How To Politely Deal With Someone In The Office Whose Coughing Is Out Of Control

[Cougher]

Looking for ideas on how to politely deal with a co-worker in the office whose coughing has gotten out of control. It is obnoxious, distracting, and frankly disgusting.

This has been an issue with this employee in the past, and HR has been contacted but there wasn't much they could do besides relocate this person.

Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated.

[UVA2B]

Are these coughing fits involuntary or are they caused by environmental stimuli? Have you offered them a glass of water? Maybe you could suggest they see an ear, nose, and throat specialist for blockages or structural defects? That might require seeing a generalist first for a referral, but since you’re showing genuine concern for their well-being, they might appreciate your humanity.

(Welcome home)

[HelloYesThisIsDog]

Suggest they get a TB test. I would say I'm joking but I was recently told by my doc I have a latent TB infection, which means I picked it up from being in close quarters with someone with an active infection. Since I live at the office...

[BearCat]

I thought the issue was resolved like a year ago?

[TissueSpotter]

Did we decide it wasn't GERD? I really like GERD as an acronym, so I'm rooting for GERD.

[181plz]

Wait til nobody is looking, throw his cheeze itz on the floor, step on them, and make him lick the crumbs off your shoes

[waldorf]

checking in to express my joy that this is here

[Danger Zone]

YESSS ITS BACK

[Cougher]

checking in to express my joy that this is here

Glad that you enjoy this thread!

[Guest]

I thought the issue was resolved like a year ago?

While it didn't get fully resolved, it did get better when the co-worker was relocated. However, he has been relocated to a different part of the office and is now causing disruption there as well. I think the coughing fits got better for a while too, but with the sickness that is going around I think it has become worse.

[Guest]

Did we decide it wasn't GERD? I really like GERD as an acronym, so I'm rooting for GERD.

Strong suspicion that this is GERD related; however, this guy still goes HAM on Cheezitz. (spelling?)

[cron1834]

Tobasco Cheez-Its are still the GOAT.

[ggocat]

I forget who OP is, which I guess is the point of the throwaway, but just want to say that the cheezit thread was great, and let the coughing continue.

Polite offers of cough drops have already failed, yes? It seemed like there was no solution last time and it just magically resolved.

[Sinoper]

Honestly, if you've got any Dexter in you, this guy seems like the perfect first-go. Some pretty strange stuff could show up on his autopsy and nobody would suspect a thing as long as coughing is a symptom of the cause of death. Doing this might make you a psychopath, and posting this might make me a psychopath, but I'm just trying to keep the discussion going here. Can't blame a man for that.

[Danger Zone]

Honestly, if you've got any Dexter in you, this guy seems like the perfect first-go. Some pretty strange stuff could show up on his autopsy and nobody would suspect a thing as long as coughing is a symptom of the cause of death. Doing this might make you a psychopath, and posting this might make me a psychopath, but I'm just trying to keep the discussion going here. Can't blame a man for that.

Seems like a slight overreaction to murder the guy

[bk1]

Honestly, if you've got any Dexter in you, this guy seems like the perfect first-go. Some pretty strange stuff could show up on his autopsy and nobody would suspect a thing as long as coughing is a symptom of the cause of death. Doing this might make you a psychopath, and posting this might make me a psychopath, but I'm just trying to keep the discussion going here. Can't blame a man for that.

Seems like a slight overreaction to murder the guy

Also, Dexter's plan was for the bodies not to be found.

[Guest]

The coughing is pretty bad today. I'm not sure if a cold or other sickness has struck the cougher, but it is making many people in this office very uncomfortable, annoyed, and angry.

[Guest]

Interesting update:

Today a milestone birthday was celebrated in the office and there were all sorts of treats shared among co-workers. Cakes, cookies, pies, Root Beer, and lemonade. Cougher noticeably overindulged on the treats today, which sent him into a coughing fit/rage shortly after the birthday celebration and the fit/rage lasted at least two hours.

Many in the office speculated that this is due to GERD, which I believe could be correct.

[Guest]

I had a chance to speak with someone from the office who knows the cougher better than anyone else in the office. He said that when eating induced coughing fits happen, the cougher is also experiencing excessive burping and a really runny nose, all at the same time. I'm not sure if the runny nose is a symptom of GERD, but the burping certainly is.

This leads me to believe that there is some serious health issues going on here, and that I probably should cease posting about it. I am also going to see if I can address others in the office who become severely and vocally upset about the disruption this person causes. It isn't his fault.

[Danger Zone]

GERD isn't a serious health issue. Dude just needs to cut out caffeine and alcohol and eat slower.

Source: someone who has GERD

[MKC]

GERD isn't a serious health issue. Dude just needs to cut out caffeine and alcohol and eat slower.

Source: someone who has GERD

If someone told me the cure to an illness was to quit drinking coffee, beer, and bourbon, I'd think it was pretty fucking serious.

[Danger Zone]

Not entirely, just when you don't feel like having reflux

[ballinoutacontro]

GERD isn't a serious health issue. Dude just needs to cut out caffeine and alcohol and eat slower.

Source: someone who has GERD

If someone told me the cure to an illness was to quit drinking coffee, beer, and bourbon, I'd think it was pretty fucking serious.

would much rather have highly invasive surgery

[Guest]

The cougher has been pretty quiet lately. And then he was out sick for over a week and has just returned.

Jesus Christ...the coughing, sneezing, and throat clearing are out of control.

Not sure what is going on with his immune system, but he gets sick all of the time regardless of the time of year.

Supposedly HR has already been contacted about sending him home due to his continued illness and annoyance to everyone around him.

[Guest]

Cougher has recently gotten in trouble at work for breaking chairs at his desk.

Can't make this stuff up.