Re OCD

[Professionallytorn]

New colleague transferred to my team has OCD. They arrive and spends circa 15 mins cleaning their desk and equipment in the morning, and again on returning from lunch. I appreciate this is a medical condition, I do sympathise. My query is, should the cleaning be done on colleague's 'own time' or on the 'firms time'. We work flexi hours. I cannot make up my mind - am I being selfish thinking they should do it in their own time. I am conflicted. What do you think?

I don’t think it matters as it’s for your bosses to worry about. They might have a reasonably adjustment in place for their condition where it’s understood they need that additional time. To be honest it’s not any of your business.

I’d say that’s a reasonable adjustment for someone with a disability. But I wouldn’t concern yourself with it.

I do have OCD.
I do arrive early and clean my desk so it’s on my own time not the company time. It doesn’t take me 15 minutes though.
If someone touches my keyboard and mouse I do have to clean it again but it’s only a spray & wipe. I don’t have lunch as I’m part time.
If I was taking as long as your colleague to clean I wouldn’t be upset if a manager spoke to me but the new employee could ask for reasonable adjustments, it isn’t something they can control. It’s very distressing to feel things are contaminated

The fact you are posting gives me the impression you think it should be on their own time.
Let management decide.
If you had a colleague with a bowel condition, would you expect any toilet time above the average to be docked from pay?

Also, you think a colleague in a wheelchair should make up the time if it takes longer for them to get in and out/around the building? Or a colleague with a bladder condition should make up the time if they need the toilet more than others throughout the day? It’s not fair to think people should manage their disabilities ‘in their own time’ if they need adjustments at work.

Are you the boss? If not then it’s not your concern

@Sparklesocks

Also, you think a colleague in a wheelchair should make up the time if it takes longer for them to get in and out/around the building? Or a colleague with a bladder condition should make up the time if they need the toilet more than others throughout the day? It’s not fair to think people should manage their disabilities ‘in their own time’ if they need adjustments at work.

I was going to write similar examples but couldn’t be bothered. I’m sure mental health conditions can be covered under ‘reasonable adjustment allowances’

OCD can be crippling and you should leave them to it.
You don't know what adjustments have been made for them by the management.
I used to manage someone who had it and it was very upsetting for her when colleagues would criticise and make comments, she couldn't help it and was engaging with treatment and doing her best.
Let management decide how to handle it and if it impacts you in some way speak to them directly.

I think half an hour spent everyday not working is not fair on the rest of the staff who do have to work that extra 2 1/2 hours every week. If they just spritzed and gave everything a quick wipe over then no problem, I don't understand what they could even do for that long - are you sure it's actually 15 minutes?

I DID say I was conflicted, as PP have said I am understanding/accepting of needs of colleagues with other health conditions, I think perhaps it is the length of time the cleaning takes that is bothering me ? I am not the boss, but am picking up work my colleague is not completing in the day. My boss is remote, and is unaware of situation. I am completely happy to be told IABU, hence the post.

Yes, I am not exaggerating

I think a person with contamination ocd during a pandemic is probably having a rotten time, so I would try my best to carry some of their load.

YABU. I dont have OCD but used to spend around 10 mind cleaning a desk I hadn't used before and setting it up appropriately including my chair height and settings etc before starting work. It's totally normal and people that just jump onto a desk and use the mouse etc etc straight away without even a quick clean over are (gross) IMO. The chair adjustment etc is part of our risk assessment for work - its vital to my company that we all set our workspace up correctly (so we can't sue them I guess!!) And this of course would all be expected to be done within work time.

Therefore YABU and should also keep your nose out/think about cleaning your desk every now and then maybe.

I used to have a colleague who used to do this but it got worse and they started using cleaning spray which caused my asthma to kick off.

I was told to behave and moved desks!

I think you have to take into consideration that they are not choosing to be like this. For those saying it’s unfair for the others who are working an extra half an hour a day, she may not be technically working but she’s hardly sat there with her feet up with some tea and biscuits, or sat scrolling through her phone. She’s frantically cleaning her work station because her mental disorder means her anxiety will not let her function if she doesn’t. I’m sure she’d much rather not have a mental disorder. Shes probably very aware of the annoyance of her colleagues which is likely making it worse.

@Livpool

I used to have a colleague who used to do this but it got worse and they started using cleaning spray which caused my asthma to kick off.

I was told to behave and moved desks!

Yeah thats not on at all. I used wipes to avoid that, although not environmentally friendly its better than setting off someone's asthma!

@Sparklesocks

Also, you think a colleague in a wheelchair should make up the time if it takes longer for them to get in and out/around the building? Or a colleague with a bladder condition should make up the time if they need the toilet more than others throughout the day? It’s not fair to think people should manage their disabilities ‘in their own time’ if they need adjustments at work.

Agree completely. Especially as have spent many years working with men who needed a 45 min poo break every day. With their phones I might add. OP should try working with one of them. We used to time them. Such a joke.

Does your employee get all their work done ?

YABU. My DD has OCD (a co-morbidity with autism) so badly that she is in receipt of DLA. It is a disability. It possibly is for your colleague, too.

Believe me, they are NOT skiving or enjoying themselves when they behave like this. Try to have some understanding.

I'd see this as a reasonable adjustment. Wouldn't bother me at all.

If workload is an issue and you can't cope with what's 'extra' from them, speak to your line manager - but don't go in with "X's cleaning is annoying me because I have extra work", just say "I'm doing Y amount extra each week, and I don't really have time so it's impacting my other work in [whatever way] - is there a way we can resolve this?".

It's not your job to decide who uses their time how, especially when it's due to a reasonable accommodation for a medical condition. It is your line manager's job to ensure your workload is achievable.

I have a different kind of OCD (mine presents as compulsive checking) but two things:

• it's not your call, it's your managers.

• if someone is stuck in a cycle it doesn't matter if it's work time or personal time. I might take several minutes to check one small email repeatedly, I can't just file that cycle away to do on my own time, I'm stuck in it then and there.

If your problem is that you are having to do extra work and your boss is not aware of this then you need to raise that with your boss.

Thanks all for your feedback. IABU. So that I can try and understand colleagues situation better, does OCD get exacerbated by stress or anxiety? E.g. new job / team.

OP yes probably. She won't know what everyone's like and the cleanliness of the place etc so it'll make it worse. Why do you ask?

Just want to be supportive