NWR: Sickness in the office

beardownbchs

So I'm really afraid of confrontation at work. I'm generally kind of an ass, but at work I'm the opposite. I'd rather fix a problem myself than tell someone they effed up.

The woman who shares my cubicle wall is sick. She sneezes and coughs and doesn't cover her mouth. She turns away and sneezes or coughs over her shoulder, but never covers her mouth.

How can I tell her to COVER HER FREAKING MOUTH without sounding like her mother or condescending?

I asked her if she had Kleenex at her desk and she said no. I told her that she should get some because "I can't afford to get sick and I don't need her germs floating around in the air". She did not get the hint and is still not covering her sick mouth.

What should I say?!?!

Thanks in advance. I really don't want to sound like a d*ck but this is really bugging me.

Andama08

I'd maybe put a box of Kleenex on her desk.

Jessa617

This is where I'd take ideas from FI's old job. He used to work in flood/mold remediation and would have to "contain" rooms so mold wouldn't spread. I'd bring in big sheets of plastic and tape off my cubicle (or hers) so the germs couldn't get to me.

But on a serious note, if you are ever there after her, or before her, spray the entire area with some lysol.

beardownbchs

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_nwr-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:ef399b83-db60-4657-9754-22f1ad5c2ffbPost:19b699aa-690b-4f27-a4fc-526366a26228">Re: NWR: Sickness in the office</a>:
[QUOTE]Honestly, I don't think there is anything you can do without coming off as a diiick, except maybe leave a box of kleenex on her desk with a little "get well soon" type card.  If she doesn't get the hint, she doesn't get the hint.  
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]


This is what I was afraid of. :(

I'm her boss and she's only part-time. I told her not to come in tomorrow if she's not feeling better. She keeps telling me she's fine. Ugh. I'll send her home if she's this nasty tomorrow.
 

Maggie0829

Airborne, Zicam, and Emergen-C are your friends.  Start taking them and upping your vitamin C to help ward off those germs.

Also, buy her a box of tissues or two.  If she doesn't get the hint, she doesn't get the hint, but I would start taking some preventative things just in case.

beardownbchs

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_nwr-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:ef399b83-db60-4657-9754-22f1ad5c2ffbPost:43808186-15be-4c06-ada9-5aa42f9a7930">Re: NWR: Sickness in the office</a>:
[QUOTE]Is there a policy at coming to work sick? Most of the places I've worked, bosses were pretty enthusiastic to chase you home if you came in spewing germs.
Posted by Liatris2010[/QUOTE]



It's a VERY small office. 6 of us total. The bosses really have no sympathy for people being sick and since we're so small, having even one person gone makes a big difference. And this week is the worst - the three bosses are at a conference and another went home sick this morning. So it's just me and her here. She's leaving soon for the day anyway. But the boss told everyone how important it is that we're here this week so I think she'll try to come in tomorrow even if she's sick. I told her a few times not to.

beardownbchs

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_nwr-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:ef399b83-db60-4657-9754-22f1ad5c2ffbPost:5208a741-b891-4cb2-97a0-3486dbe19b1c">Re: NWR: Sickness in the office</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: NWR: Sickness in the office : Yes.  TBH this "I can't afford to get sick and I don't need her germs floating around in the air". wasn't really friendly and comes across as you being a diiiiiick.
Posted by LingerLonger1[/QUOTE]

Yeah I think so too. We had been talking about her being sick just then so I think in the context it was a little less assy, but definitely not a great thing to say. She laughed.

Thanks Maggie - I'll definitely start preventative stuff. I'd be PISSED if I got sick.

mom23jv

Do what you can to not get sick!!!!!
 I am getting married a month from tomorrow.
I am starting with the sinuses and bronchitis. Last time it lasted 3 weeks. All it does is add tons of stress.
I would also spray the heck out of the office with Lysol, and wipe everything down at your desk with Lysol wipes 1-2x's a day.

Good Luck

s-aries8990

Can you stick one of these on the bathroom walls?

http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/dtopics/infectioncontrol/cover/hcp/hcpposter.html

They have these at Dr.'s offices.

s-aries8990

Also, I'd get her some lysol spray or wipes, some tissues, and some handsanitizer

beardownbchs

Yeah I'm spraying the office a lot and avoiding her area.

One of the bosses just called to see how we were. I, half jokingly, said "Well, X went home sick, I'm kicking Y out right now and I'm going to get one of those masks!" The sick person in question laughed.

As she was leaving she said, "So if I'm still sniffly tomorrow, do you really not want me to come in?" and I said, "If you don't feel any better, then yes. Don't come in. We can't afford to have all of us sick when everyone else is at the conference. But if you feel better, I guess you could come in. As long as you're covering your mouth and Lysoling!! You're a mom - you can judge if you're too sick or not." She said she'd take medicine and her temperature.

I kind of snuck in the "cover your mouth" without sounding like a d*ck. She's easy to read and I could see she wasn't offended.

We shall see!!

Thanks ladies!!!

Peledreamsofrain

Ew, I hate it when people don't treat this stuff seriously.  I have the flu this week, and I am couch-surfing right now.  The virus I'm carrying is serious business, and I woke up several times last night choking.  I had to cough so hard that my stomach muscles seized, just to clear my lungs.  I couldn't bear it if I was responsible for spreading this to someone who was too weak to fight it.

I do like the idea of putting a sign up in the bathroom.  You could also bring mythbusters up in general conversation.  They had an awesome episode where they tested the best way to contain a sneeze, and it turned out sneezing into your elbow works wonders.  It's pretty obvious, but honestly she's being massively rude to you.

beardownbchs

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_nwr-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:ef399b83-db60-4657-9754-22f1ad5c2ffbPost:9de6060c-72a4-46bf-8362-12c4164432b8">Re: NWR: Sickness in the office</a>:
[QUOTE]Ew, I hate it when people don't treat this stuff seriously.  I have the flu this week, and I am couch-surfing right now.  The virus I'm carrying is serious business, and I woke up several times last night choking.  I had to cough so hard that my stomach muscles seized, just to clear my lungs.  I couldn't bear it if I was responsible for spreading this to someone who was too weak to fight it. I do like the idea of putting a sign up in the bathroom.  You could also bring mythbusters up in general conversation.  They had an awesome episode where they tested the best way to contain a sneeze, and it turned out sneezing into your elbow works wonders.  It's pretty obvious, but honestly she's being massively rude to you.
Posted by Peledreamsofrain[/QUOTE]

I remember that one!! They were sneezing dye and seeing how far it goes, right? The high-speed camera footage of Jamie sneezing was so gross!

I think the sign in the bathroom would be a little obvious since she's the only female who is flu-like sick (the other one who went home this morning was horking all over, yuck) and we have men's & women's bathrooms.

But I did google "how to not spread germs" and found a good link. I emailed it to the whole office. One of the guys was sick last week so it won't be obvious that it's just in regards to this woman. I put a not in the email - "I know I'm not your mother, but with X sick last week, Y and her whole house sick this week and my mom sick, I thought we could all use a reminder."

Thanks again everyone!!

I hope you feel better Pele!