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LOUD TALKER
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In our office, we have half cubicles which result in a rather open environment. An employee came to me today to say that a woman who sits across from her talks extremely loud on her phone and often ti
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LOUD TALKER

posted at 5/22/2009 6:21 AM EDT
Posts: 24
First: 5/24/2005
Last: 4/27/2010
In our office, we have half cubicles which result in a rather open environment. An employee came to me today to say that a woman who sits across from her talks extremely loud on her phone and often times talks about "uncomfortable" subjects while on a personal call such as family counseling, etc. Loud talker's supervisor is located in a different office so he has no daily direct contact with his employee. Do I address this with the loud talker myself or escalate this to her manager to handle even though he's 300 miles away?
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LOUD TALKER

posted at 5/22/2009 6:39 AM EDT
Posts: 1771
First: 10/24/2002
Last: 9/14/2011
Tell her manager about it and ask if he/she wants to deal with it, or would like you to deal with it.
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LOUD TALKER

posted at 5/22/2009 7:38 AM EDT
Posts: 1103
First: 3/16/2007
Last: 8/19/2011
hrbth gives good advice. A common anti-HR mantra I have heard over the years is that some HR people view their role as replacing management. I beg to differ and whole heartedly support what hrbth suggests.
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LOUD TALKER

posted at 5/22/2009 8:16 AM EDT
Posts: 24
First: 5/24/2005
Last: 4/27/2010
Great advice! I will inform her manager. Thanks again!
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LOUD TALKER

posted at 5/22/2009 9:19 AM EDT
Posts: 464
First: 6/30/2004
Last: 11/22/2010
I also think that is good advice. I would also observe that it is not uncommon for managers to expect HR to take on all the difficult employee communications, such as: personal hygiene issues, dress code problems, (insert your issue here),...
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LOUD TALKER

posted at 5/22/2009 9:29 AM EDT
Posts: 24
First: 5/24/2005
Last: 4/27/2010
I'm just thinking this through further, and maybe I'm being too considerate of people's feelings, but I'm imagining her reaction to knowing that someone has contacted her supervisor in another state instead of approaching her with this directly. And the concern that this may cause her - "people are complaining about me to my boss" and how that will effect her going forward, when it's not even a performance issue.
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LOUD TALKER

posted at 5/22/2009 9:31 AM EDT
Posts: 1771
First: 10/24/2002
Last: 9/14/2011
Doesn't matter. If she's to be approached informally, it should be by her complaining coworkers, not you. If she's to be approached formally by an authority figure (i.e., you), then it should only be done with her boss's permission.
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LOUD TALKER

posted at 5/22/2009 9:34 AM EDT
Posts: 24
First: 5/24/2005
Last: 4/27/2010
Makes sense. Thanks again!
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LOUD TALKER

posted at 5/22/2009 10:47 AM EDT
Posts: 1783
First: 11/11/2003
Last: 5/13/2010
I would not escalate this to the boss, nor address it myself, until and unless the complaining coworker had attempted to address the issue him/herself.
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LOUD TALKER

posted at 5/22/2009 12:38 PM EDT
Posts: 1103
First: 3/16/2007
Last: 8/19/2011
I would agree with Hrbth although I do understand the OP's concern. several years ago i wrote an article for HRMagazine regarding the role of HR and Managers. It is in the July 2001 issue of HRMagazine (available at shrm.org) in the archives. I think it would be relevant in this instance.
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