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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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?

She's old enough to find less distracting and hippy and juvenile ways to sit still during an hour long meeting. Sheesh!
Can she pop 5 ritalin or something?

[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.

Write her off and focus on doing your own good work.

[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?

These types LOVE ATTENTION. Just ignore.

[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?

Sit back and let her skewer herself and her career.

[Anonymous]

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

Can you call it sitting indian style and see if she throws a PC $hitfit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Never done this at large and small companies I've worked for, and a multi-lateral bank.

Never seen anyone else do this either - not at internal or external meetings, not at lunch, not in their own office or cubicle.

OP's reaction is totally normal and this individual probably hates to conform to anything and gets her kicks this way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder how many people are just jealous of the flexibility. So many adults have lost the ability to sit this way.

I'd love to see these stretch trousers, biz suits and pencil skirts that allow for this flexibility.

[Anonymous]

In the workplace, I always like to ask myself: WHAT WOULD A MAN SAY OR DO?

And then I have my answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, it sounds like you don't have enough to do.

People go into higher education so they can pursue what they like instead of making boat loads of money and not judging the random sitting patterns of others. (I am out of higher education, because I have to make more money to follow my DH to dc.)

I like higher ed because I never have to make any decisions. Just teach and same classes each time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?

What a cool lady! Too cool for school! Crotch shots and all.

So cool, pushing the envelop like that. She's so comfy and in yo' face about it!

I'd think she's a self-centered dipshit, and never put her on my clients' stuff.

Do you know what a peasant skirt is?

Yes, I think I bought one at a state fair for $2 back in the 90s.

[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?

Sit back and let her skewer herself and her career.

Wow. You have a lot of hatred toward this person you don't know anything about, other than that she sits cross legged and wears long skirts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I'd love to know where you work that an "appropriately sized chair" (and the accompanying shorter desk that would be required) are options for us shorties. I did get a foot rest after I had made a casual comment about my feet not touching the floor to my manager, which I really appreciated. I don't use it, but it was nice of him to try to do something.

I work for a Federal government agency. We get funds for new office equipment every 15 years or so. The last time around, we got conference room chairs that can be adjusted up or down. We each adjusted one to suit us, and now we all sit in "our" chair in the same spot each week at the staff meeting. I would think nothing of someone bringing a foot rest if their chair weren't adjustable. That's nothing like sitting with your knees pulled up so they show above the top of the table.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Sit back and let her skewer herself and her career.

Wow. You have a lot of hatred toward this person you don't know anything about, other than that she sits cross legged and wears long skirts.

+1 This post reflects far more negatively on OP than the coworker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

I'm short and have this same problem. I usually solve it by putting one leg under the other. I can see why she sits cross-legged. I may do the same in a big enough chair.

[Anonymous]

Lawyer here--previously in Big Law, now in government--and I take my shoes off and sit crisscross applesauce whenever possible. Mostly in my office, but occasionally in meetings if I can get away with it. Sitting for long periods really hurts my knees, hips, and back, and sitting crisscross applesauce is the only way I can get comfortable. It never occurred to me that someone might be annoyed by it, and it certainly is not intended as some sort of statement of non-conformity. I'm just in pain.