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I don't know how to deal with what to me is a thin skinned and gossip coworker.

She is a good coworker, meaning she knows her duties and has ample experience.

She is also a gossip and a person that will rant when somebody doesn't greet her the way she believes she deserves to be greeted, or about how a coworker or manager wasn't friendly to her. It's both what she says and how she says it, like she was hurt.

I still don't know if what she wants is that everyone stops doing their jobs when she enters the workplace to give her attention, because otherwise, apparently, people hate her. She is also very pretty. Not that I'd want a relationship with her, because this trait is very off putting.

I've already heard her saying I'm not friendly and I don't know who should I react. I think it's ridiculous to start giving her attention to keep the peace because I have things to do that pay my bills and it would be very draining, I cannot fake interest in things that bore me. I don't understand why we can't just do our jobs and go home.

16 comments
  • you already know what you need to do... ignore immature behavior. nod politely when required. thats it. needy/problem people run themselves out of steam, if you just let them.. but it could be a daily ritual.

    it doesnt matter what she thinks of you. you have to treat her like someone elses toddler... nod politely, non-committal, generic comments when forced. and then flat out ignore.

  • It's work, if you do a good job and are a good team worker nobody should have reason to dislike you for just getting on with your job. You're not trying to be their friend, nor are they yours, that's why we refer to them as colleagues. Work is separate from life.

    My stepdad was the same. Just get on with his job. He was universally liked not because he was nice nice, but because he got projects done, worked well in his team, and kept everybody up to scratch.

  • Please read "21 Days to Resilience" by Montminy.

    And once you understand it, then consider getting your co-worker to read it: you can't convince 'em if you haven't its meanings in you, to begin with.

    _ /\ _

  • "It's not friendly to go up to people and tell them that they're not friendly. If you want to get along with people here a little better, maybe rethink certain parts of your approach."

    Or just leave it.

16 comments