Getting Loud Co-Workers to Turn it Down

Like many people today, I work in an "open plan" office in which my co-workers and I share a limited space. While most of my colleagues are courteous, one is very inconsiderate with regard to his speaking voice -- he takes phone calls via speakerphone and since we do not have high cube walls, we hear everything.

My co-workers and I have tried different approaches -- such as suggesting that he take calls in a conference room or use a headset -- to no avail. We have taken to wearing headphones and playing music to try to drown out his yelling.

Many times we've given him a "shh" hand signal, but all this seems to accomplish is that he lowers the volume for the remainder of the call and then returns to full volume on future calls.

Do you have any advice about how to speak with the co-worker in a non-confrontational manner? The last thing we want to do is make our small area a tense workplace, but his actions have escalated to an unhealthy level.

You have tried being subtle. Now it's time to get direct.

I suggest that two of you approach this person together. (Approaching him as a pair will help to convey the point that your views are widely held.) Be respectful, sharing with him that you have been hesitant to approach him because you want to maintain a good working relationship and explaining that it has unfortunately become very difficult for people in his area to be productive because the sound of his phone calls is distracting.

Then request -- again -- that he take calls in a conference room or use a headset.

If your colleague has the smallest amount of shame -- he may not -- he will respond apologetically and immediately modify his behavior. If he does not, it's time to call the cops on him. (That is, ask your supervisor to mediate the situation.)

Lily Garcia is director of human resources for Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive. She has offered employment law and human resources advice to companies of all sizes for 10 years. To submit a question, e-mail howtodeal@washingtonpost.com.

Disclaimer: How to Deal is not meant to be a replacement for actual legal advice. Please contact your HR representative for issues that pertain to your organization. We reserve the right to edit submitted questions for length and clarity and cannot guarantee that all questions will be answered.