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August 24, 2006
Am I a Toxic Cube Neighbor?
We have dedicated a fair amount of space here recently on the issue of toxic bosses – whether you have one, how to contend with one, etc.
In a somewhat related note, I have been watching a fair amount of (mostly work-sanctioned) online video recently. And I don’t have headphones, which sometimes means that in the first few seconds of my viewing experience, I blast my unsuspecting neighbors with audio I am sure they’d be happy not to hear. Now that I think about it, I probably do this three to four times per day.
Add this to my as yet-unaddressed addiction to “borrowed” office supplies, and I’m beginning to wonder:
Am I a toxic neighbor?
Here’s an initial pass at a diagnostic checklist:
1. “Borrow” office supplies – permanently.
2. Stretch deadlines to the (very) last minute. Others can set their clocks by my lateness.
3. Allow loud noises to emanate from computer (no headphones).
4. Pop in to people’s cubicles when they are quite visibly engaged in real work.
After I finish refining the list, I am going to have to take a good look in the mirror. How about you?
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Posted by Mark Sargent on August 24, 2006 at 05:22 PM in The Daily Grind | Permalink | Comments (43) | TrackBack (0)
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Comments
I've got some additions to your list:
- too much perfume/cologne
- noisy desk eater (apples are the WORST)
- smelly food desk eater (please leave the FISH at home or in the lunchroom!)
I'm sure more will occur to me later...
Posted by: Celina | Aug 25, 2006 11:09:08 AM
A few more to consider for the toxic cube neighbor list ...
1. Do I bathe in perfume/cologne before I come to work?
Don't know about anyone else's, but my cube is not equipped with a gas-mask or a drop-down oxygen system.
2. Do I partake in overly fragrant (i.e. "stinky") food at my desk more than once a week?
3. Am I a prairie dog? Do I listen to neighbor's conversations with others and "pop-up" with advice or comments, wanted or not?
4. Do I partake in coded cell-phone conversations at my desk? Contrary to popular belief, no one around you has the time to waste trying to figure out what your acronyms REALLY mean -- especially in a production oriented environment.
Forgive the snarkiness. I've dealt with most of these issues during my time as a cube-dweller. Sometimes sarcasm is the only way to make your point.
Posted by: rainsdrops | Aug 30, 2006 8:48:46 AM
Yes. You are an AWFUL neighbor. If I had the cube next to yours, I would have complained to management by now.
Posted by: bluejay | Sep 9, 2006 10:53:34 AM
I don't know if I would use the term "toxic," but I will say that the behaviours you mentioned are the kind I'd strongly dislike if I were your cube neighbour. In my profession (journalism), you can not miss deadlines. Period. If you were consistently late, you wouldn't be drawing a paycheck for very long.
As for borrowing office supplies, I'm very touchy about what I let people borrow, so if you "borrow" something of mine and never give it back, I may put it somewhere in my desk where you can't readily get to it or I'd specifically say "I expect it back when you're done with it."
Regarding headphones, use them. About popping into someone else's cube when they're working, don't unless there's some project that requires you to see them right then and there. You run the risk of being labelled the company busybody, or worse.
Posted by: Mike | Sep 12, 2006 7:18:43 PM
I strongly recommend that you use headphones or turned the volume way down. Noise can distract your co-workers and if you work in a call center the customers can also hear the computer noises and if that occurs the company might end up getting a bad reputation. So be a little bit more considerated of your coworkers.
Posted by: Daniel | Sep 12, 2006 9:04:27 PM
What about the neighbor with the electric heater on when it is already 78 degrees and climbing?
Posted by: lesly | Sep 13, 2006 3:27:10 PM
How about huffing and puffing when the person does not want to be bothered.
How about not saying excuse me when you burp and pass gas and SAY NOTHING
covering up smoke smell with nasty stinky perfume
or get makeup all over the office equipment
Posted by: Jamia | Sep 14, 2006 10:42:57 AM
Loud sighing when you do not want to be bothered with work
Loud burping and will never say excuse me
Make-up on office equipment -- how does that happen?
Posted by: Jamie | Sep 14, 2006 10:48:08 AM
My favorite is the person who uses speakerphone for everything - voice mail, telecons, arguing with his spouse about what's for dinner. So, not only do we get to listen to them yell into the phone, but we get to hear the other guy's end of the conversation, as well.
Posted by: Tim | Sep 14, 2006 11:15:09 AM
Wow when I read this blog you all sound so much like myself. Currently I am the supervisor and office mate of one annoying person. To begin I have a low tolerance for noisy eaters. This person is loud, selfish, and the list goes on. She smokes comes in with the smell all over her clothes and everything else. Then to cover she dumps those nasty egyptian oils all over that you buy off the streets. So after that not only do I have to deal with the smell of smoke but then the smell of egyptian oils. Its like dealing with a woman thats loud, farts, burps and slams things. Even down to her hunt and peck typing on an uneven keyboard. Im just truly annoyed. And the eating is another story, its not what she eats that annoys me its her eating period that annoys me. So to avoid her smacking when she eats, loud sighing and blowing when she is upset and all around loud talking I have bought some headphones and turned up my music so loud that I cannot hear myself think. Its either go deaf or go crazy in the office.
