We're tackling something we all have to deal with at some time or other: work drama. Each week, I'll be bringing the juiciest stories from across the web right to our little virtual water cooler. From toxic bosses to nightmare workplaces, I'm here to speak a little justice on behalf of the average worker. While you're here, please note that this weekly series is meant solely for entertainment purposes. Please do not have your HR team call me tomorrow saying you heard it from Joel at Digg.

Am I Being Too Easily Grossed Out Here?

^{[Image credit: Edward Jenner]}

I work at a small office doing some data entry. The work is easy, the pay is okay, and my department of four people has a building all to ourselves. We even have a cat roaming around. It's kind of a sweet deal.

But the coworker who sits immediately next to me has a throat problem. He coughs at least a hundred times a day, if not more. He's also clearing his throat several hundred times a day. At best, I don't go five minutes without hearing "cough cough" or "a-hem-hem-hem" from him. At worst, I hear him do it four to five times a minute.

It sounds like a small thing, but it's been seven months, and I'm about to go insane. I tense up when I hear members of my family cough. I can feel my blood pressure spike whenever he does it. I have to answer phones as part of the job, so I can't just block him out--I have to listen to his constant throat ejections. The same wet, gross cough and the same "a-hem-hem-hem" day in, day out. It's legit taken a great work environment down to borderline horrible.

To make matters worse, this guy will only take a sick day when his doctor physically tells him not to go to work. He had full-on laryngitis for two days, sounded like death, had severe coughing, and didn't stay home until his doctor told him to. He has apparently brought COVID to the office multiple times, so I have to hear if he's coughing more and take a test.

Oh, and he doesn't cover his mouth.

Edit: Since people are speculating about what's causing this in the comments, I do know that this is a post-nasal drip issue.

I sympathize with the fact that he can't help it, but that doesn't magically make the cough less ear-grating.

I'm happy that Sneezy is employed, but I think he needs to be moved somewhere else, maybe even turned remote. I don't get how, with just four people in the building, he has to be sitting right next to OP all the time. Either he moves, and maybe gives her a side-eye, or he stays and definitely gives her COVID — I know which poison I’d choose, Snow White be damned. Read the rest of the thread here.

Did I Throw A Childish Tantrum Or Just Get Even With My Sister?

^{[Image credit: Artem Podrez]}

So, I (26F) just got back from my sister's (28F) wedding last weekend, and I'm still pretty upset about what happened. I'm hoping y'all can give me some perspective because, right now, I feel like crap.

Some background: My sister Anna and I have always had a complicated relationship. She's the type-A, always-on-top-of-everything, super successful one, while I've always been more laid-back and creative. I'm an artist, and I recently started my own small business selling my paintings and doing commissions. It's been slow, but it's starting to pick up, and I'm really proud of it. But my family, especially Anna, has always been a bit dismissive of my career choice. They don't get why I didn't go the "traditional" route like she did.

Anyway, fast forward to the wedding. The ceremony was beautiful, and I was honestly so happy for her. I even helped out a lot with the planning, even though I wasn't the maid of honor (that was her best friend). I was doing my best to be there for her because, despite everything, she's my sister and I love her.

At the reception, I finally got a moment alone with Anna to congratulate her. I told her how amazing everything was, how happy I was for her--all that stuff. And she just smiles and says, "Thanks! I'm surprised you actually made it. I figured you'd be too busy with your little hobby business."

I was stunned. Like, did she really just call my career a "hobby"? I kinda laughed it off and said, "It's not a hobby, it's my job," but she just shrugged and said, "Well, it's not a real job, but I'm glad you're having fun with it."

I didn't know what to say, so I just walked away. I tried to enjoy the rest of the night, but honestly, I couldn't shake what she said. It felt like she was belittling everything I've been working so hard for. So after dinner, I just decided to leave. I didn't say goodbye to her or anyone; I just grabbed my stuff and left.

Now, my mom is furious with me for "ruining" the night by leaving early, and Anna hasn't spoken to me since. My dad is trying to stay neutral, but he did say I might've overreacted.

I don't know--maybe I did. But it really hurt hearing her say that, especially on her wedding day when I was just trying to support her. AITA for leaving the wedding early?

This family sounds like they're just trying to break her spirit and put her into a cubicle like them. She needs to take a stand, not apologize and let them fight over her indifference to their tactics. On the bright side though, at least all this drama might inspire her breakout piece! Read the rest of the thread here.

Did I Bark At My Boss Instead Of Making A Point?

^{[Image credit: Max Fischer]}

I'm a teacher at my daughter's preschool. The preschool has a rule that teachers aren't allowed to babysit students until after they graduate, but that rule was not listed in any of the papers I had to sign. The other teachers and I don't always follow that rule because they don't pay us nearly enough to tell us what to do in our free time.

School was recently closed for two weeks at the end of summer, and some parents asked me to babysit since they knew I wouldn't be working. I said yes to my daughter's three best friends, and they were at my house for eight hours a day every day that school was closed for $15 per kid per hour. The parents and I are all friends, so they were totally on board with this being a "play date," not babysitting, and they made sure not to use the word "babysitting" around their kids.

The kids ratted me out on the first day back ("We had a play date at Ms. OP's house every day"), and at the end of the day, my boss tried to reprimand me for breaking the babysitting rule.

I told her it wasn't babysitting; it was a play date between my kid and her best friends. She asked if the other parents were present, and I explained that they were not, just like how I was not present at my son's play dates this week and will not be there next week either. She asked how many other children were there, how long they were there, how many days a week, and if I made any money off of this. I told her it was my kid and three other girls, they were at my house eight hours a day every day that school was out, and I do not have to disclose any compensation provided by the parents for the food and activities during the play date.

She tried to say this was against policy, so I had to remind her that I was acting as a parent, not a teacher, so I needed to see where this was against policy. She tried to tell me that there were too many kids, parents have to be present, they were there for too long, and I cannot be compensated whatsoever for play dates. I asked her to show me the restrictions on play dates outside of school hours in the parent handbook, which she was not able to show me, so I told her that if these rules for parents are not in writing at the time of signing the contract, they are not enforceable.

She's pissed, but there's nothing she can pin on me because there are absolutely no restrictions on play dates in the parent handbook, and she can't add any just to spite me because that will piss off a lot of parents. My coworkers disagree with her rules but also think I'm abusing my position as a parent to get away with breaking the rules. So, AITA for having these "play dates" and telling my boss any restrictions on play dates need to be added to the parent handbook before the contract is signed for them to be enforceable?

This boss is a freaking cop, I don’t know why OP gave away so much information to someone who’s clearly not on her side. No matter where you work, everybody is always going to try to cover their own behind. She shouldn’t feel bad for defending herself, but I think she should reflect on getting so heated, and saying more than she needed to. Read the rest of the thread here.

Check out last week's edition here.

[Image credit: cottonbro studi]