An Open Letter to my Cube Neighbor

[Bluestars]

Annoying coworkers must be everywhere. There is a lady in our office who sounds like a fog horn every time she blows her nose. It's disgusting and we can all hear it down the hall. She works 4 offices away and I can hear her. I wish she would have the decency to go to the restroom and do it.

 

[agnes!]

...Get this. We work with a loud person. He swears he can't lower his voice level and yes, we've gone to HR about it. It is bad. He is over 25 feet from me and it sound like he is yelling in my ear. When he answers the phone, he SHOUTS out the name of his department. New people to our areas jump because they are not expecting that.

I keep my ipod going to try and keep my sanity, but the guy closest to loud guy is in trouble now for putting in his ear buds to try and work while drowning out the sounds of loud guy. This is not fair, so we're going to HR again to explain.

I think it is very hard for me because this is the first job to ever assign me a cubicle.

I either had my own office or I had one desk in a room of four other desks (not cubicles) and we all got along and liked the same music, etc.

What would/can you cubicle people suggest to get loud guy to shut up? Like I said, we've gone to HR and I even had a meeting with his supervisor about him to no avail. Do we all just start calling out with mental health days or buy him a door or what can we do?

Dear "HR" -

Since you are oh-so-wise in personnel matters, I think it would be WONDERFUL if you would transfer Mr. LOUD GUY to your department. That way you can work your magic on him in your own back yard! Isn't that just special?!?

FedUpIn Cubicle


Dear FedUp -

That would never fly.

"HR"


Dear "HR" -

Well, you're probably right about that, forget I even mentioned it. I do have an idea though... All of us up here in Cubicle-Land really want to learn how to do our jobs better. How about if you come up here and work in our department for a week? We'd really appreciate all your insight.

FedUpIn Cubicle


Dear FedUp -

Why, that sounds like a lovely idea. Aren't you just the smartest little thing? We'll set up shop in that unoccupied cubicle and run our little corner of "HR"-Land from there next week.

"HR"


Dear "HR" -

Why, that sounds brilliant! Looking forward to having you here in Cubicle-Land for all of next week.

FedUp


....a week later....

Dear Company Health Insurance Provider -

Please ensure that hearing and any hearing-related medical tests are covered under our current plan. All of Cubicle-Land will be having their collective hearing tested. I believe Mr. LOUD GUY will be first in line for these tests

"HR"
PS - Are migraines triggered by excessively loud noises a covered condition?...