My office mate seems to be unreasonably sensitive and I have no clue on how to handle it anymore. This is a weekly scenario – I’m in the zone, doing my research, glued to my computer screens while juggling phone calls. She starts asking me a bazillion questions about nothing, “What are your plans this weekend?” “What’d you do over the weekend?” “Seeing anyone special these days?”
I politely tell her, “I’m super busy and don’t have any time for chit chat right now. Sorry.”
Five minutes will pass than she says this every fucking time. “Is everything ok? You seem mad?”
What happened to working at work? When did it become mandatory to bullshit and small talk? I’m the type of person that keeps my personal life outside of the office. Nothing is wrong with me. I’m not mad.
I feel like I’ve explained this and am fed up with being questioned if I’m ok when I don’t want to bullshit with my office mate.
Advice??

11 replies on “Work is for Work. Stop with the Chit Chat.”

  1. Yet another situation that could be avoided by simply TALKING to the other person. People are so afraid to rock the boat that they hold on to their minor annoyances until they fester. That is how mole hills become mountains. Tell your office mate in a respectful yet firm way what you just told us. She might take it personally and think you’re a bitch, but I’ll bet she leaves you in peace.

  5. Have you seen the movie “My Best Friend’s Girl”? You have no emotional connection/ties/obligations to this woman, Dane Cook her ass via the office (no date required) I’d bet a pretty penny she’ll stop.

  6. Advice you say? Well, what I would do is get real chummy with her. Start it nice and casual, go get a drink after work, eat lunch together, etc. Then, when she trusts you enough to let you over to her house, upper deck her toilet AND THEN TELL US ABOUT IT ON HERE SINCE THAT’S WHAT THIS PLACE IS FOR, NOT ASKING ADVICE!!

  7. god i’m proud of our commentarazzi on this one

    (with the exception of 1 participant who mistakely is trying to help) this is a shellacking the I,A team will not soon forget. Those fools.

  8. Here’s what I do:

    1. Get a t-shirt that says “I’m not prejudiced, I hate EVERYBODY”

    2. Put a sign on your desk that says “Excuse me, but you must have mistaken me for someone that gives a shit”

    3. Come in to the office on the weekend and set up an elaborate prank that will be blamed on her.

    4. Get a sense of humor and lose your sense of entitlement. If it was all fun, they wouldn’t have to pay you to be there.

  10. Pull your self together. You are being taken hostage by someone’s emotional need to blab. Tell her “Shutie, can’t work and talk”.

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