don't hear the music--just a constant
>low noise and just enough lyrics so I know what songs are
>being played (generally stuff that I hate--I really dislike
>his taste in music).

Exactly what one of my other co-workers does. And I don't get why sometimes he uses headphones and sometimes he doesn't.

I once had a co-worker who every Friday would play the same selection of songs - it started out with soundtracks from Star Wars, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, etc. Then came Kenny G, Mariah Carey (esp. annoying at that low volume)...it made me want to scream.
 
>Humming, whistling, singing...some people do it without even
>thinking about it. And it doesn't sound that annoying (not
>like teeth grinding, belching, chewing with one's mouth open,
>cracking knuckles or some other sound would be).

Well, I guess you have to hear it over and over and over to realize how annoying it can be. I know it doesn't sound bad, but it is. And it bugs another co-worker of mine too, but he won't say anything.

The one guy that hums and sometimes sings (in Chinese?) also "plays the drums" on his desk. And when he drinks his tea, all you hear is constant slurping.

Now that you got me on a roll...I once had a boss (he was probably about 60 yrs old) who had a gas problem (and a BO problem). He'd walk by and pass gas and would act like nothing happened. What really grossed me out was when he'd be standing at my desk and he'd grab his crotch or "re-arrange" himself or pick a wedgie. That was intolerable.
 
>I once had a co-worker who every Friday would play the same
>selection of songs - it started out with soundtracks from Star
>Wars, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, etc. Then came Kenny G,
>Mariah Carey (esp. annoying at that low volume)...it made me
>want to scream.
>

Reminds me of a "Buffy" episode, where Buffy's college roommate plays Cher's "Believe" over, and over, and over... She and Buffy finally get into it (she's really a demon) and Buffy gets to take out her frustration by kicking some booty...guess that wouldn't work with coworkers!
}(
 
>> And when he drinks his tea,
>all you hear is constant slurping.

Now THAT would drive me up the wall. I can't stand hearing other people's bodily processed (chewing, slurping). My first year in grad school, I lived in a private dorm with a lot of Chinese students (it was near the science area of the campus) who slurped their ramen noodles. Gave me the heeby jeebies!
 
> I once had a boss (he was
>probably about 60 yrs old) who had a gas problem (and a BO
>problem). He'd walk by and pass gas and would act like
>nothing happened. What really grossed me out was when he'd be
>standing at my desk and he'd grab his crotch or "re-arrange"
>himself or pick a wedgie. That was intolerable.

I once had a collegue who passed stinky gas every so often. And he chewed loudly with his mouth open (gag!). I couldn't stand being near him when there was any eating involved. Made me want to puke (the chewing...which probably contributed to his gas because he was taking in a lot of air).
 
alsrnbsn if shes lonley you could just be christian with her that is sad that she is lonely thats not right that people ignore her she problay feels like a outcast at work i have been there thats a terrible feeling feeling lonely or outcast makes you want to hate your job
 
my coworkers were annoying because they drink smoked pot cursed and i did none of that i exercised toke vitamins and tryed to take care of my body and go to church faithly none of them exercise or even cared about their bodys i had nothing in common with them oh by the way in the work world do wht makes you feel right becuase they will talk about you even if you are a saint. i always act down to earth never snobby always try to talk to them and they would but me out of their conversation it felt alone there thank god i swithed deptments. oh i almost forgot they always talk about sex with menat work they sound like whores i am not a snobby i kid around with them but i dont want to ever get men the wrong impression i only go so far you wont get respect and i want to show my faith. i think they were raised differrently than me.they used to cut me up for not curseing how can i show that i am a born again christian and curse that doenst make sense.
 
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