Co-worker sits "criss-cross applesauce" in meetings

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hopefully she isn't wearing a skirt or dress while doing this.

OP here. Yes, she does it in skirts, although normally it's a long peasant skirt. I know I should let it go, but I find it so perplexing and unprofessional.

Maybe she's an actual peasant?

And in BigLaw, I once met with a partner at Cravath, who when I walked in his office he had his shoes off giving himself a long foot massage (with accompanying ooohs and ahhhs). He then proceeded to offer me his hand for a shake.

[Anonymous]

I can see myself doing this.

[Anonymous]

I agree with you, op. This is extremely unprofessional behavior and will likely reflect poorly on her eventually. Then she will scream sexism even though it is simply childish, immature, and unprofessional behavior that derails her. Grow up folks and act like adults.

[Anonymous]

Of all the possible co-worker behavior to be annoyed by, this wouldn't even crack the top 50 for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What other option exists besides minding your own business? I mean, I’m being completely serious. She knows she’s doing it. You are likely the only one who cares. Are you going to report her?

It's highly unlikely that OP is the only one who cares. Lots of people she meets with would find this extremely unprofessional and distracting. If I were mentoring this person, I would tell her she ought to stop.

OP, what does the boss think?

If she's sitting at a conference table what her legs are doing underneath that table can't possibly be distracting to those looking at the top half of people's bodies. It is ridiculous to focus on this.

OP here. But they're not under the table. They're leaning against the table so everyone can see it happening. (She's not remotely short.) I get that it's not a big deal for most people. I guess I'm in the minority on this.

[Anonymous]

Wow Op. are you perfect in the workplace?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What other option exists besides minding your own business? I mean, I’m being completely serious. She knows she’s doing it. You are likely the only one who cares. Are you going to report her?

It's highly unlikely that OP is the only one who cares. Lots of people she meets with would find this extremely unprofessional and distracting. If I were mentoring this person, I would tell her she ought to stop.

OP, what does the boss think?

OP here. I haven't brought it up to the boss, because I know it's really petty of me. Yes, yes. I know it's petty, but I still think she looks unprofessional. I think my boss has bigger fish to fry with this person's behavior, so how she sits in meetings is probably pretty low on her list of priorities.

So I get it. I'll MMOB about it. Can I still silently judge?

Of course! I'm silently judging her along with you.

For those of you who say you do this because your feet don't touch the ground, keep in mind that this seems to be happening mostly at regular staff meetings. Hopefully in your own offices you can ask for, and receive, appropriately-sized chairs for your height. That doesn't seem to be the issue with OP's free-spirited colleague.

[Anonymous]

So...she's acting like a child and...you're tattle-taling?

Looks like you're pretty childish, too.

[Anonymous]

I do this. It is the most comfortable for me. If I am at an interview or with people who are in positions much higher than me, then I don't, but with my boss and during regular staff meetings - I do.

MYOB. It's not hurting you.

[Anonymous]

Are you going to call it "criss-cross applesauce" when you tattle to mommy?

[Anonymous]

I LOVE to sit like this. At a desk, restaurant, wherever as long as there’s a back support. I try to resist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you going to call it "criss-cross applesauce" when you tattle to mommy?

I've never said a word about it to my boss or anyone other than asking my coworker about it. I got it. I'll MMOB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you going to call it "criss-cross applesauce" when you tattle to mommy?

I've never said a word about it to my boss or anyone other than asking my coworker about it. I got it. I'll MMOB.

I wouldn’t want to work with OP. I’m CEO of Fortune 500 company and I sit cross cross applesauce because it’s mor comfortable and I’m a human.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What other option exists besides minding your own business? I mean, I’m being completely serious. She knows she’s doing it. You are likely the only one who cares. Are you going to report her?

It's highly unlikely that OP is the only one who cares. Lots of people she meets with would find this extremely unprofessional and distracting. If I were mentoring this person, I would tell her she ought to stop.

OP, what does the boss think?

OP here. I haven't brought it up to the boss, because I know it's really petty of me. Yes, yes. I know it's petty, but I still think she looks unprofessional. I think my boss has bigger fish to fry with this person's behavior, so how she sits in meetings is probably pretty low on her list of priorities.

So I get it. I'll MMOB about it. Can I still silently judge?

Of course! I'm silently judging her along with you.

For those of you who say you do this because your feet don't touch the ground, keep in mind that this seems to be happening mostly at regular staff meetings. Hopefully in your own offices you can ask for, and receive, appropriately-sized chairs for your height. That doesn't seem to be the issue with OP's free-spirited colleague.

In higher education? Unless this person works in an executive/administrative office, most of their meetings are probably in seminar rooms. I'm the PP who said I also work in higher ed, and I'd say about 60% of my meetings are in three different seminar rooms--one on the same floor as my office, one on the floor up, and one in the next building over. Another 20% of my meetings are in my department chair's office. It would be 10x as inappropriate for me to demand special chairs for all those spaces or drag my own chair around to those rooms.

Also, we're not exactly flush with cash in higher ed. When we buy "new" furniture, it's whatever has been cast off by the wealthier units on campus or whatever has been made by state prisoners in the furniture workshop.

[Anonymous]

It's a sensory thing, OP. It helps focus when you have to sit for some people. If she didn't do that it would come out in some other way, like tapping a pen or fidgeting. That said, if you think it's truly offputting and hurting her career, you should tell her. She may be able to find a different way to compensate.