Told not to chat so much or hum at work.

[whatisforteamum]

So today I was told I'm too chatty at work.
Sometimes I hum apparently.The role is a busy active one with customers and colleagues. One lady dislikes me so
reported me.The thing is I do work while I chat and I've always been like this.
I'm even thinking of seeking an ADHD diagnosis and I'm quite hyperactive.
I'm not upset by the personality assassination yet I don't know how to stop.
How can I stop realistically?
Another boss said I was cheerful and like a breath of fresh air.😁

This is a good point. I’ve never been told I’m loud, but I have Southern accent work up north, my accent is different to everyone else. I’m conscious of how my voice carries, as my voice probably doesn’t fade into the background as much for them.

Maybe something similar is happening with OP.

Humming is really irritating.
You could try to stop that. Perhaps being chatty wouldn't get on their nerves so much if you weren't a hummer too.
What about putting an elastic band round your wrist and twanging it every time you realise you are humming. It can help train you out of it.

Chat on your break; hum in the shower.

I do have ADHD and you’d still drive me mad.

Certain noises make me anxious and upset. I try to control reacting for the sake of others; you should try to control your noise in the same way.

'Well, one person’s ‘breath of fresh air’ is another person’s murderously irritating.'

This is so true. I used to have a colleague who sang out loud along with the radio, even when she didn't know the words. Or the tune 😩 also used to type texts with the keypad tones on (a few years ago now). Could have killed her

You do need to stop the humming OP. You've had feedback about something that other people don't like that you can change - it's not easy to hear, but ultimately it's a good thing

Humming and whistling drive me completely insane.

I don't see the problem with chatting as long as you're getting the work done, and management don't mind.

Are the people you're chatting to happy to talk?

'Breath of fresh air" is another way of saying "very different to everyone else here".

Diversity has huge benefits but upsettling the standard way of working may not be.

The huming would drive me insane. The excessive chatter, I would just tell you that I'm too busy to talk but not everyone would.

We have an empty office next to the "keyboard killer" as it is often referred too. He doesn't just type. It's like he attacks the keyboard. Bang,bang, bang...no one else csn make the same noise. In fact, everything he does is just louder than everyone else. Everyone likes him as a person, they just find his inruptions so distracting.

It's nice to be friendly but you have to be respectful of others.

Well we are getting music now so that should help.
I wasn't aware I hum tbh.I will make a conscious effort now.The environment I work in is normally noisy and not silent.

This is why I work at home

Oh god that would make it worse for me, now they'll have to work through music and chatting/humming 😬

The only people I've known like this have adhd and/or autism.

I have a (very nice) colleague who talks to herself constantly. She says ’Oh I’m just talking to myself, you don’t have to listen!’ But I do have to listen, don’t I. That’s the point.

If she also started humming..dear god.

Could you please just say what you do?! It's not going to be outing!!

Do others have an issue with you chatting or just this one person?

humming is profoundly irritating no matter where or when. Have others said you hum or just ms unhappy?

Please don’t start singing along then…

Chewing an apple loudly is worse though.

It wouldn't irritate me, I like outwardly happy people. Much better to have chatty coworkers than miserable people who don't make eye contact and have cat's bum mouths all the time.

The thing is I do work while I chat and I've always been like this.

And the thing is, some of your colleagues will find it incredibly difficult to work while you chat/hum in the background 🤷‍♀️

I did an informal count once of who initiated chatter during our busy period. Two columns, work, and non-work.

In one hour, the worst offender initiated non-work chat 16 times, or once every 5 minutes. 16 times!

It a stunning coincidence, she was also the least productive employee.

Am I the only person who has read the OP's posts? They said it is manual labour, nothing to concentrate on. I agree that you sound like a breath of fresh air - I have done manual work, but usually with music playing - which some of us sang along to, and we also chatted, it's never been an issue. Your colleague sounds like the sort of person I have always hated working with - I would much rather work with you OP.

Don't be too upset, OP. I bet your customers respond well to you and find you approachable.

I agree with this.

Almostsummer21.....hospitality

I work with one woman who constantly narrates what she’s doing, about to do or already did constantly. All of my colleagues hate it and don’t understand why she needs to explain herself so much. I think she likes the validation or wants to be thanked! It’s literally just attention seeking. I’ve got another who just rambles on and on talking to herself out loud but aiming it at you as if you must be listening to her at all times. Lunch break is the worst because even headphones don’t stop her. She just talks total nonsense and there’s never any point to her babbling on. Nothing worse when you’re on your unpaid break and trying to watch a video or text and she’s distracting you. I suppose it’s even worse when you’re trying to actually work and typing an email and she starts. So yes things like eating loud, slurping, talking, singing or humming to yourself is irritating in the work environment can’t you see that??

I once worked in an office with a woman who talked about her cats every day, another who talked about her wedding every day and a boss who did guerilla aromatherapy. You sound fine op.

Madeofsteel sales went up last quarter.😁

I work with someone who is very chatty and also a little bit potty. She, to me, is funny and brilliant but she drives many others to distraction.

I couldn’t cope with someone humming though. A relative used to him and it was so so irritating.