colleague contantly coughes advice?

hartleysjam

Hi
A colleague at work is constantly clearing their throat, to put in to perspective it was once counted and it was 243 times in 35minutes, I am sure this is a nervous habit and it certainly gets worse as they are concentrating on an email etc

I don't wan't to be horrible but it is so distracting it does actually drive me nuts now and I can't concentrate, there is no where to move as our office is relatively small and the desks are fixed.
I feel bad about moaning about it but I'm not sure what to do?
Seems a bit mean to go to HR as I can't see what they can do about it but I can't think of an alternative.
If fact in whole office notices it apart from their section?!

Ivrytwr3

It sounds more like a medical condition, especially when you mention that their section 'doesn't notice it'. Perhaps they are aware of the condition, you are not, and are therefore more tolerant?

mynameistallulah

What you should do is get over it. I am sure you have habits that annoy other people - how would you like it if someone complained to HR about you?

caevans

My dad does the same incessant cough and it drives me nuts and ai happily tell him. However if it was someone at work I wouldn't. You need to get over it. Unlikely the person would be able to change their habit and humiliating to have someone be petty enough to go to HR about it.
Counting the coughs? Suggests the person who counted has way too much time on their hands

mynameisclare

Agree you need to get over it, but if it annoys you that much can you take in an MP3 player and listen to something else?

Nan63

It could be medical condition that the person has no control over. I am quite saddened to read that someone actually counted how many times this person cleared their throat.

Try some tolerance and resist the urge to build up a vendetta against this person (ie counting the number of times...) as this could be classed as bullying and nothing good will come of that.

McKneff

Just get into a conversation with them and introduce some cough sweets, saying 'these might help with your cough, theyre brilliant'

dandelionclock30

Sorry I disagree if it affects your concentration then it does, and that does sound excessive.Its the same if someone was burping continually or worse.
I would have a word with my line manager and ask if they could do anything to help the person or if I could sit somewhere quieter to work etc. Or ask if you can wear headphones etc.
I think the managers need to be sorting the issue out not ignoring it if its affecting people.After all everyone has to work in that office,its not just about the throat clearing person.I would definatley address it and if it is a nervous or medical problem then they need to be getting it sorted also.

Tiddlywinks

McKneff wrote: »

Just get into a conversation with them and introduce some cough sweets, saying 'these might help with your cough, theyre brilliant'

...and if they cough because of an incurable medical condition then you will have placed the OP and the 'cougher' in a bit of an awkward position.

I don't think it's appropriate to broach the subject with the person - just put up with it as everyone else is able to do. The management obviously feel that it doesn't interfere with the person's work which is the main indicator.

19lottie82

It's all well and good people telling the OP to get over it but if it is grating on him enough to put him off his work then it is a problem.
Perhaps mention it to your boss and ask if you can listen to a personal MP3 player to drown it out?

I sit across from a guy who is a really noisy eater and in a quiet office it is disgusting! Ive made a few "jokey" comments but he just doesnt seem to take the hint! Whenever I see him bring out something to eat my heart used to sink, now I just pop my headphones in!

heretolearn_2

This sort of thing can be incredibly grating and yes, while it may feasibly have a physical cause, it is often a nervous habit. One of my friends dated a man who did this and it drove us all nuts. No one said anything till they split up, when she added 'and the way he kept coughing was so annoying' we all jumped in and agreed god yes, and she was surprised that anyone else had noticed. We'd wanted to strangle him but couldn't say anything at the time. The colleagues in his department may feel just as irritated as everyone else but are being supportive/loyal to him, or have just got used to it.

The problem with annoying habits is once you've noticed them, you can't un-notice them and it becomes an obsession. I think that you have to find a way to get over it and stop noticing it in the way that you fail to notice traffic noise from outside, buzz of the lights, hum of the office printer etc. Which means you have to sort of come to an acceptance that this noise is here in the background, always will be here, and you have to think about something else.

You do have my sympathy though. I spent a year sitting opposite a sniffer and I could have throttled them sometimes. It's not easy to ignore these things, but you have to try.