Jobs

[Weedsinthelawn]

Hi
Just curious. I have named changed for this as I don’t want to be outed.
Been working today. I would say I have a job which falls in the middle of being exciting and boring. There is variety and there are repetitive bits.
Anyhow as part of my role I get to find out the occupations of all (or most of) the customers/clients I see. Yet again another man doing what I would class as a boring, unskilled job commented on my job being boring and mundane.
Then he made a point of saying how lovely it was outside ( I work predominantly inside-thankfully) and how I was missing the beautiful weather. Cheers mate, if I’d known I’d have pissed work off and not bothered to come on. Thrown a sickie.
I just find this talk tedious and unnecessary.
It’s not necessary to make small talk with me, he was with his girlfriend so not alone. I have a lot of people to see so I do not have time to do small talk. My appointments are rammed in.
Also it is always, always without fail the more unskilled men and always men, who comment. Never, ever have I had this from say professional sportsmen or doctors or teachers. It’s always someone who’s job ( if indeed they have a job) is what I would called mundane.
Yes it pisses me off slightly working when it’s nice but that’s life.
Does anyone else find this?

It’s small talk, which as you come into contact with other people is clearly part of your job. YABU and judgemental.

You come across so judgemental. Talking about the weather is an icebreaker, maybe they are uncomfortable with you being so stand off ish

It just sounds like conversation to me.
The reason why people with “better” jobs don’t say it, is they realise it’s rude if their job is “better”. These people with the more mundane jobs don’t have to worry that they will seem to be looking down on yours.

Everyone talks about the weather! Are you not posting from the U.K.? 🤣

“I just find this talk tedious and unnecessary.
It’s not necessary to make small talk with me”

Maybe look for a role where you’re not largely client facing?

Oh gosh I always chat to people providing me with a service, I hope not all of them think like you do.

Yes I get where you are coming from and concede I don’t like being reminded that I’’ stuck working whilst it’s glorious outside!
However, I really would not ever say to the dustbin “Oh how awful for you having to work in this pouring rain. Good I bet you are so fed up. You are going to get wet through. Don’t you mind? Is that all you do all day? Aren’t you bored?

Or even Dustbinmen!

Just to clarify. Small talk is one thing. Telling someone their job is boring is rude.

It’s called empathy. Sympathising with you when you look miserable, which I’m sure you probably did, poor you having to deal with all these unskilled men daring to be nice to you while you are so so busy on a sunny day.

Well correct them, if you don’t agree with them. They are just trying to engage you in small talk, they don’t really care if your job is boring.

I know what you mean OP, but I've had it from mums at the school gate. "Ugh, I suppose someone has to do it"

A bit of small talk is to be expected though, isn't it? It oils the wheels for most people.

It's the patriarchy mixed with a bit of misogyny. Men feeling intimidated by women in a professional capacity, will attempt to belittle in the guise.of chit-chat/small talk. They probably don't even realise they're doing it but it's all about keeping the little lady in her place and bolstering themselves up.

Really? Dear god I really must stop chatting to the Ocado delivery people (mostly men) - I wouldn't want to come across as judgemental or "keeping them in their place" just because I am a professional woman. And you are making a big assumption that the OP is "professional", because given how judgemental they are about their clients, that isn't the word I would immeditaely go to to describe them.

There's a difference between polite chit chat and the undertones of the op's interactions though. Telling someone their job is boring/mundane isn't making polite chat, it's rude at best, or downright offensive at worst.

I'm assuming you're a mortgage advisor. I used to be for 15 years and once it felt tedious and I disliked the chat and small talk I left and did something back office for a while. Maybe a change is on the cards for you.

Does your "polite chitchat" involve telling them that their job is boring and mundane?

If so, yes you really should stop doing it.