Do you think this is appropriate for the workplace?

If you’re on the phone, you don’t chew. It doesn’t matter what – gum, tobacco, toast, lasagna – you don’t chew. End of story.

My gosh, I could vomit at the thought of swallowing chew spit. UGH.

I don’t think that it’s fair that one can do it and the other can’t. Personally, I wouldn’t see any issue with it in general if it were commonplace to swallow the spit, but that isn’t the case. I don’t think that it would be any different than eating a mint. You don’t actually chew snuff, so I think it’s a bit different from eating or chewing gum… but overall I don’t think they should be doing it at the office. I guess. I’m a little bit torn.

I think it is disgusting and not very professional, but at the same time, if it isn’t bothering anyone other than you, perhaps you should let it go.

Since he’s not actually chewing (it just sits there in his mouth), and he’s not spitting… what’s the actual objection? That he’s getting nicotine at work? He (and anyone else) would be doing the same if they were wearing a nicotine patch, and you’d never even know.

I know many people are kind of grossed out at the idea of it, but I just don’t see how it’s having any negative impact on his work or the workplace.

Gadzooks, apparently if he had worked there a few years and was chewing a good deal of the time, it hasn’t effected his ability to do the work, or leaving a gross spit cup, so I say why bother. If it was a woman wearing jeans so low that when she sat she would be showing thong peek, would anyone or you bring that up? Loud perfume, and is quite noticeable. Of hair products that does the same? Would think the better way to attack it is to enact a policy of not having anything in your mouth while on the phone.

If there are no compliance rules issued before or upon hiring, then the company could end up with a lawsuit. This is a prime example of how codes of conduct in a workplace come about. An employee does something that the supervisors would not expect to deal with, and then it goes to human resources and/or the legal department in order to get it passed. Welcome to management.

@augustlan The older gent is chewing, according to the OP.

@Pied_Pfeffer but it is usually called ‘chewing,’ even though there is no actual chewing going on. You just set it in your lip.

@Pied_Pfeffer My husband “chews” tobacco. There is no actual chewing involved. It sits between the cheek or lip and the gums.

Edited to add: He does spit in a cup, though, and I could easily see that practice being banned from a workplace. It’s gross!

@ANef_is_Enuf and @augustlan The OP said, There is an older man who has worked there for a few years. While he’s on the phone, conducting surveys, he chews tobacco. He swallows his spit, rather than spitting it out, so there is little to no attention brought to him by chewing. I understand what you are implying though. Maybe we need clarification from the OP.

Sorry for any confusion. When I referred to him “chewing,” I didn’t mean it literally. It just sits between his lower lip and gums.

@augustlan Well, but a lot of things that don’t really have an adverse reaction on your work or the workplace is banned because it’s seen as gross or unseemly. No one is really less able to schedule an appointment or whatever because they have a tattoo, but they still cover them up. I think our workplaces usually see “it’s gross” as “not acceptable” because gross things make people less interested in productivity and more interested in getting away from the grossness. And really, it does gross people out.

It’s gross but it’s not getting on anyone else, nor bothering them with noise or odor, nor spreading germs. He’s obviously addicted. If it does not affect his speech I’d leave it alone, (but somehow void the throat and mouth cancer part of the company medical policy).