Office etiquette - mouse usage

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

StreetScooby

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If he's "ratcheting" because he's moved the mouse as far as he can and the cursor hasn't got to where he want's it to be, the surface or dirty balls issue isn't going to matter.

This guy's desk is spotless. He's an intense guy, who works hard, and simply isn't aware of how hard he's getting on his mouse. A mouse pad would go a long way in eliminated the banging sound. I have one for him, just have to wait for the right situation to give it to him.

Give it to him. Don't be passive/aggressive about it.

"Own your own shit" as they like to say.

The problem isn't his making the noise, it's how you react to it.
The problem isn't his, it's yours.

Present it in that way, and you won't be putting him "on the spot."

Telling him that you are deaf in one ear and that it makes it difficult to deal with that sort of background noise makes it clear that you aren't blaming him for the problem.
You are simply asking his assistance in dealing with your problem.

Unless he's a total asshole (which is a possibility - you know him, I don't) being asked to help you with your problem will be much easier for him than being told that he is causing the problem.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[StreetScooby 5]

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The problem isn't his, it's yours.

Agreed, fully.

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Present it in that way, and you won't be putting him "on the spot."

Telling him that you are deaf in one ear and that it makes it difficult to deal with that sort of background noise makes it clear that you aren't blaming him for the problem.
You are simply asking his assistance in dealing with your problem.

Unless he's a total asshole (which is a possibility - you know him, I don't) being asked to help you with your problem will be much easier for him than being told that he is causing the problem.

What an excellent idea. Let me cogitate on this...

We are all engines of karma

[StreetScooby 5]

Latest update, the "mouse clacker" found a better job, and has moved on. Monday was his last day in the office. Tuesday was a very different day ;-) Best of luck to this guy.

We are all engines of karma

[BillyVance 35]

StreetScooby

Latest update, the "mouse clacker" found a better job, and has moved on. Monday was his last day in the office. Tuesday was a very different day ;-) Best of luck to this guy.

Cool beans.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[tigra 0]

His replacement will probably have a "personal hygiene" problem in addition to the nasty habit of kicking off his funky Tevas and clipping his toe nails at his desk. You'll realize what a great neighbor "Mouse Clacker" really was!

[lurch 0]

Wish my own office issues would solve themselves that easily.
Most times they do, most problem employees here (small semiconductor processing factory) end up getting themselves terminated one way or another...
But.
We got this guy. He's a bottom-level machine operator.
This guy cops this imperious attitude which is becoming increasingly irritating to deal with.
He makes frequent attempts to repair the machine he is running.
He finds it embarassing to have to call maintenance and will butcher the machine until it is thoroughly broken/swap parts/air lines/etc at random until he can't get it to do anything anymore before finally calling for backup.
He lies. I have caught him repeatedly lying about having attempted repair. "I didn't do anything" "The air lines for the vacuum generator and feed regulator are switched. The machine cannot and was not running like that. It is not possible for the machine to have functioned like that, ergo, since it was running well till 5 minutes ago, you tried to fix it and only gave up when you couldn't get it to respond at all anymore."
"Yes it was, it always runs like that"
He has absolutely no idea how the machine works. So his repair attempts are the equivalent to a child poking and pulling things at random, checking the tire pressure because maybe it has something to do with why the engine won't start... then demanding we rotate the tires because that'll definitely fix it.

I'm the lead maintenance guy. I outrank this guy in a big way.
What -really- gets on my nerves is, he cops an attitude like he thinks he is my superior and thinks I answer to him. "Why haven't you ordered those diffusers like I told you to?"

1: You don't give me orders. 2: The diffusers are brand new and nobody else has a problem with them. 3: I'm the house mechanic I'll decide what parts need replacing. 4: You don't even know what these parts do or how they work let alone how to judge whether it needs replacing or not.

Then he tries going over my head trying to get my boss to tell me to do what he says.
Then he tries issuing orders instead to my apprentice mechanic instead... since I'm just not obeying him he hopes my apprentice will. I have let apprentice know, you don't answer to this guy either. Do not obey him. If he hassles you, bring it to me.

