Is it rude to blow your nose in your cubicle?

Question

I have a co-worker that has allergies and she has a ton of mucus. She Snorts it up and then blows it out all day long. Should she, at some point, excuse herself and walk to the bathroom- it's just a couple steps away. It can be very very nasty to have to listen to. She snorts up real fast(you can only imagine the swallow) then when she blows it out she blows it out really slow so you can almost feel it yourself and you can hear all the mucus..... too gushy and nasty. Is she being rude? It's been going on a month now...... she can at least take some allergy medicine so she's not blowing all day. It's to the point where you really notice it now.

Answer 1

As long as she is not farting it's fine.

Answer 2

yes she is definately being rude she needs to excuse herself and step into the bathroom

Answer 3

Get some ear plugs.   Have a little compassion.   Can you imagine that she actually wants to do this????

Answer 4

So she's blowing her nose...get over it. She has every right so blow her nose in her cubicle.

Answer 5

I would tell her it bothers you, it sounds a bit out of hand, maybe suggest to her that she take some medicine, but if it were me I wouldn't listen to it day after day, that's just icky.

Answer 6

That is gross, and she should get up every now and then to go use the ladies room for that. BUT it sounds like she's really suffering if she's been that sick for a month, and besides she can't just spend all day in the bathroom. You should ask her if she's feeling better and suggest an allergy medicine to her.  

Answer 7

That's disgusting! She should go into the bathroom. Maybe offer her a cough drop or suggest some medication.

I think I would be running to the bathroom to be sick if I had to listen to that all day long.  

Answer 8

I´m a heavy smoker, and I always have mucus in my throat. I always go to the bathroom to do my disgusting business on my own. I hate it when people do **** like that in public. It´s gross.  

Answer 9

not as long as you wash your hands after

Answer 10

yeah definitely that is gross she shouldn't be so lazy. she should head to the restroom  

Answer 11

just ask her to use the bathroom because thats really nasty.

Answer 12

Ewww!  That is pretty disgusting and more than rude.

How comfortable do you feel talking directly with this co-worker?  One possible approach might be to mention how sound carries between cubicles and to say that you've noticed how ill she seems to be and how bad it makes you feel to listen to her obvious distress.  You could ask if she has a cold or allergies and if she's getting treatment for the problem.  Chances are she will tell you what's going on, what she's tried and so forth, and this may give you the opportunity to mention medicine that might help, or things you know others have tried, etc.

If you don't feel comfortable approaching her yourself, is there a supervisor or manager who could take her aside?  She does need to be made aware in as nice a way as possible that her behavior is grossing out and distracting her fellow workers.

Other than someone talking with her, the only other solutions I can think of are for you to get a radio in your cubicle and turn it up, or ask that your work station be moved somewhere else, if that is possible.

Good luck with solving this problem.  Situations like this at work are always touchy.

Answer 13

At least she's doing it in a place which is meant to be private and away from others. It is just unfortunate to overhear it.

You might as well ask: "Is it rude for someone to blow their nose in front of you?"

Answer 14

if it was just a normal nose blowing situation, then sure i think it would be ok to do that

but sounds like she's dealing with some serious sinus c**p

*gag*

it's not cool to listen to that all day

maybe you could put a friendly note on her desk asking her to use the bathroom, or just talk to her about it

good luck

Answer 15

would you rather she picked her nose  ? No , she is in private , she is not being rude

Answer 16

Tell her in a very nice way that you find it rude. I personally think that she should step into the bathroom since it only is a couple of steps away. If she doesn't want to do that then tell her to at least blow her nose a little softer and not so loud.  

Answer 17

yes it is go to the restroom ...you have to wash your hands any way save someone  from a gag

Answer 18

personally i would go to the bathroom and maybe do it in the cubicle twice-four times in one hour but not too loud.