AIBU by being annoyed by people not doing work?

[BettyBurntBuns]

I’m at work and one girl had done nothing for 35 mins, just chatting to management/her manager.

Not sure how to handle it, do I just ignore?

It's things like this that are both the reason for and the reason against people going back into the office instead of permanently working from home.

The big positive is that you get lots of interaction, which helps teambuilding and creativity. The big negative is that you get lots of interaction, which takes people away from their work.

I get more done in the morning WFH than a whole day in the office, simply because I don't have people interrupting me all the time.

Why don't you go and have a chat for 35 mins?

For all you know their output might stilll be higher than yours.

Perhaps its important to management for team culture or they are aware of a wellbeing need that you arent privy to.

Two options here:
1- She is shooting the breeze with her manager, who presumably doesn't care.
2- It's work related.
Either way, reporting it will not gain you any friends.

My boss and I work by talking things through. It may look like a 'chat' but they are very productive.

@NameyNameyNameChangey

Two options here: 1- She is shooting the breeze with her manager, who presumably doesn't care. 2- It's work related. Either way, reporting it will not gain you any friends.

Not work related.... In sitting next to them.

@An0n0n0n

For all you know their output might stilll be higher than yours.

Perhaps its important to management for team culture or they are aware of a wellbeing need that you arent privy to.

It’s not. If I’m answering calls and she’s chatting, im more productive. If I’m answering emails and she’s not, I’m more productive. I understand some people do more, but if calls are being missed it’s an issue.

Well go and complain to the manager's manager if you feel so disgruntled about it. Or if you're sitting next to them ask them why they're not working. I bet you won't. In any case if you're sitting next to them and complaining on here you're not working either.

Are they quite close? Do you feel like you're the odd one out who doesn't get to chit chat and catch up with colleagues?

By all means butt in with a question about work if you want to cut their cosy chat short

@FinallyHere

Here is the thing.

just chatting to management/her manager.

That is pretty literally what I do for a living. I manage projects, the only way to get really good information on what is happening, the major risks to a successful outcome is to chat to people.

Imagine that.

People communication about work, at work.

Imagine this, people talking about non work things, constantly. Imagine that.

I mean the example you gave isn’t great. Clearly her manager doesn’t mind, it could even be argued that her manager authorised her to sit and chat by not actively ending the conversation and telling her to get back to work instead. You can’t really be angry at the colleague here - the manager is the problem.

But otherwise if a colleague is slacking when management has their back turned, and is increasing your workload as a result, then yeah

Why exactly are you angry with your colleague personally and not the manager?

The manager was a participant in said inappropriate conversation and is more senior to your colleague - it’s their responsibility to nip bad behaviour in the bud? 🤷🏼‍♀️

@PurpleDaisies

Schrodinger’s workplace.

Love it!

So you answer emails as a large part of your job. So why are you in an office and not wfh, at least part of the time?

@PurpleDaisies

Schrodinger’s workplace.

“I’m at work”

“I’m on my way to work”

“I’m talking in past tense this was yesterday”

“I’m sitting next to them”

Come on OP, make your mind up. Clearly your at work doing bugger all and MM called you out and you’ve caught yourself in a little white lie

The most important part of my working day at the moment wouldn't look like work to you. It's the team chat that we have each morning on teams for around half an hour. It's not mandatory but we encourage everyone to join if they can.
As a team of freelancers all mostly WFH and only starting to work together during the pandemic, finding a way to connect as a team had been essential this past year. The more invested we are in each other, the better we work together as a team.

@newnortherner111

So you answer emails as a large part of your job. So why are you in an office and not wfh, at least part of the time?

Not all of us can unilaterally decide to wfh full time unfortunately. My management prefers us to be in office so blended working it is.

@newnortherner111

So you answer emails as a large part of your job. So why are you in an office and not wfh, at least part of the time?

Writing emails is the bulk of my job. I can't work from home.

You have no idea what the OP does and what organisation she works for!

Excuse me Manager, but can you please not chat to your own employees. I'm trying to work here, I'm not working here, I'm posting on social media about how I'm working hard, except I don't actually know if I'm at work or not!

@OhGiveUp

Excuse me Manager, but can you please not chat to your own employees. I'm trying to work here, I'm not working here, I'm posting on social media about how I'm working hard, except I don't actually know if I'm at work or not!

When we are missing calls and they are cancelling calls as well... that’s the issue