Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to find my work colleague so annoying?!

39 replies

ilovebiscuitsandcats · 21/05/2019 09:26

My work colleague is fairly new but she's sat right opposite me and doesn't stop taking and laughing...at nothing!! She is so loud and laughs at everything including things that aren't even funny. It drives the rest of the office mad too but they don't have to sit opposite her. She's really lovely and helpful but sometimes I just want to do my work in peace and I can feel myself getting annoyed and have to try real hard to just smile and act polite. Honestly its tiring sometimes. Anyone else feel like this? Am I just a miserable cow?

OP posts:
TheTitOfTheIceberg · 21/05/2019 09:32

YANBU. It's nice to be cheerful but when you need to concentrate, endless loud wittering can be so distracting. I have no qualms about saying pleasantly (even if through gritted teeth) "I won't be very chatty today, I've really got to get my head down with this piece of work". Sometimes the message gets through, sometimes it flies over their head.

Are you allowed to wear headphones? Book a meeting room out for a couple of hours to get on with stuff undisturbed?

palahvah · 21/05/2019 09:35

YABU to say 'work colleague'.

Is it one of those nervous laughs that some people do at the end of every sentence, or does she laugh at her own jokes/ emails? It is irritating when people do that consistently.

ilovesooty · 21/05/2019 09:36

I think I'd tell her that she's disturbing you and your finding it difficult to concentrate. You don't have to be confrontational but the longer you leave it the more difficult it will be to address it.

CalmdownJanet · 21/05/2019 09:38

Wtf is wrong with work colleague Confused

ilovesooty · 21/05/2019 09:38

If she's fairly new she might simply not have got to grips with the way people like to work but you're quite within your rights to have a quiet word.

Original poster
ilovebiscuitsandcats · 21/05/2019 09:41

palahvah what should I call her?

She laughs at the end of every sentence, I have wondered if it's a nervous thing. I know I should say something but I just don't have the guts to do it!

OP posts:
WeeDangerousSpike · 21/05/2019 09:42

Ohh ohh, I know this one Janet! apparently it's redundant. As in, if they're you're colleague, then of course you work with them, you don't need to specify.

Dont shoot the messenger Grin

WeeDangerousSpike · 21/05/2019 09:43

Oh, and OP? Headphones.

Even if you don't have anything playing, you can pretend you can't hear and ignore her.

Extra points for being able to 'hear' everyone else!

Cloudyapples · 21/05/2019 09:44

I think palahvah might be being pedantic about the fact you don’t need to say ‘work’ - colleague means person you work with, so you can just say colleague or person you work with.

Original poster
ilovebiscuitsandcats · 21/05/2019 09:44

wee so what you're saying is I should of said 'colleague' not 'work colleague'? Wow, lesson learnt (blush) lol

OP posts:
WeeDangerousSpike · 21/05/2019 09:44

Ffs. Your colleague, not you're.

I swear my autocorrect has a sense of humour.

WeeDangerousSpike · 21/05/2019 09:45

I don't really care OPGrin but I'm fairly sure that's what palahvah was getting at.

TheTitOfTheIceberg · 21/05/2019 09:47

Now you've been schooled in correct SPAG OP, your problems will miraculously be resolved. Hmm

Original poster
ilovebiscuitsandcats · 21/05/2019 09:48

No it never crossed my mind, would of never of guessed that lol on a separate note how do I do blush! Blush

OP posts:
Original poster
ilovebiscuitsandcats · 21/05/2019 09:48
Grin
OP posts:
ilovesooty · 21/05/2019 09:49

If you can't say anything could you ask your manager to have a word?

funnylittlefloozie · 21/05/2019 09:52

Oh my god, I have two of these in my office! They are both the nicest, loveliest women, and great to work with, but the constant giggling drives me MENTAL. I have no advice, but you have my sympathy, OP!

TheRLodger · 21/05/2019 09:54

Ooooo I work with someone like this. Does my nut in. Not so much the laughing but the chatting and she’s a right gossip to boot

joebtfsplks · 21/05/2019 09:57

I have a 'yawner' as a work colleague and it drives me up the wall! Really loud yawns every 10 seconds (I timed it once). She is early twenties and stays up late playing x box. I am 40 and have two young children so my tolerance for her tiredness is precisely ZILCH.

So YANBU. And my sympathies.

Original poster
ilovebiscuitsandcats · 21/05/2019 09:58

sooty unfortunately my manager won't have a word, she told me to say something!

floozie thanks! It's hard when they're so nice isn't it?! And as I sit right opposite her I worry if I say something it will make it awkward

OP posts:
Dogparty · 21/05/2019 09:59

You described me as a (work) colleague although I work at home now! I can’t stand silence so I used to put my earphones in so I could crack on with my project. I then changed jobs and worked somewhere where earphones were banned and I just chatted constantly. I don’t know why I’m like this! Could you put some earphones in? Even if you don’t even play any music she won’t bother talking to you.

Gigglinghysterically · 21/05/2019 09:59

@palahvah
I agree with Cloudyapples that you are just being pedantic. Totally unnecessary for you to point that out to OP who, I'm sure, managed to convey what they meant very well.

@OP
If it was me, I think I would just tell my colleague that I am struggling to concentrate .....every time she irritated me and hope she picked up on the message.

MightyDonut · 21/05/2019 10:03

Just twang a few rubber bands at her. Bonus points if you manage to gt one in her gob.

ilovesooty · 21/05/2019 10:04

In that case I think you're going to have to speak to her.

Tableclothing · 21/05/2019 10:08

Does she also sing under her breath and out of tune?
Is 95% of her conversation about her kids/diet/minor ailments?
Does she cook smelly food in the office microwave?
Does she spray her perfume there too?
Does she think the latest series of Game of Thrones is really good?

I feel your pain.