Colleague Clipping Nails in Office... Controversy Over Whether It's Annoying or Not

"Stressed by a Colleague Clipping Nails in the Office"
Netizens Debate... "Inconsiderate Behavior" vs "Nail Clipping Is Okay"

A story about an office worker struggling because a colleague next to them clips their nails at work has sparked heated debates among netizens.

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On the 12th, a post titled "The employee who clips nails in the office is disgusting" was uploaded to an online community. As of 3 p.m. on the 15th, the post had garnered over 1,000 views, becoming a hot topic. The author, Mr. A, began by asking, "What do you think about a colleague next to you clipping their nails in the office?"

Mr. A said, "Every time I hear the clicking sound once or twice a week, it makes me feel nauseous," adding, "I don't understand what they do at home that they feel the need to clip their nails in the office. I doubt their state of mind, but I wonder if I'm the only one who thinks this is strange." He expressed concern that the colleague clips their nails on the desk and carelessly discards the clippings.

Netizens who read the story responded with comments such as, "Feeling disgusted is natural," "The sound could be irritating to the ears," "If it were my neighbor, I would say something," "It's a very inconsiderate behavior in the office," "It's a very uncomfortable habit," and "My own nails are dirty, but others' nails are even dirtier."

On the other hand, some netizens said, "Clipping nails is not a big deal," "That sounds too harsh," "The author probably dislikes their colleague," "I have never felt it was dirty," and "I also clip my nails in the office sometimes, and no one has ever said anything."

Meanwhile, since the office is a place where workers spend the most time, it is a space that requires mutual consideration. However, some employees cause their colleagues discomfort with inconsiderate behavior. One of the representative annoying behaviors is the "nail clipping controversy" introduced in this story. In 2019, a story about an employee who quit due to stress caused by a manager clipping nails in the office sparked controversy.

In fact, disputes among office workers over this issue have even led to legal battles. In 2019, employee B, working at a Korean medicine clinic, was seen clipping nails during work hours by employee C, who posted a critical message about B’s behavior on social media. B reported C for "workplace harassment," but the court dismissed B’s claim, stating, "As a team leader, pointing out that an employee clipping nails in a space where treatment occurs during work hours was inappropriate" was justified.