I work in tourism, so everyone has been furloughed at my company, we have no idea if we will ever return. Communication from bosses has been non-existent so some staff have been keeping in touch so we don't feel completely out of the loop.
There is a man who will not stop messaging me. At first it was ok, as I felt out of the loop. Then he started messaging repeatedly and asked if he could call me as he had some information about work (which was fine). Then he wanted to call me every day - sometimes more than once. In the end I said there is no point calling, I have nothing to say.
The last few days he has asked why I am taking longer to reply to messages - I wasn't replying immediately and taking up to an hour or more. He says 'I thought we were going to get through this together and it's a shame you have changed' . I said 'I am not ignoring you, I just can't speak you every minute of the day. I will reply as and when'. He then asks what I could possibly be busy doing as we are in lockdown and can't go out etc.
I've got to the rude end of being nice with him - told him not to be so needy and dependent on me, and if he's lonely he has a wife he can speak to. That I will still reply if messages are important. He still sends me essays, continually saying he doesn't understand why I have changed.
If I am made redundant I won't talk to him again because he's boring me, but I'm in sticky situation as I don't want to be too rude and create an awkward atmosphere if we are colleagues again. What would you do?