Gum-chewing politician sparks major debate - is it rude, or are we too sensitive?

OPINION -- When it comes to office etiquette, there is a long list of dos and don'ts so you don't give your co-workers the 'icks'.

Do arrive on time, dress appropriately, keep the noise down, keep your workplace tidy, and don't steal other people's food from the fridge or eat tuna at your desk.

But what about chewing gum in the office, or in fact eating noisily at all? Should it be allowed in an open plan office environment, or should chewing only be allowed in a staff dining area or kitchen, away from prying ears?

The issue of chewing gum recently came up when property developer Theo Onisforou clashed with Wingecarribee Shire Council mayor Jesse Fitzpatrick.

The two have reportedly been at loggerheads for some time over a proposed plastics plant in the NSW Southern Highlands, according to The Sydney Morning Herald's CBD.

But their clash became more heated recently after Onisforou addressed a council meeting where he was distracted by the sound of the mayor chewing gum.

Onisforou told CBD, "In the middle of my speech to the council I stopped and said, 'Mayor, are you eating?' He said, 'No, I'm chewing gum', so I said, 'I taught my children not to chew gum in public because it is impolite'."

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Onisforou then followed this up with an email alleging the mayor's gum habit was an embarrassment to the council, writing, "I almost lost my train of thought… when I observed you chewing aggressively, just like one of my Kangaloon cows".

So was Onisforou right to take offence at the mayor's actions, or was the mayor who was in the wrong?

I must say, when I was asked to write this piece I jumped at the chance, as a strong opponent of noisy chewing in the workplace.

I have even written about the matter before, which led some well-meaning people to suggest I might suffer misophonia.

According to Harvard Health, misophonia is a disorder whereby sufferers cannot stand the sound of other people chewing, or even yawning or breathing – the latter being the most difficult to address for obvious reasons.

Come to think of it, maybe Onisforou is also a sufferer? But I digress.

Having worked in news rooms for decades, I have got to say, people snacking or eating lunch at their desk sometimes sent me over the edge.

Nibbling on nuts was one of the worst, but popcorn or anything else that was loud were also hard for me to tolerate, as was rustling of packaging.

Speaking of nuts, one co-worker used to pour the contents of a large bag of pistachios on his desk then shell and eat them throughout the day, before leaving the shells all over the desk and floor for the cleaner to pick up.

Luckily for me, I largely work from home nowadays, but I can honestly say, sitting beside someone with a gum-chewing habit would probably be too much for me to bear.

Still, I can think of worse work habits.

I once worked with a co-worker who thought nothing of clipping his finger nails at his desk every couple of weeks or so.

I thought I had seen it all until one day he started to remove his shoes and socks, and seeing where this was going I jumped up from my desk and shouted, "No, stop, enough. You can't do that here. Come on!"

He stopped, thank goodness, but probably paid me back later by snacking on a large bowl of nuts.

So chewing gum in the office? For me it would be a definite no.

But if you are keen to chew gum in your workplace, may I suggest asking your co-workers first if they would mind.

Employment lawyer Jennifer Bicknell once told nine.com.au that most people who do something annoying at work are probably "coming from a place of ignorance rather than intending to be a d--k", so she suggests raising any matters you might find annoying by using the tried and tested phrase, "You may not be aware, but…", which is far less accusatory than my preferred option, "For God's sake, who can I hear chewing?"

She also suggested the phrase, "Look, this is a little bit awkward, but I know that if it was me, I'd want someone to tell me", which on reflection is probably better than how I handled my situation at work.

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