As a solo IT professional, I'm facing a growing dilemma with unsanitary workstations. After two years at my current job, I've realized the hygiene of many user devices is slipping, to the point where I'm reluctant to sit at some desks due to visible dirt and grime. For instance, I once borrowed a laptop that was returned covered in food crumbs and visible stains. How do others navigate this situation? What techniques or approaches have you found effective in addressing the issue without causing embarrassment?
5 Answers
One thing I found effective is to make a bit of a show out of putting on latex gloves when handling particularly dirty laptops. It signals to the user that there’s a cleanliness issue without having to say it directly. If you can, stock up on cleaning supplies and maybe get your employer to provide gloves too. Makes the process a lot less gross!
I used to work in K-12 settings, and let me tell you, it’s a germ-fest! The best strategy I found was to bring your own keyboard and mouse to work and use those during visits. I would ghost on the actual user's device as much as possible to avoid dealing with their mess. I also had a stash of wipes handy!
Exactly! The less you touch, the better. I also tell users that I'm remote connecting to make the process quicker—this works like a charm.
My go-to line is, 'I’ll be right over to help you, but I’ll need to put on my gloves first.' Makes it lighthearted but also gets the point across. If you can talk to the user’s manager about cleanliness, that might help too! No one wants HR involved, trust me.
That’s smart! It’s all about establishing boundaries. I’ve also had discussions with supervisors when it gets really bad.
When I used to do a lot of field service work, I made a rule never to touch a user’s equipment if I could avoid it. If I had to, I’d wear gloves and clean it first. You won't believe some of the ridiculous messes I uncovered!
I relate so much! I've seen laptops returned that looked like they had been sheltering a small animal. It’s wild what we have to deal with!
I had one user whose desk was so bad, I refused to sit down. I'd rather remote into their system while standing next to them! Seriously, some workstations can be horrifying, especially when you find food remnants or personal items lying around. You just have to be direct and set clear expectations if they want help—like offering to clean up their desk first. It's crazy how some people let their desks get so messy!
The worst I saw was a keyboard with food stuck between the keys. I made a point of bringing up hygiene in our IT policies to help curb this!
I’d recommend nitrile gloves, just in case anyone is allergic to latex. They provide good protection without the risk!