Why does that concern you?

[Slartibartfast]

For example I have a co-worker who I am guessing is very religous. I don't know this to be sure and its none of my bussiness but she does not wear pants and her hair is very long.

It took me a minute to figure out she was probably wearing skirts or dresses . . . I had this "Adam and Eve" thing going in my mind where long hair covers up, err, yeah 

[HogwartsAlum]

Thank you for pointing that out, I was just about to. HR is not some sort of magic wand that will erase all your problems. Some HR departments have the biggest offensder when it comes to PC offices. Some companies have no HR. Not only that but do you want to be labled as the tattle tale or trouble maker because you run to HR for every little thing?

In some extreme circumstances its neccesary to get HR or a boss involved. Most of the time its better to deal with an annoying co-worker yourself. Liek any other annoying adult in your life.

I agree with this, but some companies want HR or managers to handle EVERYTHING.  I worked for a place where this was the case.  When I tried to handle a problem myself, I got in trouble.

[EvilAlice]

While I can respect where you are coming from, in my multiple jobs, I have never worked at a small company.All companies I have worked for  have had large HR departments, though not always on-site.  So the small business aspect did not occur to me.  To say that the go to HR suggestive is naive, is unfair as this is EXACTLY the type of situation they get paid the big bucks to handle.

You're right, naive was a poor (and on reflection, insulting) choice of words on my part.  I retract that statement, and I do apologize.

 

I would agree that it's not a 'one size fits all' answer, though.

This is what I should have said- you said exactly what I meant but in better words.javascript:void(0);
Smiley

[Jaywalker]

Quote from: twinkletoes on February 09, 2007, 11:09:10 AM
from planet Crimson Tape Dispenser

Just out of curiosity, is this planet somewhat near the Red Stapler Planet? Wink

---


Hey wait a minute -- that's MY red stapler.

[Venus193]

What needs to happen is for everyone to say "I don't discuss X at work" to this guy because he doesn't sound like he will get the message any other way.

I've posted about her before, but there was an older woman at one of my former companies who would not only solicit personal information from others, she would use it against them.  She would trash other people behind their backs.  One day when I caught her trashing me to someone I was mentoring, who told me exactly what she said, I spoke to her boss.  This had been reported numerous times but the issue was that while they would have loved to terminate her, the company feared an age-discrimination lawsuit.

Some people have no sense of proper boundaries.  The only way this guy will learn is when others teach him by not sharing information that is none of their business.

[snoopygirl]

What needs to happen is for everyone to say "I don't discuss X at work" to this guy because he doesn't sound like he will get the message any other way.

I've posted about her before, but there was an older woman at one of my former companies who would not only solicit personal information from others, she would use it against them.  She would trash other people behind their backs.  One day when I caught her trashing me to someone I was mentoring, who told me exactly what she said, I spoke to her boss.  This had been reported numerous times but the issue was that while they would have loved to terminate her, the company feared an age-discrimination lawsuit.

Some people have no sense of proper boundaries.  The only way this guy will learn is when others teach him by not sharing information that is none of their business.

I had to do that the other day with him and it worked. See I am moving to Northern Ireland. It is a well known fact and well I dont mind talking to people about it I do mind when he bugs me. See there is a big difference with somebody asking me all motherly like ( and the older ladies like to mother me and I dont mind) are you ready to move and him asking me why would you want to move out of America. I said thats none of your business and ignored him the rest of my shift.

[Venus193]

Excellent!  Now if only everyone else did the same...

[PoisonIvy]

For example I have a co-worker who I am guessing is very religous. I don't know this to be sure and its none of my bussiness but she does not wear pants and her hair is very long.

It took me a minute to figure out she was probably wearing skirts or dresses . . . I had this "Adam and Eve" thing going in my mind where long hair covers up, err, yeah 

I did a mini double take when I read that too.  In the UK "pants" refers to "underpants".  The meaning of that statement changes dramatically when you cross the Atlantic, and becomes especially ironic in the context of religion.

[Ondine]

I had people at my old job who constantly commented on how much I ate during lunch hours. I am 6'1, 147lbs, and I have a very high metabolism, which means I have to eat seven times a day in order to stay healthy. It was not uncommon for me to eat a ten piece chicken nugget pack, a double cheeseburger and fries from MacDonald's for luch somedays, as I needed something quick and very high in calories to boost my energy level (I did not eat this way everyday mind you - just on the days that I felt I'd buy lunch at work). People would constantly look at me and go "Oh my god, look how much you're eating!"  At first it hurt, cause I felt like I shouldn't be eating that much, but then I just told some people "I'm 6'1, the food has a long way to go." It bothered me more that people made comments about my eating habits because you never know who's in the lunchroom who might have an eating disorder or just came out of rehabilitation for an eating disorder, and heard the comments made to me and had a relapse.  It's sad that people need to pry into your life to justify what is wrong and what is right about their own lives.