I need advice for a disgusting co-worker.?

Question

She is sick or something from smoking maybe...she coughs and hacks all the time and there are things (splatterings and small pieces) all over her keyboard and monitor. It is very very disgusting. She also eats at her desk and you can imagine what that adds to the picture I have described. I am not kidding. She also talks very very loud. Should or could I do or say anything? She is so nice but it really makes me want to barf sometimes. I am sure it cannot be sanitary either. She asks me to help her with Excel functions sometimes...I cant touch her computer! Have you encountered something similar? What would you do?

I think some people who have answered think I am insensitive. I am not. I wasnt looking for someone to remind me she is a sick lady. I know that! I am just looking for ideas.

Answer 1

It sounds like she is dying.

She needs medical attention. I am sorry that it disgusts you (because I FEEL that) but please try to remember that her days are short. She will be out of your way soon. Try to make her last days on this earth as comfortable as possible. Ask if you can get her a glass of water. Refer her to a good doctor if you know one.

Sometimes we have to look outside ourselves and see the bigger picture.

Answer 2

One day, walk into her office and have a casual conversation with her- make sure to talk in a normal voice, and try to drop a few hints that she is talking loud. (Perhaps by turning around every so often to see if other people are watching you.) After a few minutes, say " Oh, *insert name*, your keyboard looks dirty. Would you like some wipes for it? I have some in my office....my keyboard gets dirty all of the time." (Say it in a nice way....if she has a desk decoration, compliment it and then move onto the keyboard subject.+ Make sure you have the wipes bought beforehand and have a few pulled out . Remember: You must sound like you use them too.)

-If that doesn't work, have someone known for brutal honesty do exactly the same thing but- when he or she sees the keyboard- have them act disgusted and basically embarrass her into using the wipes.)

Answer 3

You should call tech support and tell them her machine needs cleaning. They will clean it up or give her a new keyboard and you can compliment her on how nice it looks so maybe she will keep it clean. You can also ask human resources to look into the situation. As for the cough I can guarantee you it hurts her more than it hurts you. Carry a bottle of hand sanitizer when you are at work and use it after you leave her area. There's no need to hurt her feelings but you should not have to touch her splatterings (what we call lung-butter) for any reason.

Maybe you could offer to show her how to clean her keyboard?

Answer 4

If, as you said, she's a nice person, than you should talk calmly to her and explain that it makes impossible for you to feel comfortable in the office. If she makes a noise of it, than you can just inform your boss about that.

Everyone has problems with co-workers. I do have some problems, of course, not so serious, but they exist, I just do bear it, but if there is a proper moment, I will try to talk with them. Or make them understand in some way, that it's not good from them, for example to whimper or smth like that all the time.

Anyway, it's possible to solve that problem. Only have "courage" to talk to her.

P.S. Just at this moment...as I was writing this answer, my co-worker came to the room and began to whimper, as usual, I decided not to pay attention. She usually does not take serious her habbit to whimper. I just asked how is "whimper" in Russian to my other worker, she just understood, that her whimping is noticable and stopped. But did I do wrong? I think, no.

Answer 5

What you do depends and what you believe. If you are a Christian then pray and ask God to do something about it. Otherwise avoid her as much as possible, but remember not to hurt her feelings by saying anything. You are not made of china, amazingly tough, so touching her computer will not harm you, neither will the smell. The more you dwell on it the worse it gets, just forget it.

Answer 6

ewww, thats a hard one,,,, same this is happening to me, more or less, with my co-woker, who happens to be a very good friend,, she ate at her desk, coughed, well sort of like your situation, something nasty,, i thought about it for a long time, i finally decided to talk to her, i first told her that she was may friend, and as a friend cared for her, and told her the truth, that her behavior was repulvsive, that she should care a little bit more about her appearence (she kinda smelled too), i reminded her what a great person she was, and really she is, the point is to be frank, tell this person what is upseting you, that you both work at the same place and there should be a happy medium, that she should modify some of those things, try first the easy parts, like telling her not to eat at the desk, or to lower her voice, to see how she reacts, then work on the other less flattering attributes of your co-worker
good luck

ps my friend took it well, but we are good friends and she understood and saw it as positive criticism

Answer 7

Do you have a human resources department? They are required to handle this type of problem. It is their job to tell someone if they smell bad or are offensive. Also, seriously, just take some wipies and tell your coworker that you do not like germs. Just be like, Oh My Gosh! Your keyboard is so dirty! Let me get a wipey. They sell them at Walmart in cute little travel packs for a dollar. You might want to buy an extra and give it to her.
Never be afraid to tell someone to cover their mouth. You should never feel rude. What is rude, is them not covering their mouth in a public place.

Answer 8

Thank goodness! Im not the only one!! I have to share a computer with someone like that!!!! I work nights and she works days. What's more, she kept reporting me as being the one eating at the work station and I had to talk to the manager! I finally had to buy one of thoes plastic keyboard covers and I lock it in my drawer at night. Thank goodness we work at a hospital so theres no shortage of rubber gloves and disinfectant for the screen. But as for stopping her! No guess! I'm going to watch your question though because I want to read the solutions since it seems silly to repost the same question!
Good Luck

Answer 9

Some people just have bad manners. You should say...Dorris I know you eat at your desk and thats fine but do you realize that getting food all over your computer isnt very clean and you may get bugs. Or tell her you saw a bug eating on her keyboard. Scare her!!

Answer 10

You need to talk to your Human Resources Director or the boss. The next time she asks you to help her, tell her that you are very particular about cleanliness.

There is no excuse for being a filthy slob.

Answer 11

the position does he spit? His workspace is largely his territory and he can do extremely a lot what he likes offered it does no longer intervene wit his artwork. i'm 55, been operating 37 years and that i have heard a lot white human beings burp and fart at their table. Why the vast deal about this individual being from yet another us of a. Are you racist? that is alergy season and that i'm at the moment sneezing/blowing my nostril a lot extra in a lot of circumstances than common. likely your boss considers you both a racist or a whining willy