We’re on a weird coworker theme, this week.
This note is from Natasha.
I started a new job. I love the new job. Great company culture. Open, forward thinking. I dig it. However…there is one small oddity. I am located in a small area (resembling a large closet) that houses three cubes. Two cubes are occupied (me in one and a guy in the one beside me). The other is empty.
This dude is on the phone ALL day…and I do not think it is work related. Wouldn’t bother me…but the fellah also has a webcam video screen up as well (he isn’t being video’d, he is watching it). I haven’t looked too terribly close at what is on it, but one day…it looked like someone sitting down with no pants, and another day…a young, dark haired woman staring longingly at the camera. Now I am all about leaving people alone if they get their job done, but sitting next to him is starting to creep me out. I mean, he talks in this low voice all day…and it just gets oogier all the time. Suggestions? Comments?
Natasha, I think this guy is watching his family. Lots of people do it. The person with no pants? Could be his kid. The woman staring longingly into the camera? Could be a wife. Maybe a daughter.
Sure, this guy might be pervy. He might be getting in the way of you doing a better job. Why don’t you spend more time in his cube and report back to us? Forget your day job. Don’t worry about projects, timelines, and corporate expectations. If he’s skeevy, we want to be the first to know about it.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Does he sit in the dark, or is there a small light on in the cubicle somewhere. This is a determinative factor in determining the degree of skeeviness present here!
What I’m curious about is what you did to earn a place in the closet with this guy…
It’s a test. Your employer wants to see if you can get along with anyone. Be sure to double check for hidden cameras watching you.
Laurie’s probably right that he’s just chatting with his family or friends or heck, maybe that girlfriend in Niagara Falls really exists.
Of course, if that isn’t that case, there is a solution. Find a subtle way to inquire about the company’s IT practices as far as blocking inappropriate websites goes. If he’s visiting pay webcam sites, he can get fired for it. If he’s got direct connections to these people, IT can still set up a discreet monitoring system to make sure nothing untoward is going on. He’s on the company’s computer, on company time, so his right to privacy is pretty much gone.
OK Michael…I’m imagining tons more ick-factor thanks to you! Really, I like Jason’s take…you’re in a closet – that’s a bigger worry than this guy’s viewing habits. What project do you have to excel at to get out of it…and away from him?
Maybe the guy’s job is to be on the phone all day & monitoring someone on video cam. And maybe he talks low so as not to disturb. Maybe?
Major question…..what is his job? And whether he is watching his family or a small family of nepalese servants…..he should be doing WORK!
Oooooh look…..new site new icon above!!!!
@Michael Maybe she’s talking about you!
@Jason Ha!
@Noah Oh man, that’s so meta.
@Phillip Oh way to get all official HR on us.
@Marsha I feel kinda bad. I like Natasha, but maybe this guy is misunderstood. I watch crazy shit on the internet all day long.
@Paul Probably not.
@TheHRD Maybe he can do work AND watch his webcam?
option one. Mind your own bidness.
option two. Walk over to his cube and say “What are you working on?” If he shuts it down fast. Mind your own bidness.
option three. Put on some ear phones and …Mind your own bidness.
This is EXACTLY the kind of stuff that drives the rest of us bat shit crazy: we watch folks get cut or laid off all over the place while Pervy Pete is in the corner doing God knows what in front of everyone and nothing ever happens.
He may be doing nothing.
It’s probably none of your business.
Doesn’t mean it’s not going to bug the hell out of you.
Play your cards right and see how you can get moved. If it’s truly bothering you and making you uncomfortable, then that impacts your performance and THEN you’re going to have a real problem.
@Laurie – On the phone all day, watching a webcam AND working? Possible yes. Probable no.
On the phone all day is not horribly unusual, depending on what it is exactly they do in their office. And I know in the past I’ve spoken as low as possible, especially in close quarters, to avoid disturbing other people with my work-related calls.
I guess it just bugs me that we automatically jump to the Pervy McPerverson conclusion without trying to get to know this guy. Maybe Laurie’s right, he might be away from his family – god knows there are people who’ve had to change a lot to get a job, and he might live in a different city, or too far away to be there daily. Maybe the original writer is right and he’s a voyeur trying to “get him some” on the company dime.
I would be curious if she’s talked to her closet-mate. Not necessarily about the whole video thing, but about him. What he thinks of sports or their working environment or how long he’s been at the company, or whether his kids are asking for for Christmas. Before making an assumption.
Just my non-official thought.
If it smells, looks, farts, and schwangs it’s nards like a duck– it’s a fucking duck.
Politely ask the guy to do his “upskirt research” on his own time. And work overtime to afford a baby sitter. The guy’s a douche, believe me.
from my previous employer, we have a division manager who’s into this. he has a cam and talks a lot on the phone.. as per observation, she has a very insecure wife who wants to see him all the time.