Guy keeps trying, though. Keeps attempting to order my apprentice to order the parts he thinks the machine needs.
The he starts getting on our case and complaining loudly when we do not comply.
His latest this week? Copping a grand arrogance. He had the chutzpah, when he needed a tweak made to a fixture, to call my name and then crook his finger at me like a schoolmarm "Come here little boy" gesture.
I blew it off a bit till I could deal with him without exploding then went and handled the problem. I am the house mechanic. He had a mechanical problem.

I'm still trying to decide what is the most civilized way to put this guy in his place and get the idea through his thick skull that I outrank him and no matter how much attitude he cops, I am not subject to his orders and he does not decide how mechanical things are done around here.

I'm trying to take the high road. It's not easy.

I've already bounced this off my boss a couple times, they know he lies but the verdict was until we catch him red handed tampering with the gear we can't really do anything.
-B

Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

[ryoder 1,590]

lurch

I've already bounced this off my boss a couple times, they know he lies but the verdict was until we catch him red handed tampering with the gear we can't really do anything.
-B

Sounds like an application for a surveillance camera.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[Amazon 7]

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I've already bounced this off my boss a couple times, they know he lies but the verdict was until we catch him red handed tampering with the gear we can't really do anything

Camouflage as needed for your environment.
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[Andy9o8 2]

Sounds like you need to get yourself a different kind of mechanic to handle this guy.

[wmw999 2,583]

There is little that is as powerful as real time documentation.

I'm sure you keep a maintenance and repairs log; make sure that his repairs, and the causes, are documented. It's a pain in the rear, but that's how you build up the numbers. If you can show that he's the most expensive employee on the floor (don't judge his output that's his boss's job), that will help.

And yes, if he's coy and an asshole, that's not really actionable. Dagnabit.

When you have sufficient material you can have the discussion with your boss. you need to document everyone so it's an honest comparison.

Good luck; sounds like he's getting under your skin, and that gives him more pleasure than it gives you.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Andy9o8 2]

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if he's coy and an asshole, that's not really actionable.

Although you'd think that catching him in the lies about self-maintenance, as Lurch describes, ought to be. Unfortunately the upshot I get from Lurch is that his bosses seem to be wussing out on that. A shame, really.

I'll bet if Lurch was Sicilian he'd know what to do next.

http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0000832/quotes

[StreetScooby 5]

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His replacement will probably have a "personal hygiene" problem in addition to the nasty habit of kicking off his funky Tevas and clipping his toe nails at his desk. You'll realize what a great neighbor "Mouse Clacker" really was!

LOL, ... no, my office generally doesn't have those kinds of "issues"

We are all engines of karma

[StreetScooby 5]

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What -really- gets on my nerves is, he cops an attitude like he thinks he is my superior and thinks I answer to him. "Why haven't you ordered those diffusers like I told you to?"

Wow. That's got to be tough. At least your bosses are aware of the situation, and seem to be supportive. I have no idea how to deal with a situation like this, and it's not something that happens in my environment. When my PC breaks, I am extremely polite and deferential to the guys that come to fix it. Invariably, I learn something and develop a good rapport with them. It's fun, and these guys always find time to help me with related questions. Can't imagine it being any other way.

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...they know he lies but the verdict was until we catch him red handed tampering with the gear we can't really do anything.

I did encounter a new situation today that I've never experienced before. As a habit, I always ask for a copy of the background report submitted for my employment. It's never been an issue with any other employer, until today. I'm dealing with a younger guy who wants to know why I want it . I had to explain it to him nicely, without pointing out to him that I'm entitled to full disclosure of such things, if my knowledge is correct (...again, every other time I've asked it's been in my hands within two days). He's a budding bureaucrat in the making, and I'm really thinking about giving him a polite full dose of me . Waiting to see how this plays out. I've already copied others in human resources. I have to keep telling myself "...this is NOT fun", but there's a side of me that revels in these situations.

We are all engines of karma

[StreetScooby 5]

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...and I say 'Fine, provided you share the findings with me.'

It's never been an issue before. I'm just dealing with a young guy who doesn't know what he's doing. This will work itself out.

We are all engines of karma