What do you do if a co-worker is driving you crazy?

Question

I share an office. My co-worker is constantly chewing & crunching on ice or eating very loud. I dont want to offend this person, but this constant crunching is very annoying. Any advice on how to handle this?

Answer 1

Oh, boy, I totally sympathize with you. For whatever reason, I am extremely sensitive to noise - those smacky mouth noises are bad enough, but then you have people who snap their gum, snort (disgusting!), sing, and (what I find most unbelievably distracting) WHISTLE.

It depends on your co-worker's personality and your existing relationship with him/her. As a woman in a male-dominated field, I sometimes have problems with the occasional male co-worker slightly "hazing" me - if they learn that something annoys me, they just do it more (so I just don't let them find out what annoys me). In my first job out of college, a co-worker who was literally old enough to be my grandfather insisted on whistling constantly because he resented me (he felt I wasn't sufficiently deferential to him, even though he wasn't my boss!) and knew his whistling annoyed me.

So, if that's the case, I would consider asking to be moved to a different office if that's at all feasible.

Assuming instead that your co-worker is a reasonable person, just ask them to stop doing it in a way that you would like to be asked to stop doing something that annoyed him/her. It's entirely possible that s/he doesn't even know they're doing something that bothers you. You will be kinder and less likely to offend if you put yourself in the other person's place first.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Sounds like someone is trying to quit smoking. But, it is rude to make that much noise, and isn't there a rule about not eating at your desk? If there isn't, people can eat at the desk, then delete that from the following speech.
So very nicely, tell the other person that you are sorry to have to say it, but could you please be a little quieter? Sometimes you drown out my thoughts with the ice and crunching food chomping..And I worry that you are going to get caught eating at your desk, and you are such a nice person [or good worker], I don't want you to lose your job by getting caught..
And offer the person some sugarless gum that doesn't stick to dental work. Tell him/her this is what you do when you get hungry and can't leave your desk to go get something to eat.
Maybe the little hint that you leave your desk to eat will click with them. And set a good example, don't eat at your desk.
Sometimes the ice chomping has a psychological meaning, it is called pica, and it is the eating of non-food items. Some people eat starch, the kind you iron your clothes with.
It is really hard to get mad at someone who has a smile on their face, and says they have your best interests at heart.
Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Sounds very annoying. The responsible thing is to ask them to chew, crunch their ice (how annoying) or eat in the designated eating area (assuming you have one). Just politely tell them that it is distracting and you would really appreciate it if they stopped. Most people are unaware of how annoying they are...

Answer 4

That sucks, but the answer is simple.

Yo! get yo gat an' go an' pop a cap in dat mofo's a$$, den, stand o'er dem and say "chew that biiiotch"-jk

Just be nice and tell them that you are trying to concentrate and that they are making disturbing noises and that it would help you work more efficiently if they would tone it down. It may help if you make it sound like they will be helping you, people are more motivated to do things if they feel they are helping and not being told what to do.

Answer 5

ok first you sit down and have a civilized conversation with the person that is annoying. Don't beat around the bush, the only way to say it is to actually SAY it. Don't play games, just say it. There is the possibility that he/she will get offended, but that is just a risk. Try to explain that you're only trying to help, I mean this kind of behavior can't be acceptable anywhere.
If this still doesn't work you have my permission to ***** slap this person into the next century.

Answer 6

Just ask him to stop courteously. Tell him it is very loud, and gets on your nerves. If he isn't a jerk, he'll make a conscious effort to stop, and if he IS a jerk, and keeps doing it to bug you, then you can get pissed off at him, with good reason!
..and i happened to read a question of yours that was in voting, about the gaunt-looking friend? I know a person who has lost VERY MUCH weight, and seems to fit the same description, and th doctors don't know whats wrog with them..it isn't a thyroid disorder, annorexia, anything. Better recommend a physician to yur friend, soon.

Answer 7

If you wanted to try the light humor approach, you could say "wow, who knew ice had such volume!" and then chuckle and say that you're sorry but that the eating was coming across very loud. If the person doesn't take the hint, you can jsut say "I'm really sorry, but I can hear you chewing and it's affecting my concentration."

Answer 8

Ask them politely to stop or to be curteous of other people in the office. I know it's annoying but sometimes you have to tune them out.

Answer 9

You should realy try to talk with them before you blow up on them. Pinned up anger and aggrivation can be a terrible thing when released.

Answer 10

fart. farts are the universal crazy repellant. blast a couple out and she what SHE does. she complains, THEN tell her the chewing and crunching is irritating. she stops, so will you.