639 - How do you handle workplace disturbances?

When a coworker's poor hygiene or bad habits start to affect the entire office, or worse yet, clients, something has to be done.

It seems there's someone in every workplace.

The employee may smell awful, talk too loud, or have other habits that infringe on their coworker's ability to concentrate and work efficiently.

Let's not forget the coworker who steals other people's lunches.

I've seen creative ways to stop that. There are catfood-filled burritos or sandwiches laced with hidden habanero peppers.

Other disturbances include micromanagers. Their constant interference wears down team members' patience leaving them unable to focus.

These situations make it frustrating and embarrassing for everyone.

Someone has to take the initiative to communicate with the person in question.

Who should be given the task?

Large companies have human resource departments that handle such issues.

Most offices don't have an HR department. Small businesses may have an office manager or business owner who must handle the task of communicating the issue to the culprit.

Ignoring workplace interferences affect everyone's focus and there's no easy solution.

Have you experienced colleagues who don't use deodorant, bathe, or were in some way disruptive?

Yes

No

I never noticed

Other

#leadership #humanresources #management #business #employees #team