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

[Anonymous]

I know this is petty, but I'm so perplexed by my coworker's behavior. She joined our office about a year ago, and since she first started she will occasionally sit cross-legged or with her legs up in her chair during staff meetings. It's the most bizarre thing I've ever seen. We work in higher ed, so this is not exactly "Big Law" levels of formality. But why oh why would anyone look so unprofessional in a meeting? I mentioned something to her about it and she said, "It keeps me from squirming during meetings." I know I should let it go, but she's done this in front of higher level administrators at the university. What would you say to a coworker who was doing this? Or should I just MMOB?

[Anonymous]

If she wants to look like a 4yr old and it doesn’t reflect poorly on you, let it go.

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

Unless you are managing her, I would mind my own business.

People do this in my office too in management consulting. We wouldn't do it at the client site, but at more casual offices this sounds fine. (Of course, you know your office best!)

[Anonymous]

Say nothing. She's doing what works for her. Stop being so judgmental.

[Anonymous]

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?

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's the most bizarre thing I've ever seen.

Ah, I wish I could say that. On the unprofessional scale for meeting behavior, this falls way below dress code issues, disrespectfulness/rudeness, annoying habits like biting nails and twirling hair, eating (other than an actual lunch meeting), paying more attention to phone or ipad than meeting, etc.

[Anonymous]

Does she do good work? Does she make helpful contributions in these meetings? Do you?

[Anonymous]

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?

[Anonymous]

Is she short? My feet don't touch the ground and its very uncomfortable.

But really, I don't think this is something you should be worried about.

[Anonymous]

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?

[Anonymous]

I do this too, and I happen to work in higher ed as well. (But I've been at my institution for much longer than a year, so I don't think you're talking about me.) I'm fairly short, and I find most office chairs outrageously uncomfortable. My feet rarely touch the ground, and the seat is too long for my femur, meaning I either have to slouch, or not have my back touching the back. (Or, I guess I could have my legs stick straight out forward, not bent at the knees.)

I don't know whether or not your colleague is short, but for whatever reason, she finds it more comfortable to bend her legs on the chair. She probably does better work when she's comfortable. So I don't really see the downside here.

[Anonymous]

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

I wouldn't mind at all.

[Anonymous]

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.