How should I address the issue of a belching co-worker?
Q: I work in a cluster of cubicles, and one of the guys next to me burps constantly. I've commented a few times by saying ``that's gross" or calling out his name. He always replies that he's sorry but a short while later he's back to burping every few minutes. How can I address this issue without offending him?
J.A., Boston
A: It's time for a real talk with the burper, rather than just making comments over the cube wall. Ask him to meet with you. Your goal is to let him know that his loud belching is offensive to you and, ideally, get him to curtail the burping. Even if this behavior is something he can't prevent, you need to find out if it's necessary for him to burp loudly.
``John, I feel awkward having to talk to you about this, but something is really bothering me. It's about your burping. You may not realize it, but you're doing it all the time. I've mentioned it several times and you've stopped for a few minutes but really, John, you go right back to it, and I'm having a hard time concentrating on my work as a result. Do you think it's possible for you to stop the burping, or do it without making so much noise? It would make a huge difference to me."
If he doesn't buy in, then you'll have to decide whether to raise the issue with your manager. You can either ask the manager to intervene or request a move to a location where you won't be affected by the burper's behavior.
You might also consider the following solution, sent in by a reader:
I'm responding to an earlier column about dealing with constant background noise in a cubicle environment. I read somewhere that there are extroverted and introverted employees. As an introverted worker, I would do quite well in an office with no one else around. Extroverted workers, on the other hand, can work amid noise, but get distracted in a quiet environment. Neither type of worker is wrong or right. I ``live" in a cube where I'm surrounded by speakerphone conversations, chit chat, radios, humming, slurping, etc. Most days it's all I can do to keep from locking myself in a conference room so I can concentrate. My solution? Noise-canceling headphones. Some even come with on-off switches, in case the wearer needs to talk with someone. When I put them on, the background noise vanishes. Meanwhile, no one can tell if I'm listening to jazz, Howard Stern . . . or nothing at all. D.G., Nashua Headphones could be the ideal solution. Just be sure there is no company policy against using headphones and be sure people can communicate with you when they need to.
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