I think i may have to kill my coworker

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I work in a cube farm. Lots of us working in rows and there really isnt any place that you can sit in here that you're not within arms reach of 4-5 people.

There is a guy sitting on the other side of a short wall from me that has been open mouth projectile coughing since he's been here. Everyone in the place knows him because you can hear him everywhere.

he says its 'allergies'. Now most people with allergies i've ever heard are usually expectorating. Their body is fighting the allergy, usually with mucous so they are couging up phlem or something, he's not. Its a dry cough. I'm pretty sure he's probably got cancer or tb or something. He doesnt cover his mouth and even if he's on the phone someone he wont cover the phone and this goes on all damn day long.

I cant stand it much longer
  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    Or - perhaps you could be more politically correct and file a complaint that you are worried he may be spreading H1N1....that should get attention.

    Or buy him some codeine laced cough syrup and just leave it on his desk.

    Maybe - Just kill him and be done with it.


    kay
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  • Profile picture of the author zneve08
    Tell him to cover his mouth when he coughs :-)
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    put a box of masks on his desk?
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  • Profile picture of the author Rick McCombs
    Could be that he is on some sort of blood pressure medication. My mother coughs all the time because of the one she takes. Had a co-worker that done the same thing because of his BP medication. A dry cough is one of the side effects of certain BP meds.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Motley
    This isnt just a dry cough. This is a dry cough that has a lot of pressure behind it, like half way throwing up. This is like a cough where something is on the lung and the body is trying to get rid of it but its not letting go.
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  • Profile picture of the author Patrician
    I would report your concerns to management or human resources and ask (demand politely) that they speak to this person.

    It's real weird that politics and office BS will probably trump legitimate health concerns which I really think you have a right to.

    Try lighting a cigarette and you will see what I mean... lol.

    If you talk to him directly and ask him what is up with that and saying you are concerned it could be seen as 'confrontational' or 'hostile' - so don't even go there.

    (sad to say even talking to your manager privately may look bad for you) - it is bogus but most corps are just little railroads.

    Having said that if everybody gets sick they are going to be paying alot in sick days and insurance claims. so you would think they would be concerned.

    Well at least document the conversation in case you die of TB - that will prove your point.

    lolnot
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Motley
    Everyone has said something to him (on the floor anyway) and he just blows them off saying 'oh its just allergies'

    And every morning when i wake up, i see another report of another death in this or a surrounding county from swine flu. I dont know that he's not coughing up diseased air, he doesnt either and this is an office, they dont open the doors here to change out the air that i've every seen.

    This place is retarded, they scare people into thinking they will lose their jobs if they dont show up then when someone gets sick they wont stay home or go to the doctor.We all sit within close proximity to each other so one person sick means tomorrow 5 will be sick and none of them will just stay home and be sick. Even if you DO become sick and use a sickday that the company gives to you, you will still get an 'occurance'. Enough occurances and you can get fired. So it is a negative mark on your record if you use the sick days that the company provides.

    I even got an occurance for leaving to go home for my fathers funeral.

    but that doesnt have anything to do with me killing my coworker.
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    • Profile picture of the author alexvj
      You can discuss with him regarding this matter that you are not comfortable with that
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  • Profile picture of the author powderme
    DONT!!!!just joke with him for a while asked him if he recently went to a doctor or something.lol
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Don't most allergies cause SNEEZING? Tell him to DRINK something!

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Ron Kerr
    I think killing him might work. If everyone on the floor hates him, you can all say you saw nothing and that he must have died from whatever caused the dreadful cough.
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    • Profile picture of the author Thomas
      Originally Posted by Michael Motley View Post

      ... they dont open the doors here to change out the air that i've every seen ... they scare people into thinking they will lose their jobs if they dont show up then when someone gets sick they wont stay home or go to the doctor ... Even if you DO become sick and use a sickday that the company gives to you, you will still get an 'occurance'. Enough occurances and you can get fired ... it is a negative mark on your record if you use the sick days that the company provides ...
      I even got an occurance for leaving to go home for my fathers funeral.
      I've heard stuff like that about working for American companies before. To be honest, it sounds like many businesses in the US still have a long way to go in terms of employee rights. Being punished for getting sick is pretty abhorrent. Over here, it would be illegal. Having people afraid to take a sick day, and thereby putting other employees' health at risk, as well as their own, isn't just immoral, it would be sufficient reason for the State to get involved and possibly shut you down. And that's going to cost get a hell of a lot more than a few sick days!

      Originally Posted by Ron Kerr View Post

      I think killing him might work. If everyone on the floor hates him, you can all say you saw nothing and that he must have died from whatever caused the dreadful cough.
      Sounds like a plan Put him through the office shredder after and nobody will ever find him. Just have everyone say he never turned up for work that morning and you'll be home free.
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  • Profile picture of the author Profit-smart
    Originally Posted by Michael Motley View Post

    I work in a cube farm. Lots of us working in rows and there really isnt any place that you can sit in here that you're not within arms reach of 4-5 people.

