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Where I work I enjoy watching the interpersonal interaction between my coworkers. It is a great study in human nature.
But sometimes the most interesting aspect of the way my fellow coworkers interact is how little they actually say to each other. (Verbally or non verbally) Here is an example:
A number of coworkers who sit right next to each other without a cubical or office to divide them never say a word to each other. They are not in the same department and don't share any work. They are just inches from each other and I have never seen them say a single word to each other, NEVER. Some have been working and sitting next to each other for years, but they act like the other person does not exist. Not even a wink, a nod or a good morning.
I know we can be busy in today's economy but wow, I find this so odd. Do you?
Do you sit right next to anyone where you work and never speak to them?
When I was in a cubicle (or sharing) in another company, I would never talk to the person, many companies frown on any conversation, so it is avoided all together except during break times. I would hate to state something stupid about the weather, just to see the boss coming within earshot and he/she will make the automatic assumption we have been BSing the whole time at work; these assumptions happened in the military often.
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
24,544 posts, read 56,029,399 times
Reputation: 11862
Maybe they just don't talk much and you never catch them talking. It would be odd to NEVER talk to someone you sit next to for years, for sure, but like others have said when on the job maybe just don't have any reason to talk and maybe they were chastised for chi-chatting too much while on the job.
Wow that sounds like a dream job, I'd love to work there. I hate being around a bunch of gossipy mean people, i'd love to work around people who actually shut up and actually work instead of talk.
I worked with 2 women that didn't talk. They also put up a piece of cardboard between them so they wouldn't have to look at each other. This lasted for at least 30 years. When one retired the other got a job in another department. She wasn't going to leave first and make the other one happy.
It is sort of odd considering it's human nature to talk to those around you, but some people just consider coworkers for what they are; people you have to coexist with, that you would never seek out in real life.
A number of years ago I took over a department that had two employees that rumor had it did not converse. Always tried to verify but never saw them speak to each other. I finally confronted them and they admitted that they had not spoken in 15 years. Communication was part of the function and I equated their lack of communication to be in essence a "fight" which was clearly against company policy. I gave them a week to get it right. They were never friendly but they did communicate going forward.
Location: Huntersville/Charlotte, NC and Washington, DC
26,700 posts, read 41,723,992 times
Reputation: 41376
Not really. Im at work to make a paycheck not friends.
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