To hate colleagues who drone on about pointless drivel

[Atnaforange]

It could be the fact that I'm 8 weeks pregnant but recently my colleague is giving me rage.
We each work from home but do different roles, I rely on him giving me information to do my job.
Whenever I send him an email query about work he insists on calling me because "it's quicker" but then he just proceeds to shite on about a million things completely unrelated to the question I asked and tries to get into personal conversation about my weekend etc. I'm absolutely swamped in work, have a toddler and am so ill with morning sickness I do not have time for small talk. Like today I sent him an IM

Me: "Hi Dave
Just wondering if you have those numbers from corporate yet as I need them to move this project forward."

Him: "Best to call you. It's quicker"

Then he calls me and goes into a big long story about why he doesn't have the numbers and the big row he had with another colleague, then started going on about his weekend and his various illnesses then asked me multiple times what I did over the weekend (I kept saying "nothing" and changing the subject back to work) I barely said 5 words on the call thinking if I was silent he would get to the point quicker but he droned on for 6 minutes...... like wtf how is that "quicker"??

AIBU to think this is the way it should have gone via IM.

Me: "Hi Dave
Just wondering if you have those numbers from corporate yet as I need them to move this project forward."
Him "No I don't have the numbers yet ill keep you posted"

The end.

For context this guy is in his 50s.

Really annoying, OP! I have one of those too. I only work P/T and plan my work during my hours. I then email a colleague who won’t reply but will start phoning me. What pisses me off is that they never leave a voice message so I can judge if they need an urgent callback. I’m sure this is on purpose because 99% of the time it’s a pointless, meandering call.

I’ve started texting or emailing them, saying sorry I was unable to take their call but I’m v busy and just want X. I always keep polite but very to the point. Not answering has helped as they’re finally getting the message.

I like chatting as much as the next person, but when I’m working, I just want to get on. Be a bit firmer and think more about yourself rather than them.

Well done ignoring calls

I'm glad I don't work with some of the miserable gits on MN.

Not a miserable git, well I hope not I have a job to do and having a colleague telling me about their sciatica and about their weekend plans with their cousin Jim is not helpful. I don't mind a few minutes but longer than that I want to get back to doing my job.

As well as that, sometimes a call is quicker. I was having a conversation over Teams with my manager and we both decided it would have been quicker to call.

Yes it can be if you keep to topic, not everyone does.

@Atnaforange

To me you are coming as quite coarse in your choice of words and its made me feel that this reflects negatively upon you in some way (which may not be justified). Is it really necessary to use the term 'shite on'? Pregnant or not, this sounds awful. You have been given advice, I think you should apply it in a polite way without being abrupt.

@SiousieSoo "shite on" is a colloquial term where I am from it means when someone is droning on about something you have no interest in. It's not like I've said anything nasty to him but I think it's justified when I'm having a moan about something.

@Atnaforange Oh I have never ever heard of this term! I think the advice you have been given is helpful. He does sound a bit fragile and lonely so I think be assertive but polite and not abrupt.