Looking for input about Workplace situationFollow

I'm in a sort of odd situation (at least from my standpoint) and I'm wondering if there is some way to either rectify or mitigate the situation.

I work in one of those offices where cubicles are rather close to each other, in sectional rows. Most of the folks here are elders in the sense that about 80% of the population here have 20-40 years invested here. I've been here about 4 1/2 months. The gentleman next to me (I'm at a back corner of a row, he's directly across from me) has quite a language problem (in terms of vulgarity) along with common use of condescending verbage. We often have people from other countries here training for outside shop work (ie. Indian, Chinese engineers for sub-shops overseas) and seeing as he's a PM, he's often got 2-3 guys/gals around him going over details or trainee's going over things with him.

Now, let me make this clear. I'm in no way offended by people dropping the F-bomb, or using disparaging slang. That said, it doesn't bother me outside of work whatsoever, and I in fact and very vulgar in my own home, around my own friends & family, when out drinking, etc. But not at work, not around so many people in such a public/profession place.

But this guy, literally, will sometimes just go on and on, "F" this and "F" that, those "F'in <insert derogatory term>" and so on and so forth. And it's not isolated in the least, he will do this when anyone is around. The other day, he had a Indian trainee (who's english was...meh) and he went as far as to try to explain to this guy what he meant when he was slamming his mouse on his desk and calling his PC "f'in gay" because it wouldn't send his email.

Now, I get to the point during the day where I just put my headphones on and blast my iPod to avoid his discussions/rants/etc. I'm not offended, but I'm quite put off at his lack of professionalism and constant use of such phrases and terms. My wife will call sometimes and she'll be like "WTF is that in the backround?!" and I don't know what to say. I don't really want to bring it up to anyone, but I wouldn't mind getting my cubicle moved if I could. There's a fairly dense hierarchy here in terms of management, so I wouldn't even know where would be the best place to start without starting a fuss about "who said what" and all that jazz. Anyone ever been confronted with something like this? Where you weren't offended, but more annoyed? I'm almost worried the guys gonna snap one of these days and I'm going to be the closest person to him...

Edited, Apr 27th 2009 2:18pm by Ryneguy

If he can be heard over the phone by people you're talking to, call your boss while he's ranting.

Either that, or just tell the guy to shut the **** up.

Depends on what kind of person your boss is in my opinion, and to a lesser degree how well liked and competent the guy is. On nearly a daily basis I bend the rules in ways that would get some of my co-workers reprimanded, but I'm the guy who wanders the office fixing problems with things that blink and flash so my eccentricity is at the very least tolerated. I've received credible complaints in the past. They're always brushed aside.

Unless it's a major thing you may come off looking worse than he does. If space isn't an issue you could say something like, "x's perfume bothers me" or something minor that doesn't look bad for anyone and ask to be moved.


Edited, Apr 27th 2009 2:36pm by Sarren

Way to justify being an ***.

Let me put it this way. When you get dressed, put on your slacks, tuck in your shirt and head to work in the morning, you don't really expect to have to sit through an open Robin Williams gig. I don't mind it outside of work where ones judgement of it being appropriate is on based on upbringing more than whether or not it's appropriate. I'm not butthurt cause he uses bad words.

I'm irritated and annoyed at times cause I'm just sitting here trying to do my work and in order to focus at times I have to literally turn my headphones up until I drown out all sound around me. We don't deal with customers directly (at least not often, in Mech. Engineering) and I certainly don't as a composite modeler. And I could care less about how many derogatory words he can fit into a sentence from a personal standpoint. I could probably turn his collar with a few beers in me and make him uncomfortable if it were a particularily bad day.

I don't care what he does, so much as I don't have to sit right next to him while he's doing it. I'm just thinking of a "misdirected" way to get moved. The perfume is along the lines of what I was thinking, but with less of a lame excuse. I don't think the boss is going to believe me when I say "Oh, the pretty ladies perfume is bothering me..."

You're annoyed?

Oh dear. I'd make up some crappy lies and get the guy fired. Get them all fired. Others will surely find ways to annoy you in time.

Figure out who his boss is and leave an anonymous note. Just explain the situation, and say it is not conducive to a productive work environment.

You do realize that there are people quite capable of doing your job that don't come with all this anti-social baggage?

Well, he knows that. You're the new guy, the old guy is the loud obnoxious guy.

The only question is, have you paid your dues yet by having to endure him? And the only way to find that out is to sack up and go ask.

That, or just get an air horn and retaliate.

Better yet, get one of those fart machines and turn it up real loud. Place the speaker just under his desk where he can't see it. Whenever he gets riled up and starts screaming obscenities, push the button.

If he's as old as you say, he might actually believe that he's doing it.

It's not scaring him into submission. It's conditioning.

How about knowing your place and respecting your elders you bratty little twirp. If your ****** is getting sore after this short amount of time being there then I'd be afraid that it's YOU who would end up going postal. If I were that guy I'd already be submitting complaints to HR about getting you canned, if nothing else for your dull obsequiousness towards my professionalism.

Edited, Apr 28th 2009 8:01pm by Kelvyquayo