Hi everyone.
My colleague at work does flossing while sitting next to me. Every day after lunch he does flossing at his desk. It's really uneasy and yucky feeling for me.
But how I can politely tell him to do this stuff in the washroom etc?
Any suggestions on how I can ask him to stop it etc?
Thanks
OP should join his colleague with a flossing duet.
Do the Orange Justice back to him, see how uneasy and yucky it makes him feel.
Good on him, dental health is very important.
dental health
OP didn't specifically state where he was flossing
Um, yeah they did…
My colleague at work does flossing while sitting next to me
@kobeduck: They highlighted "at work" and "while sitting next to me" with bold, indicating that OP did technically say where the work colleague was flossing.
But perhaps not where on their body, like BOGOF was saying.
How about
"Hi colleague, please go floss in the wash room instead of next to me at your desk because it's unhygienic/not covid safe. Thank you".
I'm guessing they eat at their desk too beforehand? That doesn't gross you out though?
You felt the need to turn to an internet bargain website to get help with handling an incredibly trivial social scenario.
You don't have to use COVID as an excuse, just be honest and say that it makes you feel uncomfortable.
It amazes me how some people manage to navigate life sometimes.
What other forum would you go to for help? There's a perfectly good off topic section here where random concerns are regularly addressed.
Some people dont have a problem saying stuff like this to people. But for others it makes them very uneasy confronting someone regardless of the issue.
@StalkingIbis: Don't see how asking an internet forum for help is going to solve that issue for OP. If he doesn't feel comfortable asserting his (reasonable) demands to people, it's strongly advised to do some confidence building exercises or even a course in effective communication.
There are no magic words that we can give him.
Thems fighting words.
I like this response. Topical.
How is it unhygienic or not covid safe?
"Hey richard cranium please think about the other people in your surrounding area before vacating the bacterial pustules from between your teeth, thankyou."
“We might be animals but we’re not pigs, go do that in the bathroom”.
sorry mate, didnt know if effected ya
i'll stop
for now
stop posting bout it pleasssse
One up him and do a razor shave at your desk. “Sorry did I get you with my shaving cream?”
Honestly though if this person is a strategic risk to have as an enemy then find some reason to be moved to another desk (ergonomic reasons or something). If they aren’t then just report to HR as will be taken seriously as part of their responsibility to provide a COVID-safe workplace.
Why not just go straight to end game and cut toenails at your desk? Otherwise you're just inviting them to one up you.
pick and flick
.
This is what I would do.
1) Turn my head 90 degrees to the east.
2) Get on with my work.
That's what I have been doing. but I can turn only to 45 degrees as we are parallel to each other. Bu my peripheral vision still gives me the vision.
Is your colleague a follow OzBargainer and you hope he is reading this ;)
hope so:)
Well it’s always interesting to see who would actually say nothing and let someone floss at their damn desk.
Invest in a set of blinkers.
You can buy them cheap from Camry owners who don’t need them.
@pepitovfr: You’re confusing Camry drivers with euro-trash drivers.
The Camry driver is the one who sits at 90km/ in a 100 zone because they’d normally sit at 95km/ but saw the governments wipe-off 5 advert and thought they’d better obey.
The Camry driver is the one that puts their indicator on at least 10 seconds before they want to change lanes, but just to be safe will give an extra 10 seconds notice because everyone else is a dangerous driver.
The Camry driver is the one that when merging into the freeway makes sure there’s a nice big gap. Then ignores every gap until they’re almost at the end of the merge, drops their speed to 80km/h and then jams their car into a small gap because they’re running out of room. Of course it’s everyone else’s fault because the Camry driver is a safe driver and everyone else is going too fast…
Take a dump on your desk.
When your colleague suggests that you should do that in the bathroom it acts as an icebreaker for your conversation.
Alternative outcome: “you guys do desk dumps here too!?”
It's called a Desk Pop.
Desk poop*
@Kangal: No, I got it. I was carrying the joke further. I dropped an upvote on their comment to try and make that obvious.
Pretty feral.
Tell them to stop, otherwise they will keep doing it.
btw my manager sits close to him too on the other side but he is ok with it :D
I am the only one having issue with this
I am the only one having issue with this
Does that tell you something?
Yeah that this workplace is full of idiots.
Yes, there are some things that should be done in the bathroom… not in the office st a desk. Just etiquette really. Tell him it makes you feel ill and uncomfortable and wouldn't he prefer doing in the bathroom where he has the mirror.
On a side note tho… Does he wash his hands afterwards coz his hands would be dirty too? And you could also deem it to not be covid safe in the workplace, spitle would be flicking out etc. 🤢 Goodluck
That's what I was thinking too. The flossing part is probably more etiquette but sounds like the sort of person who'd take a piss and not wash their hands.
Then it's on you. Learn to deal with awkward or uncomfortable situations.
well its too late now. nothing that you can do.
Tell your colleague you are doing are a youTuber and currently looking for video content about flossing teeth. He is the perfect candidate :)
Hopefully you'll get millions of views and you'll profit :D
You haven't gone to hot desking since COVID? Just move to a different desk.
If you don't want to ask him, bring it up with your team leader to bring up in a team meeting or something
Take it up with HR!! :D
As an OS&H problem!
Oh, won't someone please think of the children?!!?
Yeah i am thinking .. by using covid as a reason I think i can talk to him
It's really uneasy and yucky feeling for me.
Unless he's flicking it hard all over the place, what's the problem?
