In 2025, a lot of people still don’t understand quiet people. We’re not shy, and we’re not clueless - we just don’t always feel the need to speak unless there’s something worth saying. Despite this, introverts often face unfair treatment in the workplace. Some colleagues assume we’re stuck-up or disengaged, while some managers think we’re pushovers.
I once had a manager openly admit that she hired me because I was quiet - she thought I’d be easy to control. When I pushed back, she was completely thrown and acted like I had suddenly revealed an “evil side.”
Even now, a manager who sits near me keeps commenting on how “quiet” our team is, as if it’s a problem. Meanwhile, his team spends all day loudly complaining about minor things. Is this really what we’re supposed to aspire to?
One thing I’ve noticed is that posher offices tend to be more accepting of quiet people. They seem to appreciate a calmer environment, whereas in some workplaces, silence makes people uncomfortable. Some people just can’t sit with their own thoughts and feel the need to fill every silence.
I’ve also stopped forcing small talk to fit in, but it can make office conversations a bit awkward. Some people genuinely seem confused or even irritated when I don’t want to discuss the exact route I took to work every morning. (“Did you go down Sherborne Road by the bridge? Yeah, I go that way too!”)
AIBU to think introverts get unfair treatment in office settings? Have others experienced this?