Neal Augenstein, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – I opened up a can of worms this morning in the newsroom when I mentioned I could smell it when a co-worker eats a hardboiled egg.

That person (who I am not identifying because I would like to continue to work with him/her) was incredulous.

“You can smell my hardboiled egg from there?”

To be honest, it’s just when the person walks by my work station while peeling the egg, but it points out the challenge of a bunch of people sharing space, eating, going to the bathroom, and trying to avoid getting in each others’ hair.

Co-workers sometimes gross each other out.

I’ll cop to liking my microwaved popcorn a little well-done. Several coworkers (including my boss) have pointedly asked “Who burned the popcorn?”

Yet, that same boss has reheated some sort of seafood goop, uh, leftovers in the communal microwave.

In most cases co-workers can work things out.

My colleagues in the newsroom now graciously dispose of their banana peels in far-off garbage pails, after I declared I can smell a spent peel in the garbage from across the room.

Etiquette experts suggest we try to make the work environment as pleasant for everyone as possible, which means trying to avoid violating others sensitivities.

So now’s your chance, tell us what does your co-worker do that you can’t stand? Let us know on the WTOP Facebook page or on Twitter using #WTOPTalkback. Or you can call the WTOP Talkback line at 1-877-222-1035.

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