To stop making an effort at work

[Peachyroll]

I started a new job (mostly remote) a few months ago in a big public sector organisation and I'm feeling a bit sad about the culture. Or lack of it. I feel rude messaging someone (often someone I've never met before) asking them to do something without a 'hello, how are you' or not asking how someone is when joining a call with them. But nobody does that here. I essentially get ignored and some people seem offended or totally baffled if I ask something like; 'how was your weekend?' Genuinely, not trying to make any intrusive conversation, or any conversation at all really, just polite standard greetings.

Do I just stop? Unfortunately it's not in my nature to not care one jot about my colleagues. Any tips? The work itself is actually one of the most interesting jobs I've ever had, good for my career, and pay is decent so would like to stay for a couple of years at least.

I hate it when people I don't know are asking me how I am, it feels really fake, like they are smarming up before asking me to part with money/do them a favour.
It's what you'd expect from a call centre, not from a colleague.
If you are actually interested in an individual, then it's fine to ask, ( although not before asking them to do something, in Britain the accepteable time to do that is at the end of a conversation/email) but otherwise don't. It sounds as if company culture is not to follow what some people see as American -influenced pleasantries, - don't take it personally.

I hate it when someone messages 'hi...'
Next message 'how are you?'
Next message 'how was your weekend'

Just get to the point. I never ask anyone these types of questions.

Jalisco makes excellent points. We are all exhausted

Sorry OP but I'm with the others. I don't like line of questioning in messages. They rub me up the wrong way.

It's different in verbal conversation.

Right well thanks for rhe feedback all. I will be curt, brutal and to the point in future. Fuck the lot of them. Hope their weekends were shite.

Yeah I understand. That's really depressing though.

Is it that everyone has lots on their plate?

My job is a bit like this. Everyone is so busy, no one has time for pleasantries and you can usually spot a newbie a mile off because they try to do the “how was your weekend” bless them. I go for the “hi hope you’re well” approach then dive into what it is I want, even though it may not feel polite, being polite can also extend to acknowledging someone else’s workload and if they’ve no time for pleasantries then you need to respect that also! :)

I say,

“Hi Xxxxx

Hope you are well. Now I can move on to the reason for my email.

Etc.”

This way they are not obliged to reply but you are still being polite.