    There is a guy sitting on the other side of a short wall from me that has been open mouth projectile coughing since he's been here. Everyone in the place knows him because you can hear him everywhere.

    he says its 'allergies'. Now most people with allergies i've ever heard are usually expectorating. Their body is fighting the allergy, usually with mucous so they are couging up phlem or something, he's not. Its a dry cough. I'm pretty sure he's probably got cancer or tb or something. He doesnt cover his mouth and even if he's on the phone someone he wont cover the phone and this goes on all damn day long.

    I cant stand it much longer
    Your body doesnt "Fight allergies"

    Allergies are actually your bodys immune system short circuiting.

    Coughing, sneezing, turning blue, breaking out in hives,

    There really isnt much limit on the kind of physical reaction allergies can cause.


    I mean, it would piss me off to; but the guys probably telling the truth unless this is a new development.

    -Oh snap-

    And every morning when i wake up, i see another report of another death in this or a surrounding county from swine flu. I dont know that he's not coughing up diseased air, he doesnt either and this is an office, they dont open the doors here to change out the air that i've every seen.
    No you dont. (See death reports I mean, unless it an overzealous media)

    DID YOU KNOW: that in the U.S. over 100,000 people are hospitalized each year during a normal flu season

    DID YOU KNOW: that in the U.S. an average of 63,730 people die each year from complications of influenza/pneumonia

    DID YOU KNOW: that influenza/pneumonia is the 7th leading cause of death in the US

    DID YOU KNOW: that H1N1 is no more harmful than the regular flu

    DID YOU KNOW: that about 1/3 of all US citizens - that's 100,000,000+ get the flu each year

    DID YOU KNOW: that H1N1 is all hype


    I wouldnt drone, but this is a forum primarily for marketers. You should, be default understand that the media is prone to stirring up hysteria. It sales papers.
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by Profit-smart View Post

      DID YOU KNOW: that H1N1 is all hype


      I wouldnt drone, but this is a forum primarily for marketers. You should, be default understand that the media is prone to stirring up hysteria. It sales papers.

      One of the things I HATE about the "news" is that they may have a dozen DIFFERENT reports, extrapolate, and speak like it is ALWAYS new! So ONE person with a cough NOW may sound like 100+ in a couple years EVEN after that first person has already died of old age! INCREDIBLE!

      You ACTUALLY have to listen to some reports to pull out facts to connect the two and, after connecting them, go "AHHHH... Those IDIOTS are talking about the same incident that happened last year!"! HEY, go to airports, and they often make it sound like we are under attack and they JUST raised the warning level. You have to hear the orange, and go OK, it was orange SEVERAL YEARS ago, so THIS IS NOT NEWS!!!!!!!

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Kevin Birch
    The best guys to contact (and you may be able to do it under the 'whistleblowing policy' are the Health and Safety people - they always like to throw their weight around.

    I am sure they will be able to dig up something that they could match against their procedures and policies and believe me, they enjoy doing so :-) Keywords (maybe only applicable to the UK but I am sure you will have equivelants) to use are 'risk assessment' , 'stress' and 'occupational health'

    As it has been already mentioned though, going through management could be a pain for you as your file may well be branded!

    Kevin
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  • Profile picture of the author Maddi
    Quit or Tolerate.
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  • Profile picture of the author Maddi
    That would be rather extreme ofcourse... try talking about it to your boss or to himself and tell him everyone in the place has a problem with it.
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    • Profile picture of the author GT
      Hello:

      Your headline may be intended as humour, but in this day and age it is not very humorous, and it could possibly get you in trouble somewhere down the line if something DID happen to your co-worker. I'd be careful making statements like that.

      Regarding the issue, I can relate to your concern and I agree that it is an awfully uncomfortable position to put you and your fellow workers into. I recommend that you file a complaint with your employer and, perhaps, request to be moved to a different area.

      As an extreme measure, you might consider seeking new employment. But that's not really fair to you since it is the other party that is causing the nuisance.

      GT
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  • Profile picture of the author Patrician
    What about OSHA (occupational safety and health administration)

    Occupational Safety and Health Administration - OSHA HOME PAGE

    Seems like there should be some kind of a law to protect people - especially with headlines like "4000 people died" -
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  • Profile picture of the author ecoverartist
    He may have asthma. I know that during certain seasons (especially now with winter and cold air affecting my lungs) it makes me cough like crazy. Of course I'm big on personal hygiene. I don't know why the guy doesn't cough into a tissue or something.

    People who come to work sick absolutely piss me off. Double that if they bring their sick children in with them. It might sound rude but if your kiddo is that sick, stay home with them!
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