Office Pet Peeves: Puh-leeeeze Stop Doing That!

One thing I can't stand is when people just blurt things out without taking other people around them into consideration. For example, I work in an area where there is a mix of male and female employees. Yet, for some stupid reason, one guy in particular likes to say things out loud that frequently offend the female workers. The things this guy says are oftentimes sexist, more often childish, but usually they offend the females.

He continues to say these types of things because the women in the office don't go to the HR department and complain...because there ISN'T an HR department - it's a small company! The women also do not tell this person that the things he says offends them because they don't want to ruffle feathers. But, they tell me how offended they are all the time because they trust me and I'll keep my mouth shut.

So because nothing is done about this idiot, he continues on with his poop jokes, his snot jokes, and his sexist comments, knowing that nothing will be done about it. Even I get offended by what he says sometimes!

Even more sad is that this guy is in his 30's - you'd think he'd be a little more mature at that age, but some "men" just never grow up. That's my pet peeve. That, and people who tell you "you can trust me to keep this confidential"...only to find out that isn't true.

I'm not a big fan of people making you feel guilty if you leave the office for the day before they do, even though you come in hours before they do in the morning.

If they want to leave when I do, then they should lug their butt out of bed as early as I do and get in to the office as early as I do!

All I have to say is that when I re-heat my leftover blackened salmon all I hear is how GOOD it smells!!!

Sorry to hear about your pet peeve, Rob! Poop and snot jokes aren't for everyone (though I tend to be pretty amused by them myself, and I'm in my mid-twenties).

In this case, as in many cases, the only way to instigate change is to speak up. And I would hope if that many people were offended by it (including yourself), at least one of them would have the cojones to bring it up with someone of upper management. If your company doesn't have an HR department, there should still be someone you can talk to confidentially about the situation. Ask your direct boss if there is anyone like that around.

My pet peeve at work is people who don't shower regularly.

I don't like poop jokes...not in the work place.

hmm where do i start - lets see here - 20 something little brats being rude and not giving respect to 50 year old professionals - just because you have a masters and I have an associates it doesnt mean JACK ! I have run two financial departments with common sense and good skills - you havent yet - all you have is a big mouth and a degree and again neither of those mean jack and might get ya told off. (well have gotten a few tole off actually) Treat me with respect and thats what I will give in return, ya talk down to me or with disrespect, well, go ahead, I dare ya - lol And I LOVE those kind really, since I usually sit back and let them fail and not give them any help and they end up getting fired, Oh and GUM chewing - ya look like a cow chewing cud and it is nasty - stop it - and the cracking of the gum - again STOP IT ! lol

I once was a manager over 20 people and they all knew it wasn't allowed in my earshot - when it did happen on rare occasions all I had to do was come out of my office and glare at the offender and the gum was in the garbage - lol

And I agree with the person that said that about leaving the office at a certain time - uh unless they are the boss then STU - I used to go in at 5 or 6 am and then work til 5 or 6 at nite and if I chose to leave early on a Friday - then my boss knew about it and it was none of anyones concern - I am a way more morning person and I always tell any new supervisor that up front and ask them if they care - none have to this date.

My pet peeve at work is when people don't clean up after themselves in the kitchen area. I have to wonder if people live like that at home - leaving the kitchen a mess. Dirty dishes in the sink, spilled coffee all over the place ... it's just sick.

I also think that there's a better place for poop jokes than the workplace.

Yeah SUE!!

One of my biggest peeves are those 20-somethings that think they own the world. You know, the ones that come out of college and they're just cocky and think they know it all.

I can tell right away which of them are going to make it and which will be a victim of their own arrogance. Most of them are childish little brats who don't know how to behave in the workplace. They act like idiots and the women dress like little whores and flaunt themselves in the workplace. The little boy brats love it so much.

I like to stomp 'em. I like taking them to task and showing them that they have to put their time in before they can act like their %$^%& doesn't stink. So many of these little brats are headed in the wrong direction and if they don't grow up and act like professionals, I, for one, won't help them learn the ropes.

When I started working in a professional environment, if I would have acted how the kids do now, I wouldn't be where I am today - owner of my own company. I like to squash 'em like little bugs...little annoying gnats that buzz arounmd your face. I squash 'em and put them in their place...if they want to work for me!

My office pet peeve is people who reheat blackened salmon for lunch.

