Work place environment question

Rascus · 02-01-2005, 05:25 PM

I'm curious to how other workplace offices are run. What I mean is office set up with low-wall cubicles or high-wall for that matter. Say 20 or more people where everyone could hear your conversation at.

What types of rules are put into place on things "acceptable" to talk about. Are there certain topics that are frowned upon by management? Are you held responsible for not telling co-workers to keep it down if it offends someone else?

Here's why I'm asking. I have to fellow co-workers that sit on either side of me. One a staunch conservative guy who doesn't believe in the word PC (politically correct) and the other guy who is very liberal. And me stuck in the middle..as usual. Now during the elections that convos were pretty heated and personal. The conservative guy LOVES to comment openly and loudly about his personal feelings on certain subjects the he sees on tv. However when he comments they are sometimes crude in nature, not even realizing it (and sometimes to the point of being construed as "racial"). Then the other guy retorts back and it just gets messy. The second guy made a comment today about a lady on TV who was having some hair issues or something and he says "I've got some gel of my own i'd like to give her" Now we have 3 females within ear-shot of this.

Sometimes I just leave the room because I don't want to be involved. However it's gotten to the point where I'd be gone all day. I've jokingly and seriously mentioned they need to calm it down. I've told managment. We as a group have been warned before (I should mention there are various organizations working in the same office).

So my question is like mentioned above. What rules are in place at your work place? Also can you get in trouble if say someone was offended by your co-workers comment. Because I don't want to go down for the idiots who work around me.

yea that was way to long winded..... thanks for reading

RayOSV · 02-01-2005, 05:33 PM

Ah, the joys of working in cubicles. First, I don't think you would take heat for what your co-workers do or say. It does sound like your cube-neighbors are a little out of line. If it bothers others around them and could be considered sexual, it might be construed as harassment to someone who didn't want to hear it. The best way to approach the situation may be just from the "it's too much noise" perspective. Tell those guys that they should take it into a conference room, break room, or whatever. If you've already complained to management, you might mention to someone again that the noise is bothering you.

malik ross · 02-01-2005, 05:47 PM

your co-workers have created a hostile work environment as evidenced by you feeling the need to walk away from their conversations and your concerns of your employment status based on a prior warning from your employer.

the workplace is not a free-for-all. we're paid to do our jobs, period. we're not paid to promoe our on personal beliefs or predjudices.

you need to make your employer aware of how YOU feel about your co-workers actions and document the date and time of your co-workers actions. you employer has an obligation to YOU to maintain a hostile free work environment.

Drifter · 02-01-2005, 05:48 PM

Ray's answer is the "PC" answer... heh heh.

I'd stand up and in a healthy voice tell them both to either shut the hell up or take their non-work related conversations outside. That and one nasty glare during the ensuing silence ought to remedy the situation. If not, HR should become your new best friend.

Kawisixer01 · 02-01-2005, 07:19 PM

wow man you'd die if you ever worked in a maintenance shop or factory floor. the people in there would eat you right up if you think those guys are bad. How bout you do your job real good so you can maybe have the chance of getting yourself a real office? lol

seriously though just tell them a couple of times to shut the fuck up and that you don;t want to hear their shit. volunteer to move your office so they can be next to eachother. otherwise don't be "that guy" that is the narc. you start narcing people out you are gonna lose respect from everyone. In every workplace i've been people can't fucking stand a narc. Hell in acouple of places up here in wisconsin people have turned up dead after skitching out co-workers. One incident that got nationwide coverage was when a guy in a paper plant snitched on a guy and ended up in the bottom of a paper vat with a weight tied to his leg. he was there for like a couple of months i believe. like three or four guys ended up getting busted for it. I believe it was all over the theft of an extension cord. I had a jackass in the shop with me at one time. I figured i'd just let him hang himself, and eventually he did. try the same thing. you let these guys go long enough and they are gonna piss some chick off enough for her to report them.

King Cobra · 02-01-2005, 07:29 PM

Dayuummm.

Rascus · 02-01-2005, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kawisixer01

wow man you'd die if you ever worked in a maintenance shop or factory floor. the people in there would eat you right up if you think those guys are bad. How bout you do your job real good so you can maybe have the chance of getting yourself a real office? lol

seriously though just tell them a couple of times to shut the fuck up and that you don;t want to hear their shit. volunteer to move your office so they can be next to eachother. otherwise don't be "that guy" that is the narc. you start narcing people out you are gonna lose respect from everyone. In every workplace i've been people can't fucking stand a narc. Hell in acouple of places up here in wisconsin people have turned up dead after skitching out co-workers. One incident that got nationwide coverage was when a guy in a paper plant snitched on a guy and ended up in the bottom of a paper vat with a weight tied to his leg. he was there for like a couple of months i believe. like three or four guys ended up getting busted for it. I believe it was all over the theft of an extension cord. I had a jackass in the shop with me at one time. I figured i'd just let him hang himself, and eventually he did. try the same thing. you let these guys go long enough and they are gonna piss some chick off enough for her to report them.

Honestly I have no problem with it really. It doesn't bother me that much. What I'm worried about is someone else in the office complaining. Plus me getting in trouble for not saying anything.

5hundred99 · 02-01-2005, 09:04 PM

I'm a welder on a factory floor, it's rare when someone says anything that doesn't contain insults, swearing, or sex stories. I think working in a hive of cubicles would kill me.

Rotty · 02-01-2005, 09:22 PM

If you have already brought it to MGMT, time to go to HR. If you don't feel like getting them in trouble, ask to move to another cubicle for productivity purposes.

Rascus · 02-01-2005, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rotty

If you have already brought it to MGMT, time to go to HR. If you don't feel like getting them in trouble, ask to move to another cubicle for productivity purposes.

I wish it was that easy. We are only alloted 5 desks in the entire building and they all have to be next to each other.

Again, I have nothing against it. I just don't want to get in trouble because others can't keep it down.

sonix · 02-02-2005, 06:01 AM

you don't really have any responsibility to watch over them, unless you are their supervisor, all you have to do is do your job, and listen to the humor, not your problem, isn't bothering you.

TDub_GSXR · 02-02-2005, 09:25 AM

Well that is a pretty sticky situation you have there. I have dealt with these situations at work, you don't wanna be one of the poeple who's name comes up when those ladies finally get offended and say something, especially since you (as a group) have been warned already. I would have said first thing to do is ask if you can move; since that is not an option I would appologize to the ladies for your rude neighbors, not snitching on anyone just telling them that those guys immaturity bothers you too. Next time they get into one of their little tiffs, you need to tell them to take to the break room or save it for lunch.

It really sucks you are caught in the middle, usually we don't care what people talk about at work as long as it doesn't offend other employes. But when it does it will fixed quickly, even faster and harsher when it becomes sexual. Good Luck working this out, I hope everything ends up ok.

pillion_slut · 02-02-2005, 11:22 AM

evil girl · 02-02-2005, 01:44 PM

definately do not participate.... i have been in conversations similiar to the ones you have been in... best bet is to listen but don't contribute. (even though the topic doesn't bother you.) Personally i don't care what someone says, 1st amendment and all. BUT when you live in a cube farm that does not apply.

be careful.

here's an example. a former employee of the company i work for got walked out WITHOUT a warning for doing exactly what your neighbors are doing.
got to love the corporate world.

personally, i'd rather work in a welding shop. oh, what a beautiful dream.

GreenOnyx · 02-02-2005, 04:21 PM

At my last job that type of comment wouldn't have been tolerated and it would have been fixed immediately.

Now I work from home and just have to tolerate you slackers