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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be fed up of miserable colleagues

15 replies

CroesoY · 11/02/2019 14:10

Is it really that hard to reciprocate with a smile or a ‘hi’ or a ‘how’s it going?’

I understand not everyone is naturally jolly but can’t they make an effort when going to work?

Week in week out same people with a face like a smacked arse!

If you really don’t want to be there get another job!

OP posts:
Notonaschoolnight · 11/02/2019 14:13

I hear you the constant negativity wears me down and influences my behaviour and I become a person I don’t like, I’ve reached the conclusion over 30 years of working that I’m better off working without other adults than with, funnily enough though I’ve got the patience to be around really difficult kids all day long

thecatsthecats · 11/02/2019 14:14

Problem is you get people demanding that you smile in every workplace, so you might as well stay put.

I do say hi, make small talk etc, but I cannot for the life of me fathom why people take such umbrage at not being chatted to.

I had to field a complaint from a woman of 42 that she thought the CEO was 'mad at her' because he hadn't come to chat to her for two weeks. I mean, seriously?

Original poster
CroesoY · 11/02/2019 14:20

Yes I too prefer to work with children - far more fun than some adults I have to come in contact with.

It’s no so much the small talk - it’s when people deliberately look away to avoid eye contact so they don’t have to acknowledge I exist - I think it’s so rude

OP posts:
minionsrule · 11/02/2019 14:21

Maybe they are at different stages of the latest lurghy like most people in my office are. I'm feeling a bit grumpy and unsociable myself today Blush

InProgress · 11/02/2019 14:22

I've got three miserable beggars around me who do not return a "morning". I tried specifically greeting them and only one may mumble a response - the other two blank me. As they're all enthusiastic and proactive in greeting senior managers it's definitely me they don't like.

I decided recently that it wasn't worth my time trying to engage when they don't want to. They haven't bothered and funnily enough I feel better now I'm not trying to get a response from them. We're work colleagues that is all.

Unfortunately one of them is my boss. He is notorious for playing favourites. Doubt I'll be here for the long haul!

boonickle · 11/02/2019 19:46

The worst are the ones that cherry pick who to smile at based on hierarchy and who is important. Or the ones that look so dam serious because they have so much very important work to do. F*ck off.

Livpool · 11/02/2019 19:59

My line manager is the most miserable person I have met - doesn't say hello and private messages me rather than speaks to me (we sit opposite each other though the partition is high).

She is more friendly to the men in the office but generally so dreary. I have tried (as have others) but now give up

MsVestibule · 11/02/2019 21:16

I've worked with many different colleagues in the last 30 years but I have never worked with a more cliquey bunch than I am now. They're always having great 'banter' with each other but if I try to join in with any chat, it just stops. If I say 'hi, how was your weekend?' I MIGHT get a 'OK, how was yours?' back, but not every week.

It's bloody rude. Seriously, how difficult is it to be friendly? I'm not talking about being best mates, just a bit of chit-chat once a twice a week would do 🙄.

wanderings · 11/02/2019 21:24

I used to find the "only four days until Friday" types really draining; it was their mantra, and they didn't say it jokingly, they really meant it.

This reminds me of that scene in The Office when Tim piles up box files between his desk and Gareth's, so he doesn't have to look at Gareth.

Kintan · 11/02/2019 21:31

If you really don’t want to be there get another job!

Ahh if only it was that easy! But totally agree with you, a bit of friendliness would brighten up their day and yours - can't be much fun spending 8 hours per day in misery!

Summeriscomin · 11/02/2019 21:37

Yes!

I started in a new office about 6 months ago and some people are just jaw droppingly rude and miserable.

I go in say good morning. Sometimes I’m blanked sometimes they mumble something very quietly. What the fuck.

ForalltheSaints · 11/02/2019 22:05

Agree with the OP and others- at least say hello and goodbye when arriving/leaving. I don't want anyone I work with to be a mate or friend but at least we are civilised and have some conversation.

NoIsACompleteAnswerSometimes · 11/02/2019 22:07

When I worked in a government department, a new line manager was brought in to another department. (I got on fine with her)
Apparently she was brought in with the idea of "new broom, " changing a lot of practices that had slipped into "that's the way we've always done it, " etc.
It ruffled a few feathers and ended up with a massive meeting with management, and the chief complaint was that she didn't ask how people's weekends had been or she never came round the office to say hello to everyone when she came in. They got told to suck it up and grow up.

NoIsACompleteAnswerSometimes · 11/02/2019 22:08

She always said hello to me tho!

Grace212 · 11/02/2019 22:12

"Is it really that hard to reciprocate with a smile or a ‘hi’ or a ‘how’s it going?’"

if you are deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep in grump, yes, it's too much effort. All jobs are the same, no point changing.

sometimes cheery hello people are just too much.

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