My boss is a Christian Scientist and won't even take a Tylenol. Now she has this chronic, dry, hacking cough that she's had for two weeks now. She sits right next to me and it's beyond annoying. It's interfering with my concentration.
I'm not worried about getting infected or anything because I have a good immune system and never get sick. But I find it really obnoxious that she does nothing about her cough except call her practitioner for healing and (presumably) pray about it.
A cough like this one requires something a little stronger than prayer, if you don't mind me saying so.
Anyhow, what would you do about this? Should I say something? Should I leave some medicine on her desk as a hint? What do I do?
PS: Because this question concerns health, work and religion, I wasn't sure where to put the question.
To US Veteran: I do mind my own business, but this issue has now become my business through no fault of my own. I'm not saying I don't believe in the power of prayer, but she's been praying about it for two weeks and the situation has not improved.
tell her you are having trouble concentrating when there are distracting noises and that it's interfering with your work.. maybe she'll take the hint..
29.June, 2009 um 9:55 pm
Actually, there is not much medicine can do for a cough anyway. Usually has to run its course. (unless it is pneumonia, then you need to start praying for her really hard)
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29.June, 2009 um 10:16 pm
tell her you are having trouble concentrating when there are distracting noises and that it's interfering with your work.. maybe she'll take the hint..
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29.June, 2009 um 10:34 pm
My ex-boyfriend's mum had a cough like that - very grating on the nerves.
Short of taping her mouth shut, suggest some hot water with honey and lemon, or take her some fruit tea.
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29.June, 2009 um 11:10 pm
Hope the overlord of her religion will cure her before she infects us all!
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29.June, 2009 um 11:42 pm
Since it is your boss, tell her that it is distracting you and ask to move to a different desk so it doesn't bother you as much. I doubt she will go against her religion just because you leave medicine on her desk, and it might offend her.
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30.June, 2009 um 12:15 am
Wow. I wonder what she does when she has horrible menstrual cramps?
Seriously, I'm not sure what you can say about that. Obviously "Your incessant coughing is driving me out of my mind" is probably not the best choice.
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30.June, 2009 um 12:56 am
Saying something to her, and putting medicine on her desk will offend her, especially since you already know it is against her religion. There is a tea recipie that I don't know (maybe another answerer knows the recipie) that includes honey and lemon that my friend used to drink every time she had a sore throat. It seemed to reduce her coughing as well. Since it is not medicine, perhaps your boss would be willing to try it.
You might get more helpful responses if you post the question in the alternative health section.
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30.June, 2009 um 1:05 am
Prayer changes things, and those, like you, who don't believe in the power of prayer, will, instead, dope yourselves up with all sorts of chemicals, which mask the symptoms but don't kill the cause of the cough.
It probably would be a good idea if you tried minding your own business instead of worrying about everybody else's.
If it bothers you that much, then perhaps it would save you from busting a vein if you just sought employment elsewhere.
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30.June, 2009 um 1:49 am
perhaps you need to suggest moving to another area.
She can drink ice water to help. By her some hot tea (not homeopathic) just a nice decaf tea with honey in it.
She can suck on a sucker or some hard candy.
Hope she doesn't have something that turns into a real health issue. Like asthma- she could die without treatment. She may have bronchitis. Who knows. Good luck on that one.
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30.June, 2009 um 2:14 am
I don't know about the Christian Science part, But if she won't take medicine on spiritual grounds. I would find some herbal throat soothers or some hard candy & leave them on her desk with a note that says you hope that helps her feel better. If it were me I probably would have been rude about day 3 and jokingly asked "HAVEN'T YOU YAKKED UP THAT HAIRBALL YET?" But that is my evil side coming out there.
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Living with a large dysfunctional family & surviving it.
30.June, 2009 um 2:47 am
Go to a higher up above her and say that although you completely respect her religious practices, her constant coughing is interrupting your work. Ask if they could either talk to her or if you could be moved. It is a reasonable request if her refusal to treat her cough has become a disruption to your environment. You will probably only offend her with a confrontation or leaving medicine on her desk.
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30.June, 2009 um 2:54 am
Talk to her boss about how it annoys you.
Ask for a transfer to another section.
Look for a new job and/or quit. At the exit interview,say
religious reason,your boss's!
Order a box of tissue, for her(and pray that she knows how to use them!!)!
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