I wish people that are sick would just stay home instead of coming into the office and getting everyone else sick. Some people come in when they shouldn't because they think it makes them look devoted and like real team players. All they're really doing is bringing the office down.

Poop jokes in the office? No place for them there.

It really bugs me when people who work together date each other and they bring all of their problems into work. Talk about uncomfortable!

Grow up, and if you're going to date someone you work with, leave your personal issues outside of the front door!

@ Sue & Sorry J.:

Something tells me you've come across a twenty-something or two that you just didn't get along with. But I'd have to say one of my biggest peeves - that goes outside of the workplace even - is when people make judgments about you just based on what generation you belong to. And this is a battle that's gaining heat in the workplace. I could say that I can't stand those 50-somethings because they're crotchety and set in their ways. And you can't stand 20-somethings they're cocky know-it-alls. But wouldn't that pool them all in the same boat as people who are just plain hard to deal with?

It all depends on your personalities and how they mesh together. You can't get along with everyone.

Sue, we may have to go to Pongo and find Brianna. Something tells me she's a twenty-something. Maybe we have to find her and take her out to lunch and show her how the class acts function.

What do you say, girl? Maybe we could tell her a really good poop joke to make her feel comfortable?

Well, well, well Rob…or should it be Roberta…seeing as how you obviously share tampons with the rest of the women in your office. I happen to be one of those 30-something males who is highly entertained by poop and snot jokes. Low-brow humor can and should be appreciated by all ages. Don’t forget, Rob, Everybody Poops…even at the office.

And you keep referring to this colleague of yours as an immature idiot. But really, who’s the fool here when you never speak up? You sit there with your panties in a bunch gossiping with your fellow women. Man up, Mr. Hathaway! Grow a pair and state your peace. If nothing else, you may earn some respect and have a better chance of landing one of those women.

You sound fitting for my pet peeve of the grumpy, angry guy who does nothing but complain all day long. Nothing is ever good enough. Whether it’s the work, meetings starting on time or even the temperature in the office…there’s always an opinion and it’s always negative. If you can relate to this guy, Mr. Hathaway, I encourage you to find a new job b/c us 30-somethings are sick of your crap.

And for the rest of you…

"Okay, Okay. How many dirty stinkin' apes does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Three: One dirty stinkin' ape to screw in the light bulb, and two dirty stinkin' apes to throw poop at each other." -- Peter Griffin, The Family Guy

Carl, oh Carl, your writing is all over the wall. I'd bet you've never worked for a large company where your type of attitude wouldn't be tolerated because things actually had to get done.

I would bet that you currently work for someone who is either as immature as you or doesn't spend enough time with you to know who you are.

The bottom line of any office environment is the need to get things done. The need to produce things, things the customer wants and needs so the business can sell those things and make a profit.

If I had an office full of people like you (based on your comment), it sounds like there would be plenty of laughs, but nothing of any value ever getting done. If I'm in business, then that makes YOU the snag in my supply chain of giving a customer what they want and helping my business to succeed.

Out of control food noises.

Pet peeve - co-workers who stay silent most of the day and are tough to engage in conversations. Sometimes makes it tough in a small office environment.

Yup, I once had to sit through a lemon, a slice of apple pie, a potato chip and an entire squash attempt to sing an a capella version of Somewhere Over The Rainbow. That was one out of control food noise, and I hope to never have to hear something like that again!

-I don't get to leave for lunch I work straight through 8 hours. So I eat at my desk while working. My boss ALWAys comes to see what I have, watches me eat it occasionally, comments on the smell and what it looks like. Am I being neurotic or would that bug ya'll, too??

And people that don't consider themselves part of a team...think about me, me, me.

Does anyone else have that guy in the office that likes to clip his nails during work? Or the guy with the iPhone who has fart and girls screaming apps (he's over 50 years old by the way)? But the worst is the new guy in the meeting who thinks he knows everything about the job. How can he? He just started this job 3 days ago and is telling the client how to run things.

A guy on the other side of the cubicle wall is clipping his fingernails for the THIRD TIME today!! wtf? And he does this at least once a week. He's the second person I've worked with that clips his nails at work. I just don't get it.. drives me insane! This one I admit is pretty weird, but I hate when I'm showing someone something on my computer, and they put their hand on the back of my chair with all their weight on it. I'm not sure why it bugs me so much. I think it's a combination of personal space invasion and also it prevents me from being able to swivel or move my chair at all.