I work in a lovely office with really nice colleagues, doing an interesting job for a cracking boss. All nice, gentle atmosphere..
But…
There is one woman, a 20 something, young wife and mum to an almost 2 year old who is raising my stress levels to 11.
She is just so loud. Excruciatingly loud. She works 6am to 3pm, the morning is her busiest so she is quiet as she gets through the worst part of the slog, and I understand that she is excellent at her work. But come the afternoon she starts screaming, shouting, singing. Rather like an excited three year old at a party.
She has a quite senior position and a very responsible portfolio, dealing with sensitive and challenging situations. Feedback from her manager is excellent. I don’t think she has any issues, I don’t know how to word this sensitively, but she comes across as a normal intelligent person. Until about 2pm and then she starts making loud screeching noises, usually as a reaction to something on an email or after she has put the phone down.
She screams at people as they walk past her desk, calls them silly nicknames in a loud high pitched little old lady voice. Exactly like an overstimulated child high on blue smarties and cola.
My reaction is visceral. It rockets my stress up to the roof. I find it hard to focus. I’ve tried wearing ear pods but her cackling and screeching cuts right through. I feel panicky and close to tears after it has gone on for while.
I have asked a couple of others how they feel about it and apart from one who feels the same as me, everyone else seems to be able to blank her out. Her line manager sits very close to her and doesn’t seem bothered at all.
I presume it might be a result of parenting a young child, disturbed sleep, early starts, I don’t know but it’s awful. Really awful.