What is the most appropriate way to handle a coworker's habit that affects my health (and productivity) [closed]

Question

I got a job with a small web development firm last week and I'm still getting acquainted with the whole setting and environment.

I've been paired up with a guy named John. I'm about to start working on my own (my training is almost finished) and I'm going to be in the room with him for five+ hours a day. The problem is he works with the lights out all the time.

Working on a monitor without an appropriate light source is a serious health concern (in terms of vision). I'm the new guy - I don't want to come in and change everything up and hurt his "workflow," but I just find that this drives me crazy. What is the appropriate course of action?

Answer 1

What is the appropriate course of action?

First talk with John. It's entirely possible John will go, "yeah sure, doesn't bother me" and this is a non-issue. I can't believe none of the answers or comments have suggested this as a first course of action.

Say something very similar to, "do you have any objections to me turning the lights on? My eyes get strained if they are off." Note the wording here is very deliberate. It basically means if John wants to leave them off he needs to find a good reason.

Saying something much more passive, such as "can I turn the lights on?" allows an easy "I'd prefer not, thanks for asking!" type of response which ends conversation. Saying my suggestion forces a dialog on it should John want to leave them off.

I don't recommend just turning the lights on without at least asking John.

Assuming this doesn't work (which is probably unlikely) try some of the suggestions listed in other answers.

Answer 2

The options are:

• Move to another office
• Compromise
• Adjust
• Live with the issue

I have no idea if move to an another office is even possible, or if you want to try that one first. If you try to compromise and adjust first, you might have greater success when asking to move to another office because you can say we tried X,Y and Z.

Compromise ideas would include:

• Can you position some task lighting to minimize the glow that impacts him, yet gives you some additional light.
• Can the light from the window be better utilized by you if the desks were moved or turned.
• Can the light from the hallway be better utilized by you if the desks were moved or turned.
• Is there a low setting on the lights that can be used.
• Is there a different bulb that can be used.

Adjust options:

• If you must work together for those 5+ hours is there a way you could adjust your starting time to minimize the overlap. Get there earlier or stay later. It might give you additional hours with sufficient external light.

Asking to Move: Explain what you tried. Explain why they didn't work. Suggest some options.

Don't call it a health issue, unless it really is one. Say that it impacts your productivity. Now if you do have a documented issue with low light conditions then you can explain the situation. In some places they would have to make reasonable accommodations to deal with the disability.

Answer 3

In Denmark there are regulations in place to ensure you have a good working environment, and which you can point out is not being followed and then have to be put in order.

In other words, we can without being looked strangely at request proper lightning, adjustable tables and chairs (I am really tall so I have seen a lot), etc so that the law is followed. I don't know in your culture if that is the same, but this is the approach I would suggest.

If that then is incompatible with John then you can most likely not share offices, and will have to find another way to communicate efficiently.