Posted by: Boss Lady | Sep 14, 2006 11:27:32 AM
Is this a joke? If you already know that being loud and "borrowing" other people's things is obnoxious, why would you keep doing it?
Posted by: Julie | Sep 14, 2006 12:42:15 PM
My least favorite cube neighbor was one who would talk nonsense and even sing -- and she was not a good singer. She -- no longer my neighbor -- was obviously in love with the sound of her voice. Work-related talk is one thing, but noise for the sake of noise is really annoying and distracting.
Posted by: Carole | Sep 14, 2006 1:02:08 PM
My co-worker has a desk across from mine, not even a cubilce to protect me :-(, think of Office Space situation with Dwight and Jim. She is LOUD at everything she does, including talking, laughing, opening drawers, and eating. She has personal calls at least once a week and I mean personal. She interrupts and puts in her two cents on everything whether I asked or not. She encourages me to lie to clients. She talks when to me when I am on the phone trying to "seal the deal." But I think my personal favorite is when she has something in her teeth and is constantly trying to suck it out.
Posted by: Melissa | Sep 14, 2006 1:51:58 PM
Don't forget about the avid gum-chewers! I just *love* hearing my cube neighbor smacking and cracking her gum all day... every day...
Posted by: Allie | Sep 14, 2006 2:10:02 PM
Another bad neighbor habit is too many personal phone calls at work. I really don't care to hear other persons' DRAMA at work. It is both distracting and DISTRESSING. It makes me glad I keep my life simple, WITHOUT ALL THE DRAMA!! It makes me wonder about these people and the silly, foolish people in their lives that generate all the drama and problems. PLEASE, take it to the hall or outside on your cell phone! Spare me the drama!
Posted by: mbiegaj | Sep 14, 2006 2:13:54 PM
My biggest pet peeves in a work setting are dealing with people who insist on:
1 - marinating themselves in cologne/perfume before coming to work (this includes men who do this with aftershave, too)
2 - people who think it's perfectly fine to LIBERALLY use *aerosol* hairsprays, deoderants, air freshners and/or desk cleaners in their cubes and/or the bathrooms, hallways, breakrooms, etc.
Some people might not mind this kind of behavior, but those of us with allergies, sensitivities and asthma, it can literally put us in physical danger, causing costly (and disruptive) trips to the nearest Emergency rooms. As Celina mentioned, office cubes are not generally equipped with gas masks or drop-down oxygen systems.
When I was working in a call center, noisy neighbors in general were very disruptive, not to mention annoying. People would walk past with co-workers, laughing and talking loudly while I and my colleagues were trying to hear customers at the other end of the line.
Every now and then, a customer would ask what all that noise was about. At times, I would say that there was a large group of students touring our facilities.
Stretching deadlines to the very last second is irresponsible!! I have been in situations where a group of managers' parts of the projects had to be done first, before I could do my part. There always were a handful of them who waited 'til the very last second to complete their tasks. My gripe is that due to their lack of time management, my performance was affected.
As for permanently "borrowing" supplies, let's call it what it really is - *stealing*!!!
Posted by: Olena | Sep 14, 2006 2:24:30 PM
Talking about noisy co-workers using speaker phones...
While working as a corporate Directory Assistance Operator, I would get calls from customers (both internal and external) calling on their cell phones while using the bathroom.
Now, stop and think about this....I've got a headset on that picks up all kinds of background noises, and people call in while they're doing their "business" in the bathroom. Yes, I could hear what they were doing, as well as the sound of flushing. It was all I could do to keep from making any comment like "don't forget to wash your hands." Eeewww!!!
When my position title/responsibilities changed and I was moved up to the Executives' floor, I discovered that a number of managers had a tendency to wear cordless headsets to participate in teleconferences. That isn't a problem. The problem is that while some of the managers were on the phone, taking part in the conversations, they would make visits to the restroom, do their thing (while on the phone, the whole time) and walk back to their offices...oftentimes without washing their hands. And, afterwards, go to the breakroom and use those same hands to pick out a roll or pizza set out for everyone in the department. Eeewww!!!
Posted by: Olena | Sep 14, 2006 2:39:48 PM
what about two cubes mates across the aisle? one who has daily "outbursts" because she likes to hear the sound of her voice and the other one who calls her on her "outbursts" then they both laugh. The sarcasm and constant banter used to deflect the inconsiderate behaviour is also annoying. whatever happended to professionalism and wanting to put your best foot forward when you're in a work environment? don't you want to do your best work and get a raise? I'm in a customer service environment and it really amazes me how much time is spent on not working, or coming up with excuses and complaining loudly about why you can't do your job when the system is not working. Negative energy begets negative.
