Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be be fed up of robots at work

31 replies

Beafortea · 01/03/2022 20:45

I've been at my current workplace for a couple of years now, really like my job, but have always found the staff (over 400 of them) quite dismissive and robotic and I'm getting fed up with it. Absolutely nobody will engage in any conversation other than work, everyone just comes out with all the standard work cliches constantly. There's a woman on my team who has vacantly given me one word answers to everything for the past two years. It's bizarre. I'm not looking to be best mates with my work colleagues or anything but would be nice to establish some kind of working relationship with these people I spend most of my time with. I've always got on well with colleagues at previous jobs. AIBU?

Just to note morale at this company is quite low due to lots of ongoing reorganisation.

OP posts:
TheGirlInTheGreenDress · 01/03/2022 20:56

What kind of workplace is it?

sst1234 · 01/03/2022 20:58

That’s the culture of the workplace, if they’re all like that. Sounds like you are the one odd one out. Not much you can do to change them.

EdithWeston · 01/03/2022 20:59

Absolutely nobody will engage in any conversation other than work

Well, that's good isn't it, in your paid hours?

...but would be nice to establish some kind of working relationship with these people I spend most of my time with

Key word here being working.

Talk to them about work, professional standards etc. And of course never when they want to be getting on with the task at hand

Original poster
Beafortea · 01/03/2022 21:17

It's a well known charity, and we work in an open plan office.

OP posts:
Original poster
Beafortea · 01/03/2022 21:24

Like I said, I don't want to be bffs with anyone at work, but to sit in silence all day and barely exchange any conversation with anyone, and have absolutely no rapport with anyone I have work conversations with, is a bit dull. And I'm not even a small talk person!

OP posts:
TimeForTeaAndG · 01/03/2022 21:30

If there is a lot of restructuring they've probably just gotten so used to people coming and going that they've stopped making an effort.

labyrinthlaziness · 02/03/2022 03:16

You can't change an embedded culture in a workplace. The people who remain working there either like it that way or are happy to go along with it.

I think you either need to accept how it is or look elsewhere.

NumberTheory · 02/03/2022 03:39

There are times in my life when I would have liked that and times when I wouldn't. If you don't like it, you aren't being unreasonable to move on and find something else. A work environment you enjoy is worth quite a bit.

theyoungishman · 02/03/2022 04:13

It doesn't sound like this particular workplace is a good fit for you, I'd be looking for something else

Monty27 · 02/03/2022 04:18

OP you might be be in the wrong industry.
Change your job or career. Life's not all about money. Trust me 💐

Hoplesscynic · 02/03/2022 05:41

"sit in silence all day and barely exchange any conversation with anyone"
My idea of workplace bliss!

Invasionofthegutsnatchers · 02/03/2022 05:46

God I'd hate this. I'm a teacher and have such a laugh with my colleagues.

twominutesmore · 02/03/2022 06:07

It's hard to believe that all 400 people are workplace drones with no interest in small talk. Maybe they just don't talk to you. Maybe lots of them feel the same way as you. How do you try to engage people?

Htotheizzo · 02/03/2022 06:13

@EdithWeston

Absolutely nobody will engage in any conversation other than work

Well, that's good isn't it, in your paid hours?

...but would be nice to establish some kind of working relationship with these people I spend most of my time with

Key word here being working.

Talk to them about work, professional standards etc. And of course never when they want to be getting on with the task at hand

I'm pleased you're not my boss Grin
Discodancinggiraffe · 02/03/2022 07:05

It depends what you are talking about. It really could be you. There is a balance. We talk about work, gossip about work and hobbies plans for our days off ect. Those of us who have worked together the longest obviously chat more about our personal lives. But we have had people join the team that try and force their personal lives on us.

We had one woman tell us all indepth all the debt she was in and all her very personal problems. It was just awkward we barely knew her. We had one woman every day we were told about her toddler, what he had for breakfast, what he did at nursery the day before, the long boring indecisive weighing up of options about what he will get for dinner that we had to endure everyday. She got texts throughout the day with updates about him. They were shared with us all. No one gave a shit about her toddler or the many, many, many updates throughout the day. It was boring and never stopped. When she started talking I found her a job to do.

Lurking9to5 · 02/03/2022 07:07

I can't believe the responses.

Bit of workplace humanity and venting to and being listened to and the chat qnd well wishes get you though the mountain of work.

Op, time to job hunt. Xx

TenRedThings · 02/03/2022 07:13

Sounds inhuman. Sure concentrating on the job is priority but it's community that gives life its value.

Polyanthus2 · 02/03/2022 07:13

Is it low pay - so they are all a bit martyred and sorry for themselves?

PonyPatter44 · 02/03/2022 07:19

It sounds awful. I have never worked in a place like that, for which I am very grateful.

My workplace is very different- weare encouraged to build friendships and chat to each other, as its a very emotionally and physically tough environment. The non-work relationships are really important for supporting staff through tough times.

Come and work with me, OP, its still helping people but its far more fun!

balalake · 02/03/2022 07:22

It does not seem a pleasant place to work. Could you work part of the week from home, or should you be looking for another job?

PermanentTemporary · 02/03/2022 07:25

Sounds awful, I'd look for something else. Human beings are designed to interact with each other.

Lurking9to5 · 02/03/2022 07:27

@Polyanthus2

Is it low pay - so they are all a bit martyred and sorry for themselves?
Sounds like my job. Too few people to do the work and plenty to check it which is better paid. But we get each other through it! We know what's going on for each other.
NightmareSlashDelightful · 02/03/2022 07:28

Just to note morale at this company is quite low due to lots of ongoing reorganisation.

This is the key bit I think. Sick company syndrome. It can be really flattening.

ClariceQuiff · 02/03/2022 07:29

I thought this thread was going to be about actual use of robot technology in the workplace.

JennyForeigner · 02/03/2022 07:31

My workplace can present like this. They are lovely people but for reasons from the sector (same as yours) to terrible leadership over 10 years and more have been mistreated to the point that colleagues don't dare to create relationships.

When I started and was being ordinarily sort of friendly, I had one completely mad woman make a formal complaint that I had asked her about herself without a formal appointment. We had met as part of a joint project on which we were co-owners.

I am in a leadership role and figure it would take years of solid supportive work and consistency to change the culture. I haven't got it - I figure now I will do a year modeling appropriate and collegiate working, and then move somewhere... happier.

Swipe left for the next trending thread