Dealing with a yawning colleague

[Janesy B]

At the moment I'm finding myself slightly frustrated by my colleague's loud and persistent yawning, I'm finding it pretty disruptive and rude because he makes no attempt at hiding it. He's told me he has sleep apnoea but seems to be doing nothing about it, apart from drinking about 5 cups of coffee a day. He burps a lot too, normally after eating with his mouth open *twitches*. I also had to fix a light fitting because he stamped around and lost his temper because he couldn't deactivate the office alarm (despite having the RFID tag and the override code), his stomping caused the light fitting below him to fall out of the ceiling...

I also find it extremely rude that he makes no attempt at hiding how 'bored' he is by sitting back on his chair with his arms behind his head, despite being tasked with a multitude of things to complete but he's either too lazy or thinks he's 'too good' to do them. I've had a word with my team leader, but the behaviour persists. Is there anything I can do, or is it a case of praying he stops breathing in his sleep?

I probably sound a bit neurotic and it's clear I don't like him, but I've never been bothered by these things in the past in the 7 years I've been working in office environment, maybe this cretin has tipped me over the edge...

Edited by Janesy B on Tuesday 17th December 10:10

[shtu]

You're not his boss, and you'll wind up sounding petty complaining about that stuff.

Headphones.

Rearrange the office so you are more seperate.

Let them worry about their own work, just make sure you're not being asked to pick up their slack.

Joys of office living, eh?

[Podie]

Take the piss out of him (to his face).

[DoubleSix]

I just watched a colleague sneeze into his hand and straight away use the water cooler.

fking hate offices.

[Janesy B]

shtu said:

You're not his boss, and you'll wind up sounding petty complaining about that stuff.

Headphones.

Rearrange the office so you are more seperate.

Let them worry about their own work, just make sure you're not being asked to pick up their slack.

Joys of office living, eh?

I've never mentioned the annoying habits bit to anyone because, as you say, I'll just look like an idiot. Headphones aren't an option as I need to hear my phone and be around to help, the main frustration is falling behind on projects because he can't be bothered to do simple tasks so I get fed up with asking and I do it myself while he sits there yawning his head off.

Yes, the joys of office living. I've booked a couple of weeks out of the room, hopefully that will provide the solitude I require...

Podie said:

Take the piss out of him (to his face).

I've made comments such as 'do you want a pillow' and 'goodnight', he sort of laughs like an idiot for a bit and continues. I don't want to take it too far, I'd rather leave this job under my terms!

Edited by Janesy B on Tuesday 17th December 10:32

Edited by Janesy B on Tuesday 17th December 10:33

[ikarl]

The burping is inexcusable

The yawning however, if it's true that he does have sleep apnea,....we'll c'mon, you're complaining that his yawning is annoying when there's a chance he might die in his sleep?! You're even praying hoping that he will die in his sleep???

Jeesht!

[Cyder]

There's a bloke in my office who acts like the village clown and regularly burps, farts loudly or finds another way to draw attention to himself.

I don't think he realises yet that the 30 or so other people in the office a) don't find it funny and b) think he's a moron.

[Terminator X]

Janesy B said:

shtu said:

You're not his boss, and you'll wind up sounding petty complaining about that stuff.

Headphones.

Rearrange the office so you are more seperate.

Let them worry about their own work, just make sure you're not being asked to pick up their slack.

Joys of office living, eh?

I've never mentioned the annoying habits bit to anyone because, as you say, I'll just look like an idiot. Headphones aren't an option as I need to hear my phone and be around to help, the main frustration is falling behind on projects because he can't be bothered to do simple tasks so I get fed up with asking and I do it myself while he sits there yawning his head off.

Yes, the joys of office living. I've booked a couple of weeks out of the room, hopefully that will provide the solitude I require...

Podie said:

Take the piss out of him (to his face).

I've made comments such as 'do you want a pillow' and 'goodnight', he sort of laughs like an idiot for a bit and continues. I don't want to take it too far, I'd rather leave this job under my terms!

Edited by Janesy B on Tuesday 17th December 10:32

Edited by Janesy B on Tuesday 17th December 10:33

That is his Master Plan. Do not do his work for him.

TX.