Posted by: Sue | Sep 14, 2006 9:34:56 PM
I totally agree with Melissa - gum snappers are the absolute worst! It is so hard to concentrate when someone does that. Do people not know that it's terrible manners to chew with your mouth open - gum included?
Ugh!
On another note...
I work on a help desk with 7 other people, where we support intnernal customers with computer issues. We are all about the same age and get along together rather well, which is rare!
We all have had discussions about what gets on our nerves, so sometimes to be funny one of us will do something on purpose to bug someone else and then everyone will laugh about it. It's a good way to lighten up the mood and clear the air. (Obviously we try not to annoy each other most of the time.)
My personal favorite is sealing up a package with packing tape while my neighbor is on the phone. The sound is terrible - you know it if you've ever used a tape gun. I just do it with a big smile on my face as he cringes. He gets me back by doing things that annoy me, like constantly clicking a retractable pen while I'm trying to concentrate on something. It's childish, but at least nobody gets dirty looks from one another because we know it's all in good fun.
I think that if you're outgoing enough to *lightheartedly* air your grievances with people's bad habits, it will encourage others to tell you what bugs them. Then everyone can try their best to be good neighbors!
Posted by: Michigan06 | Sep 14, 2006 11:48:49 PM
I had a cube neighbor once who popped her gum in rapid-fire fashion. I don't even know how she was physically able to pop it so quickly, but it was exceptionally annoying. When I told her to stop, she got offended. I found out that another co-worker in an adjacent cube had previously asked her to stop as well. After that, I had to ask her to stop two more times. She claims that she does it and doesn't even know it. Luckily, I'm on the other side of the building from her now.
Gum-popping: the most annoying habit on the face of the earth; you can tell a lot about a person who still does this in their adult years.
Habitually sighing at unwanted work is a close second. Everyone has work they don't want to do. Those over age 12 should know to not whine about it.
Posted by: Aaron | Sep 15, 2006 9:32:12 AM
Sounds terrible! I certainly hope this is just a forum for venting or else you should all be sent to tolerence courses. I do my best to try to not bother others, which includes not complaining about them. Next time that "annoying" person next to you does something try to remember they are human. Maybe then you will learn to enjoy your job, not hate it. Remember it takes work to be a team player.
Posted by: Compassionate Wroker | Sep 15, 2006 10:36:11 AM
I'm in a remodeled old house and the "rooms" are very close together, some facing each other. One of the law partner's wives is working here "part time"...she comes in late, gets on the phone with family and friends most of the day, talks as much and when she wants, leaves her desk at the drop of a hat, laughs out loud, and has the other secretary (who also has a large loud voice) in stitches most of the day, and they both throw out their opinions about everyone and everything whenever it strikes their fancy...even if one of the partners who works on the same floor close by says something, Mrs. thing will take it as a personal offense and talk about it and laugh about it to everyone for the rest of the day. It's the height of ignorance and disrespect but most everyone in the office thinks she's an angel and so wonderful! I can't stand her and cannot in all good conscience give her much of my time as I am trying to get my work done and afraid she will start talking to me and never shut up!!!
Posted by: MsK5 | Sep 15, 2006 1:42:11 PM
I agree with all gum chewing comments, as well as nosy neighbors; Constant talking when it's all socialization; singing of any sort, or whistling for that matter; and general overall loudness. My work will periodically include articles about cube politeness, etc. into our department newsletter, but its apparent no one reads them!
Posted by: Cass | Sep 15, 2006 3:13:17 PM
I'm recently new to the cube world, and this site not only made me lol numerous times, but also warned me of my habit to eavesdrop...the prairie dog comment is helpful. Thanks for the humor and advice.
Posted by: Delinda Hathcock | Sep 15, 2006 11:24:42 PM
I have had to share cubicles/offices with many people and dealt with all that has been discussed here and more. I have no doubt that I am also guilty of some of these offenses so I do my best to constantly be aware of my behavior. One thing I have not seen mentioned here that drives me crazy is co-workers talking about other co-workers who are supposedly their friends; yes, the dreaded back-stabbing and gossip. When I first started working at one of my jobs, I had to share an office with a male. Soon after I started working, he and his male co-worker wasted NO time in talking about other people in our group in front of me in my shared office, to include our boss. They whispered, which was even worse because it was disrespectful to me, but it was still unprofessional and unnecessary. If they needed to talk trash about someone, they could have gone to the other guy's office who was lucky enough to have his own office.
When our boss decided to treat all of us to lunch one day, these two happily attended the lunch and took our boss' money, almost with the attitude that our boss 'owed' them. I did not go to the luncheon; I could not have sat there and watched these people laugh and joke with our boss all the while knowing what they had said about him behind his back. Is this everywhere??
Posted by: Deeanna | Sep 16, 2006 12:00:13 PM
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