INPUT ARTICLE: Article: the person and disengage. It's the easiest way and simplest reaction when the immature person is trying to get your attention or a reaction. By responding to the behavior, you're giving in to what she wants and reinforcing her immature actions. Ignoring her will likely make her frustrated with her unsuccessful attack on you, and cause her to give up. If the immature person is losing her temper or trying to pick an argument, it's important for you to disengage from her efforts to upset you. Look away from her. Turn your head or avert your eyes. Just don't acknowledge her presence. Turn your back to her. Even if she circles to face you, turn around again. Walk away. Move with a purpose, avoiding her as quickly as possible until she stops following. Try an e-ignore approach. Talking to someone or bothering someone who is constantly on their phone or tablet is very difficult. You'll be so engaged you won't notice them. If the person won't see reason or won't go away, you may need to be slightly confrontational and tell him that you cannot engage with him any further. Gather up all your courage and politely ask him to leave you alone, while simultaneously removing yourself from the caustic environment. Try one of the following approaches: Let him off easy by deflecting, "Please leave me alone right now. I'm not in a good mood." Get to the point and tell him what you'd like, "Leave me alone." Try a forward approach, "I'm not arguing with you. This conversation is over." Use the broken record technique. Simply repeat your refusal to engage over and over, "This conversation is over." Remain calm while employing this technique and try to walk away. It is possible the person doesn't realize she is being immature. Part of maturing is learning to deal with younger and/or less mature people. Confronting the immature person bothering you and letting her know her actions are inappropriate may cause them to avoid you. Being straight-forward could help, "I do not appreciate your behavior. Please stop." Simply inform her of her behavior, "You're being very immature. Stop bugging me." Form your reply as a question, "Do you realize how immature you're acting right now?" While you may be tempted to respond to the person immaturely as well, giving him a taste of his own medicine, this could seriously backfire. If you are interacting with this person in a work situation, your immature behavior could get you in trouble. In addition, it might actually be dangerous to egg on an immature person who is also aggressive or has a temper. When you feel tempted to react to the person, be the mature one and disengage and walk away from him. If the person is aggressive and won't stop bothering you, consult with a lawyer or the police. No one is allowed to harass or touch you. These people need outside influences to stop bothering you, and they probably won't until someone is able to exert influence they can't deny. There are a few possible options: Use your social support network. If contact with the person is unavoidable, find a friend, family member, teacher or school administrator, boss, or anyone you trust, and ask for help. Tell the person you're going to call the police. The threat of authorities may intimidate him enough to stop bothering you. Call the police. If you fear for your safety and/or the person is harassing you, threatening you, stalking you, or has been violent, the police may be able to intervene, or you may be able to file a police report. Make sure you take detailed notes about each incident so you have a record of the harassment and how long it has been going on. Harassment includes threats; repeated telephone calls, texts, email, leaving notes or other contact; following someone; blackmail; slashing car tires. Consider filing a harassment restraining order. Laws very by state, but you can talk to the police or a lawyer about your options when it comes to filing for a restraining order.

SUMMARY: Ignore Ask the person to leave you alone. Inform the person of her actions. Resist the urge to fight fire with fire. Get help.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Call ahead to your boss, supervisor, and/or coworker to let them know you are sick. Tell them what you are sick with, the flu or whatever other illness it may be. Also let them know you are intending to come to work, but will take precautions to limit spreading the disease. Letting your boss and coworkers know you are sick can also help them take measures to protect themselves. This is also a good time to ask if you can take the day off. Try saying something like, "I don't want to get my coworkers sick and I don't think that I will be at my best today. Is it okay if I stay home to rest and recover from this illness?" If you must go to work, then it is important to cover your mouth when you cough. Turning away to avoid coughing on another worker or covering it up with your hands is a good idea. Have tissues nearby or on your person to cover up your cough. If you can get antibacterial tissues do so. Dispose of any used tissues immediately and take care they don't come in contact with other surfaces. If you're in close quarters try to aim your cough at empty space or a wall. The same goes for sneezing. Your hands are one of the easiest ways you can contaminate surfaces or other workers. You'll need to wash your hands more frequently, and thoroughly while sick at work with the flu or similar illnesses. Go to your workplace's bathroom or wash station and run your hands under warm water and soap for 20 seconds each time. If soap is not available then have soap-less (usually alcohol based) hand sanitizer with you at all times and use it often. Use it especially before and after making hand to hand contact with another person. Having a spray can of disinfectant can help protect coworkers from contamination via surfaces. Spray handles, desk areas, seats, and if safe to do so, electronic peripherals (like a keyboard or mouse) that you might share with other coworkers. Spray down restroom surfaces in the workplace you touch too. There are any number of disinfectant sprays you can get in a store. Have one at your work station, desk, and bathroom so you can spray any surfaces you touch. This includes tools, computers, and even food. In cases where you store food at work you might want to put a note that you are sick so others know not to make contact with your food containers or mix up items you need to help your recovery. If your boss is wary of you spraying electronics with disinfectant then you might ask if the ones you touch can be isolated. This way only you are touching potentially contaminated surfaces. This applies to any other tools you may use on the job. If you are coughing and sneezing then you might ask to be allowed to work in a separate area of the office or workplace so you aren't in close proximity to other employees. Ask your boss if you can take breaks at different times or locations so you don't expose coworkers to your germs. If you can limit the time your coworkers and you are in the same place while you are contagious then you will reduce their exposure to your illness. Avoiding contact with others is the best way to prevent your infecting them with the flu or other illness. If you must go to work then in addition to disinfecting items and quarantining them you can alter your schedule if workflow permits so your coworkers aren't physically close to you while you are ill. This can also allow more time to disinfect break room surfaces by you or any cleaning staff. Take advantage of separate break times to recover more of the energy you might be losing due to the illness.

SUMMARY:
Let others know you are sick. Cover up your cough. Disinfect your hands. Use spray disinfectants. Quarantine workplace items. Take breaks at separate times.