Tips On Getting Ahead At Work With Co-Workers

Career Advice on Politely Dealing with Annoying Coworker Habits

Advice Seeker: Dear April,

I work next to a woman who, while she is a nice person, has some habits that are extremely annoying to be in close proximity to. She eats fish at her desk all the time, which is absolutely disgusting, and then burns the smell off with a scented candle. I'm allergic to perfumes and so my eyes start watering like crazy. And then she's constantly on the phone with family members and friends, yakking away and being totally distracting.

What can I do? I don't want to come off as petty, since we are in a room full of cubicles and no one else has complained.

Sincerely,

Cubicle Carl

April Masini's advice:

Dear Cubicle Carl,

There are solutions to all these problems, depending on how dense your coworker is.

Problem: Your neighbor talks too much and too loudly for you. Or uses foul language.

Solution: Level one solution is to ask before you're annoyed, "Can you please keep the phone conversations down? I can hear everything." Level two solution is to get iPod earphones and play music or white noise for yourself so you don't have to hear the noise. Level three solution is ask to be moved to a cubicle in a quieter part of the office.