Forum: workplace.stackexchange.com
Tags: <professionalism><coworker><distractions>
Title: Coworker has a borderline-NSFW ringtone that is disturbing. How can I get him to change it?
Question: A coworker has a song as their phone's ringtone, and the song lyrics could be flagged NSFW. It does not contain actual cursing, but has tons of obvious sexual innuendo. I think it is disturbing.  I talked to them, but it was to no avail. They refuse to change the ringtone. Other coworkers agree that this ringtone is not a good one, but that I should not press further.  Is there a way I can get them to change the ringtone, without escalating too much?

Answers:
sents: text: Is there a way I can get they to change the ringtone, without escalating too much?
text: You have talked to your coworker and he is disagreeing.
text: You have also established that your other coworkers don't want to get involved.
text: Your next step would be the guys manager.
text: Only you can know if you consider that "escalating too much".
answer_details: author: workplace.stackexchange.com/users/10813/nvoigt
score: 95
sents: text: You could call his phone while a manager is within hearing distance.
text: But your colleagues are right, escalating things might cause more problems without really solving this one.
text: People have a right to choose their own ringtones on their own devices after all (even though it's just good manners to have your phone on silent while in the office).
text: Unless he's getting calls every half hour, I'd ignore it.
text: Over-reacting and escalating the problem can also create a hostile workplace.
text: While it's possible to claim that people have a right to do this and that, the OP here has to live with the consequences and sometimes sucking up a minor inconvenience is better than creating or worsening a potentially toxic working environment with a co-worker.
answer_details: author: workplace.stackexchange.com/users/None/
score: 32
sents: text: Making his phone ring while the boss is nearby is a cute idea, although it may not garner the desired response (ie: changing his ringtone.)
text: His boss may not care enough to say anything, or he might just apologize quietly and not do anything else.
text: It could also backfire on you if your coworker can trace the incoming call back to you, so tread carefully.
text: A coworker has a song as their phone's ringtone, and the song lyrics could be flagged NSFW.
text: It does not contain actual cursing, but has tons of obvious sexual innuendo.
text: I think it is disturbing.
text: If a human being were to speak the lyrics to another human being in the office, would it reasonably be considered sexual harassment?
text: Harassment in the workplace can take many forms, and women are not the only ones allowed to complain about it.
text: You could take a transcript of the lyrics to HR and ask them what the company's policy is regarding language like this in the office.
text: Not naming the coworker specifically, or even admitting it's someone's ringtone.
text: Just tell them you're trying to gauge what is or is not appropriate around the office.
text: That could help to inform you on what should be done next as well as
text: how likely you are to get support from people outside your department.
text: Filing a (politely worded) complaint with HR is not necessarily over-reacting.
text: You could even submit the complaint anonymously if you're really worried about it, so they know what's happening without knowing who exactly brought it up.
answer_details: author: workplace.stackexchange.com/users/60078/Steve-O
score: 29
sents: text: Personally, if I were in your shoes, I'd probably talk to my manager about trying to set up a policy to require cell phones to be set to vibrate or silent mode while at work.
text: Or, if that policy already exists, about enforcing it more strictly.
text: Regardless of whether the ringtone is a song with NSFW lyrics, it's disruptive to have other people's phones ringing audibly in the office.
text: I might also mention the issue of some people having NSFW ringtones to my manager as yet another reason to support the aforementioned phone-silencing policy.
text: Whether you name names on who has such an inappropriate ringtone is up to you, but it seems unnecessary in this context unless perhaps your manager specifically asks whose it is.
text: Avoiding naming names would help to limit escalation while still hopefully providing enough incentive for your manager to get this problem shut down.
text: Having the policy of putting phones on silent operation while at work also has the benefit of allowing your coworker to keep his phone on the inappropriate ringtone if he so desires without disturbing or offending you or others in your office while he's at work.
answer_details: author: workplace.stackexchange.com/users/17337/reirab
score: 18
sents: text: Not progressing further than asking them to change their ring-tone is correct, and your colleagues are correct about that approach.
text: You just can't always have an environment 100% free of anything you don't like, this really is a minor issue.
text: Few times my colleague used very annoying (though not offensive at all) ringtones.
text: I didn't even comment on it
text: and I really think obsessing about stuff like this is a waste of time.
text: If you absolutely can't tolerate this then obviously talk to your manager.
text: But don't expect your colleagues to back you on anything .
text: They clearly stated that they don't like it but tolerate it and even explicitly advised you not to push this .
answer_details: author: workplace.stackexchange.com/users/45619/Tomáš Zato - Reinstate Monica
score: 12
sents: text: Other coworkers agree that this ringtone is not a good one, but that I should not press further.
text: Okay, so your coworkers do not support further action in terms of persuading the colleague to change the ringtone.
text: Therefore, the answer to "how to deal with him" is deal with it .
text: That is, just ignore it .
answer_details: author: workplace.stackexchange.com/users/7260/Lightness Races in Orbit
score: 9

Summary of the answers:
Your next step would be to go to your manager but your colleagues' recommended approach is also a good one. You could try to set up a policy of no cellphone ringtones while at work. 
The answer to this question is subjective, and some people feel that this issue would be best ignored. However, if you cannot stand the rington, you might want to consider talking to the person's boss and allowing them to handle the matter. If you want to take a more official stance, you could take a transcript of the lyrics to the ringtone to HR and discuss with them as to whether any company policies are being violated.