Need a Break? Put Yourself in Co-Worker's Shoes

My cubicle is next to a woman who really, really needs to retire but can't because of health coverage issues and the state of the economy. She becomes more idiosyncratic every day. She repeats out loud what she's typing as she types, she practices her phone calls out loud before she dials the phone, she moans, grunts, and generally makes noises of one kind or another all day long. She is a lovely, sweet woman, but is desperately unhappy as our job becomes more and more technically and computer oriented. She cannot complete a single task without recruiting help from several people around her. We love her and are glad to help, but she is driving me crazy -- especially the nonstop mumbling and sighing and groaning. I hesitate to say anything to our supervisor because the other issues we're all facing seem so much more important. How can I preserve my sanity?

Compassion. Let us all hope that we don't find ourselves one day in the position of having to struggle at a bewildering job that we cannot afford to lose because of the health coverage it provides. How frightening for your co-worker to perceive, as she most assuredly does, that she is losing her grasp on the basic skills that everyone around her has so easily mastered.

It is lovely of you and your colleagues to rally around this woman to help her through technical snares. If you were to say anything about it to your supervisor, I would suggest pointing out some areas in which more formal training might help her. I don't see a point in discussing the idiosyncrasies of her work style other than to illustrate her need for additional support to build her self-confidence. For example, she might recite what she is typing out load because she is trying to avoid making mistakes. She likewise might practice her phone conversations before dialing because she does not trust herself to form articulate thoughts under pressure.

If your supervisor is enlightened, he or she might recognize an opportunity to engage your older colleague in a different way. If the use of technology is standing in the way of her job satisfaction and contributions, your supervisor could arrange for her to perform essential business functions that do not require her to be as computer savvy.

It is also possible that your colleague's professional struggles are related to the health issues that make insurance coverage so important for her. If so, then your employer might be legally required to work with her to find an accommodation of her condition.

Which brings me back to compassion. The irritating behaviors that you find yourself having to put up with are probably just a small sign of the issues that your colleague must content with every day. Invest in a set of ear plugs or listen to music on your headphones. Find a way to make your work environment more calm and pleasant. But also speak up on your colleague's behalf so that she gets the help she needs to succeed in your organization until the day that she can finally afford to retire.

Join Lily Garcia on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 11 a.m. ET for How to Deal Live.

Lily Garcia has offered employment law and human resources advice to companies of all sizes for more than 10 years. To submit a question, e-mail HRadvice@washingtonpost.com. We reserve the right to edit submitted questions for length and clarity and cannot guarantee that all questions will be answered.