[DoubleSix]

Sleep apnoea = Fat

Come on OP this is the real issue isn't it? He's a fatty fatkins.

Edited by DoubleSix on Tuesday 17th December 10:57

[Janesy B]

ikarl said:

The burping is inexcusable

The yawning however, if it's true that he does have sleep apnea,....we'll c'mon, you're complaining that his yawning is annoying when there's a chance he might die in his sleep?! You're even praying hoping that he will die in his sleep???

Jeesht!

I'd never actually wish that on someone, that's awful... it's the fact I've spoken to him about it and he doesn't seem willing to do anything about it. An ex colleague had the same problem and he got it dealt with, it got to the point where he was falling asleep in meetings and he had surgery to sort it, still snored but slept fine.

DoubleSix said:

Sleep apnea = Fat

Come on OP this is the reall issue isn't it? He's a fatty fatkins.

Erm.. slightly.. I can't talk, having my own spare tyre but yes, he stops breathing in his sleep because his neck is so fat his airway closes up.

Terminator X said:

That is his Master Plan. Do not do his work for him.

TX.

I had to do it, I couldn't send out my reports otherwise, that's his grand plan. The sneaky bd.

Edited by Janesy B on Tuesday 17th December 10:58

Edited by Janesy B on Tuesday 17th December 10:59

[andy118run]

Janesy B said:

I had to do it, I couldn't send out my reports otherwise, that's his grand plan. The sneaky bd.

Edited by Janesy B on Tuesday 17th December 10:58

Edited by Janesy B on Tuesday 17th December 10:59

But you DON'T have to do it. If your manager/whoever chases you for a report you tell your boss you've done your bit but you're waiting for fatty fatkins to do his. Surely after a while of this the boss is going to realise fatty is not doing his job.

[shtu]

andy118run said:

But you DON'T have to do it. If your manager/whoever chases you for a report you tell your boss you've done your bit but you're waiting for fatty fatkins to do his.

Right answer.

Even better, your report should contain "information not provided by fatty" at every point his input goes.

When this bounces back with the instruction to get it completed, refuse, using the entirely reasonable retort of "If I'm to do his job, I want his wages too."

As you don't have authority to directly MAKE him do it, pass the problem up.

Headphones, turn your phone ringer RIGHT UP so you can hear it over your death metal.

[Janesy B]

I don't like dropping people in it, but yes, that's the best option. He's been given quite a few non critical things which he's dropped, it's been noted. He's also not signing engineers into site either so that's a H&S issue, that's been raised too. He won't make it past his probationary period at this rate...

[conanius]

Janesy B said:

I don't like dropping people in it, but yes, that's the best option. He's been given quite a few non critical things which he's dropped, it's been noted. He's also not signing engineers into site either so that's a H&S issue, that's been raised too. He won't make it past his probationary period at this rate...

So hold onto that dream.

Keep your head down, be a team player, depending on the relationship with your boss say 'look, I can see you are having difficulty with x and his standard of work. I'm happy to help out in the short term whilst you work out what is happening with him'

I've certainly got that relationship with my bosses, and its always reflected at end of year. Be a team player, but don't be a know it all insufferable grass... its a fine line.

[davepoth]

Replace his coffee with decaff, and he'll fall asleep at work. Instant dismissal, I'd imagine.

-edit-

Sorry, thought this was in The Lounge.

[shtu]

Janesy B said:

He won't make it past his probationary period at this rate...

Well, there's something for you to aim at.

Bit of effort on your part and fatty may be gone sooner than you think. Just be sure to point out what he is not doing to those that can do something about it.

[griffin dai]

....just tell him to "stop fking yawning" .....

[MocMocaMoc]

Haha, the joys of working with human beings.

Wish I worked in a zoo : (

[Pints]

The yawning I could deal with. The burping I could barely contend with. But there's a horrid Welsh cow in our office who makes repeated efforts at clearing her nasal cavity with that loud, back of the throat sniff. (You know the type I mean.)

Headphones and loud music. Until they legalise ABH against those who behave this way, I fear it's the only solution.

[Pvapour]

mouth rape him, its the only way

wait till he next yawns and put your fingers in & out quickly

if his mouth is big enough then use your whole fist

davepoth said:

Sorry, thought this was in The Lounge.

me to