When starting a new job, how long do you think you have to be there before you can ask a coworker to stop smacking her gum?

I’d first be SURE it distracted me. Maybe it’s the training that’s difficult (or the trainer) and you’re just taking it out on the chewing – and you may not even realize this. Or maybe it’s the woman herself.

About 30 seconds!! Surely she must know that this kind of thing bugs the c*ap out of people!!

Smacking gum is totally unprofessional. Just approach her politely, “Excuse me, I hate to be a bother, but the way you pop your gum is very distracting for me. Can you please try to chew it more quietly? Thank you.”

I mean, it kind of blows to have to ask people to chew more quietly, but it has to be done sometimes. (Or all the time, if you are me, I’m exceedingly sensitive to chewing noises.)

Pop like eight pieces of gum in your mouth (and I mean like industrial grade, Bubblicious bubblebum, none of that stick stuff) and go to town; see how she likes it.

As soon as it gets annoying

About 2, or 3 weeks. If you say something too early people will think of you as difficult, and cocky, which is not a good first impression. At my work its funny because everyone is so casual and I feel comfortable to say anything to anyone, but if its really conservative and stuffy you might want to wait and try to be as polite as possible and be pretty indirect.

Not very long as long as you do so politely.

Yesterday!!!

You’ve been validated by your employer by getting the job, so don’t start out by being wimpy and tentative. Make your opinion known to that person. That doesn’t mean being a jerk about it. You should actually be very kind and agreeable with that person, while still being very firm and no-nonsense. Explain why it’s a problem for you. This may not make the person stop, but it will establish you as someone who is willing to deal with issues directly. That will lead to your coworkers respecting you more as time goes on and you continue to be proactive about negative issues in your workplace. Hopefully your boss will see that about you and you may end up being that person’s supervisor!

Maybe gum isn’t allowed in the office, in which case you could tell a superior and have them do the dirty work. After all, they get paid more than you for being the bad guy some times.

Find an ally first.

@mattbrowne, yes! I just started a new job myself, and have one friend there. This whole time for this conversation I’ve been thinking what I would do if she were the gum chewer. But if I think of it being some one else, I could lean over when gum-chewer goes on a break and say “Doesn’t her gum get on your nerves, has she always done that?” That responce might give you the confidence/goahead to say something.

@monsoon – I also think the chewer is a lot more likely to stop if they feel it’s actually a distraction to others and not just the new kid being a jerk.

As an aside, I hate the sound of mastication. Work is hard enough without having to listen to your cube neighbor chewing the cud 4 feet away from you.

We’re it me, I’d say something quick. It’s not like you’re telling everyone they have to completely change the way they work.

It’s also important not to use the word you. Just talk about yourself, like ‘I have trouble concentrating on my work when there’s too much noise for example gum smacking and (find a second example).

make friends first! make friendly conversation if you can, and then casually bring it up. “i hate to nit-pick, but gum smacking is kind of a major pet peeve for me…”. saying things with a smile and a kind voice will probably keep her from being offended unless she’s really obnoxious and difficult to deal with. then carry on with the conversation that isn’t related to gum smacking to keep the tone friendly, and go on with your work.