To think colleague has no manners?

[SleepyHollowed84]

I work in an office with no WFH. There's about 15 of us who share the space, and I sit near a woman who I get on well with but who seems to lack basic manners.

For example, she is constantly burping throughout the day. She drinks a lot of coke too so it's a constant issue. I find it incredibly hard to tune out the sound (especially since we sit so close) and sometimes it's unbearable. Wearing headphones isn't an option due to the nature of our work.

When she eats lunch, she eats and talks with her mouth open, to the extent where on occasion bits of food have fallen out and landed near or on my food. I find it disgusting at best, and at worst, unhygenic.

AIBU to think this is a problem, even a HR issue? Should I just get over myself? I get on with her well enough, and I'd hate to upset her by bringing it up, but I do think basic manners should be adhered to in the workplace. I've considered raising it before but it feels awkward to question someone's manners without making it sound like an insult.

Please help!

OMG I couldn't stomach that, especially the food thing. Can you subtlety move desks? Could you always eat your lunch away from them so no danger of her food flying into yours?

Christ definitely speak to your line manager!!

Yuck. Used to have this colleague that would guttural belch in the staff canteen and the smell and sound nearly made me vomit. And people who think it's acceptable to fart when I'm eating

Just speak to her.
What do you expect HR to do ?

I mean, 'manners' are different for different people, but burping is generally considered rude by most people, so say something when she does it.

When she burps, I'd turn around quickly or even startled (I would likely jump!) and say something 'Goodness Mary, that is so rude- or something similar'

Do you all eat at your desks? Why? I'd get out of the office, go to the tea room, sit in the park and certainly wouldn't be eating anywhere near her.

My MIL does the same- eats, and then talks at the same time and food particles fly out everywhere. IF she is eating- I now don't ask any questions, and IF she attempts to say someone with a gob full, I now say 'Its fine, wait till you have finished your mouthful, and then tell me!' Others might see this rude for me to say anything, but after 20+yrs of putting up with much worse shit from her, I've matured and say it as I see it now. Why should my face and meal be spat at because she has absolutely no, common social etiquette!

Manners are not different for different people. Good manners are just that - bad manners usually results in bad parenting.
So many folk have learned from their parents. Some rebel and refuse to learn.
Not covering the mouth when yawning is something that irritates me.
Do you remember the desk screens used during COVID, perhaps that could help OP’s predicament.

God that's vile. My partner (a grown man, I feel I need to add) sometimes does loud burps after drinking coke but he would never do it in public or a professional environment.

Has no one ever said anything? There is nothing worse than eating with mouth open or talking while eating. I don't understand it but it appears to be a reasonable norm now with people even eating while they upload a TikTok. Why?

I would raise in my next one to one or with HR if I wasn't comfortable having that conversation myself. It's one of the many things that sits under their umbrella.

There is a receptionist locally who sniffs constantly, every few seconds. I’m surprised this hasn’t been addressed. A public facing role.

I WFH, so on teams calls often. 1 of our team always has their camera on, picks scabs of their body and eats them!!! 😱

Of course this is an issue. Mention it to yuur line manager and request that they manage it.