My co-worker is sick with a cold and doesn't cover her mouth when she coughs; she'll literally just stand there, even in the middle of talking to you, and let it all fly out. How can I tactfully tell her to cover things up? Not only is it entirely gross, but I really don't want to get sick.
2007-09-17 06:12:39 · 12 answers · asked by ashley! 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
when she coughs, cover your nose and mouth so as to not inhale her germs traveling through the air as she coughs. most times when you pick at your eye or lick your teeth people get conscious and think that there is something stuck or showing and take action. she might get the same message and cover up.
if not just tell her, "Could you please cover up, I don't want to catch your cold..."
2007-09-17 06:25:05 · answer #1 · answered by painintheneck 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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2016-12-23 21:38:57 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know everyone is telling you to be very direct with her... but unless you want to create tension with a co-worker, it's best to approach it in a different way. Yes, her behavior is gross, but there's a chance that she's just oblivious.
If she coughed infront of my face, I would back up and say (in a jokingly way) "hey, are you trying to drag me down with you? I don't want to get sick too". Maybe she'll get the message that she should cover her mouth and that other people have taken notice.
2007-09-17 06:32:31 · answer #3 · answered by Chamat 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
My grandkids are being taught by their teachers, to cough into the inside of their elbows. This is better than to cough into hands and then touch communal surfaces or other people.
You might tell her about this, and point out that you really hate not covering coughs in some way.
Might have to get firm about this in the end. Also, keep a little bottle of hand sanitizer nearby. Maybe some spray disinfectant to spray the area with.
2007-09-17 06:32:13 · answer #4 · answered by kiwi 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First, keep a handkerchief at the ready and clap it over your nose and mouth whenever she starts coughing.
Then, the following "signals" to her should tell her that you're horrified about the cooties she's spreading all over your universe:
Look aghast and jump back.
Look horrified and "watch" the germs sail through the air.
Quickly "wave away" the germs from in front of your face.
Take a few quick steps back and hold your breath.
2007-09-17 12:03:40 · answer #5 · answered by lfh1213 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When an aggressive and self conceited polish woman who spoke bad english came and demanded why her disability benefit was not the same as her aunty. I tried to calm her own and explained tht there are different rates for different levels of disability. She kept saying im going to complain about you and get you sacked. I had to smile at her and then book a polish interpreter. She was abusive and kept saying how rubbish this country was. I kept smiling at her and remained calm and allowed her to continue complaining until she realised that people were looking at her behaviour with a shocking look. Stay calm Offer apology Get your manager if she is not happy Try to show her that she is an important customer
2016-05-17 05:34:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmmmm how inconsiderate of her...!!! I would probably just get one of those blue things the doctors/nurses use to cover their mouths & noses (sorry, don't know the name in english) and use it MYSELF whenever I need to be around her (or ALL the time, if you sit near her)..... she should take the hint then, and if not and she asks why you're wearing that, you could say something like "oh, there are so many viruses around here that I might as well take care of myself and stay as far away as possible from them... you should probably do the same, if you had done that you'd probably be healthy now, but since you're already sick you could at least help others not to get sick themselves"....... I always wear one of those things around my coworkers when they're sick, and they make fun of me but I don't care, I prefer to stay healthy!!!
2007-09-17 06:22:59 · answer #7 · answered by Lprod 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just tell her to stay away from you until she gets better.I have a yoga teacher (From Germany) she is very direct and I love her attitude.She said if someone cough on you , hold your breath and run away from them.I think she would get the message if you did that.
2007-09-18 04:58:33 · answer #8 · answered by Marilyn T 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
believe it or not, i am a nurse and i find it difficult to tell that to a fellow healthcare worker. and once, i finally did. coz it was too much for me to bear and impossible for me to avoid. (a bad flu) i just let it out in a pleading and non-demanding manner. "hey.. pls wear a mask my dear, i dont wanna get any medical leave." didnt really work. lol. but till my third colleague went up to her and said the same thing, she had no choice but to go wear a mask.
2007-09-17 06:23:19 · answer #9 · answered by miss understand 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
get a bottle of Lysol and spray the air around her every time she comes near you. Perhaps she will get the hint. If not, buy her a surgical face mask and ask her to wear it until her cough is gone.
2007-09-17 06:17:05 · answer #10 · answered by Angela C 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