Immature men on the work instant messanger

[LittleMissUnreasonable]

Ive recently moved roles from a mixed gendered environment to a mainly male environment. I really enjoyed my previous role but needed to progress in a different sector. The men are nice, no sexist bullshit and everyone just cracks on.

However whenever we're in an in person meeting, three of the younger ones (mid-early 20s) instant message each other and start giggling and smiling. It's obvious they're messaging each other as you can see one typing and the next one starts laughing. It's distracting and noones pulling them up on it. These are fairly professional people, the ringleader is our manager ironically.

It makes me feel uncomfortable and paranoid but don't want to say anything as they might not be talking about me, but I feel awkward.

Why does it matter who they are talking about.

It's inappropriate behavior

Wouldn't worry about it, if they're generally professional and nice on the surface would just let it go. Raising it could cause an issue when there isn't one.

I often have little side chats with colleagues during meetings, however, if its genuinely distracting and they're clearly not listening then it's a problem, so call it out every time. "what's funny X?"

This happens in our executive committee meetings, all the perpetrators are 50+ and supposedly in charge of the organisation. Doesn't get any better I'm afraid!

Whose meetings are they? You could suggest that at the start of the meetings the chair reminds people of the expectations of the meeting - be present, listening to others, no side chats, no checking emails etc. That way if people are visibly doing something else it's easier for the chair to call them out on it.

You don't have to tell tales on specific people. Just mention that you find it hard, especially if you're speaking, that you don't have everyone's attention

@Slothlikemum
They're with someone who works sideways with us. It's embarrassing really, but the blokes don't laugh too loud, normally just snigger amongst themselves.
When ones asked a question (ironically the manager), he always seems surprised and we have to wait a minute for him to get the answer together. This guy's knowledgeable, and on double my salary, he's just in the boys club unfortunately.
None of these guys are macho types, and we're all quite 'nerdy' so was very surprised coming into this environment, it's worse than working with women 😝