Does everyone need to find something to be offended by nowadays? I must be missing out!
You can be offended by ops being offended if you like.
I am trying my bestest to be offended by OP being offended. I don't want to miss out! 😫 LOL
What’s the problem with someone flossing at their desk? Has this become normalised at some point?
I'm hoping this "flossing" is producing fairy floss…
https://assets.mydeal.com.au/23174/todo-cotton-candy-machine…
otherwise gross…
Is weird, but I wouldn’t care.
Just get some stag chilly or beans and retaliate.
Better than sitting next to people who snort booger’s or don’t shower.
If it makes you uncomfortable just talk to him about it. Are you guys friends?
I've always had problems with colleagues eating hot food at their desk, the smell makes my concentration drop to zero and I can't even browse the web.
Most people I've asked to go eat hot food elsewhere get stroppy and indignant like how dare I interrupt their working time, they're being productive eating at their desk, so it's my problem.
But one guy was pretty good about it, we'd both be the first people onto the floor, so we'd go down to the cafeteria and have breakfast together and a social chat, worked out well.
I’m a fairly patient person, quick with a joke, slow to anger, but I’d just flip you the bird if you asked me to not eat hot food at my desk.
So you relish being annoying to others? How's that working out for you?
I’d just flip you the bird if you asked me something like that in person too.
@AustriaBargain: See, when you get in my face and then get rude when called out about it, I'm probably going to have to deal with you in a manner that won't end well for you.
@[Deactivated]: See then I’d apologise and say I’m sorry, that I didn’t mean it and that I actually have a gift I’ve been meaning to give to you, patting my trouser pockets to look for it, before finally feeling it in my jacket pocket, so I’d reach in and pull out yet another flipped bird for you.
patting my trouser pockets to look for it
Thought the story was turning into a mystery at that point…
Tell him you'll name and shame him on OzB
1st world problems, life is a struggle.
Just start clipping your nails next to him or do a pick and flick.
I dislike people extacting Pickles from their Big Mac, tossing them at the "Restaurant" wall and betting on which will slide/fall first.
(Stay classy McDonald's, Hindley St).
Does the person use a floss pick/handle or actual floss string (stretched between fingers)?
Are the bits being flung out of the persons mouth into the public realm, or are they (say) doing with closed mouth or with other hand covering it?
he uses floss string :(
It's a tough one as he might be aware that he's offending you or others, just like you may not know if your actions offend him or others.
It's hard to say how to approach the situation as we don't know your relationship with him, or levels of openness or communication etc. It sounds like he's just someone that sits near you and you are not friends with (on assumption that a close friend would just say 'go somewhere else')
These things have the potential to go way beyond their worth in terms of trouble.
Speak to a supervisor and see how the situation is best handled, as they'll know your work climate better than any of us.
Eg. if you ask him, even politely, to refrain or relocate while he cleans, we unfortunately live in a world where emotions are so fragile that that act alone can be (as mentioned above) blown to Nth degree.
He might rebutt, "..Well people are always picking their nose, farting, sneezing without covering their nose, etc etc etc.. I cover my mouth when I do this so it's much less impacting than any of the others, why should I stop?.."
I am the new join here. Been here only 20 days. I know where you are coming from and I agree with you. I think I need to talk to the manager or someone else who can handle it better. Because we are not friends etc. He is sort of sit quiet person no talk at all. I don't want to hurt his feelings etc but its just really annoying.
I am the new join here. Been here only 20 days
oh god… it's never a good idea to go somewhere new and stir the pot. I can see this not ending well for you.
Ask to be moved
Buy him one of those battery operated water flossers. He can't do that at his desk.
Here, hold my mouse…
My colleague likes to fart, really loud and dirty like, as wet and gross as possible and stinks out the office. I tell him he's an uncivilised moron, degenerate and imbecile but he does it anyway and embraces the degenerate life. In the end I laugh and open all the windows and get on with my life. Yes it's gross but dont let children get to you.
I don't understand…
Does the scenario you describe, actually happen?
Unfortunately, yes I work with a brute.
The fart during lunch is just around the corner.
haha
Next time he does it, start clipping your toenails at your desk.
…. or go one further than the colleague on the gross-out scale, as per the recent episode of Would I Lie To You, and save your nail clippings (which you should clip at your desk) for later flossing (which you should also do at your desk). Video of that WILTY segment, with reactions from the panelists to show you just how disturbing normal people find that behaviour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OINQsprMhI&t=1526s
Pretend you got some of his deflossed material flicked into your face. ("Geeze Joe. I think you flicked parsley into my eye"). He will be too embarrassed to floss there again.
Isn't HR main role is to listen to your problems?
Ha-ha-ha! HR main role is to "de-onboard" staff as cheaply as possible.
You lost me at HR!
Bikies
OP. RUOK?
Concerned about your dental health
Bring in a Waterpik and use it on your desk, to show him how it's done properly. Follow up with shaving and any other grooming you deem appropriate until the message sinks in.
serious conversations said in a sarcastic manner is one way of getting the message through. look them straight in the eye and say "go and floss in the bathroom u (profanity)". then smile. they cant say anything because you said it as a joke, but at the same time, it will make them think about what you actually said.
What if the said person doesn't have a shred of sense of humor, and then ….
grow a pair and have a conversation like a real living being?
Maybe your colleague is virtue signaling you.
Also a good opportunity to get up and go for a stroll. If pulled up by management just tell them the reason.
if he wants to dance, let him dance