Is everyone's office as quiet as mine?
Posted by Financial_Call_7240@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 119 comments
[removed]
Posted by Financial_Call_7240@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 119 comments
[removed]
Advanced_Apartment_1@reddit
You can't expect to walk into an office with people that have worked with each other for years and immediatly be involved in thier conversations.
People generally just need to warm up to new people. The longer you're there the better it will be, especially as more are employed underyou.
There's also an expectation that young people won't stick around or be good enough in emplyment these days.
The longer you're in a job, the better it will be. Jumping to a new job will just most likely start the cycle again. There's exeptions, it can speed things up if you're working directly with a small team.
Financial_Call_7240@reddit (OP)
worked there more than a year mate, it’s not a new job
also I outsell all of them, and build way better long lasting relationships with clients, so it’s not an issue of not being good
Coat-Trick@reddit
I worked in a place where there was 5 of us, always chatting but getting work done.
My new place and team, not one person chats unless the manager says something and everyone is like a Churchill dug, nodding away pisses me off something silly so it does
AussieHxC@reddit
I'm a scientist and even though we're well known for being socially averse I've never known a workplace like this.
Sure there are periods of time when everyone is working hard or is sat in the office in meetings/with headphones on etc but there's also a lot of general chat and banter.
Where I'm at now is 95% female (and a wildly different field) and it is the most laid back chatty workplace I've ever encountered.
VillageHorse@reddit
For balance I’ve worked in a place that is 95% female. It was hell on earth.
Not because they were female - because they were micromanaging power hungry nincompoops.
Financial_Call_7240@reddit (OP)
I have to admit the ladies that work upstairs in another department are lovely and do look after me.
noodlesandwich123@reddit
Some are
I worked in one with very oppressive management so we'd all sit working in silence for long stretches. Sometimes 2-3hrs would pass with noone saying a word. Chatting wasn't worth the risk of judgement from the managers
A friend of a friend got an office job working for the National Trust where they actually had a rule enforced saying they couldn't chat in the office
HybridReptile15@reddit
Oh this pisses me off. Were told we’re hybrid , meetings get arranged , I’m in the office and the person I’m supposed to be sat next to is at home,
My manager questions how many I’ve spent in the office on my weekly catchups,
The one person who loves being in the office everyday is a fucking knob head who hates talking about anything except himself and is so far up his own arse,
The office can fit 40 people and I’ve never seen more than 8 in there , I don’t know when I’m supposed to go into the office to actually have face to face meetings,
Also the admin, hr and sales teams all have that friendly fake facade of being overly positive to the point it’s awkward, I just wanna get on with my work and not listen to your forced over the top fake enthusiasm
Charlie_Mouse@reddit
I’ve encountered the opposite which is annoying too - open plan office where most people were ok (bit of chat and a laugh but also crack on with things) … apart from one guy sitting opposite me who just never bloody shut up.
He pretty much constantly broadcast every single passing thought going through his mind in an annoying loud voice. Which was a bit annoying when you were trying to focus on something. Particularly once his crappy anecdotes started to loop around and repeat.
After a couple of years of that the pandemic remote work was frankly almost a bit of a relief.
chuckie219@reddit
I worked in the Civil Service for a bit and honestly what is the point in even having the half the offices. All my meeting my were online as no one was ever in the office at the same time. It was like working in a call centre.
I am all for the flexible working but can we not have some fucking consistency?
MrPogoUK@reddit
We’ve gone one worse and have meetings on Teams when everyone attending is in the office on the same floor, because management like to have them recorded for no reason whatsoever (as nobody ever watches the bloody things back).
Timely_Egg_6827@reddit
That's horrible as you get doppler effect. If you have big enough meeting rooms, go to one and watch together with one person recording. You get the buzz back but still have a record. And you get those crucial moments away from desk on way to meeting to check in with people.
SnooRegrets8068@reddit
Civil service are unfortunately used like political pawns. Gov says RTO and tada there's a KPI for it. Especiallt with pressure from groups that used to make money off people being forced into a small area that are now getting a lot less.
EdmundTheInsulter@reddit
Another thing is, I worked with like keyboard warriors who probably would have acted slightly differently if theyd had to actually physically meet people. I don't mean they'd get beaten up, but physical proximity has an effect, which is why people fly around the world for meetings.
EdmundTheInsulter@reddit
We had this, I had to go 8 miles on a bike which I enjoyed, but my workmate has to get a train costing a load of money. Sometimes we turned up and no one else was there and we didn't speak much or whatever and he pointed out his time and money had been wasted. Other teams were rotating so that just one or two came in on the relevant days and of course sometimes none of them appeared.
AF_II@reddit
OK so, I am going to need someone to explain this sort of work thing to me. Like, how do you chat without it interrupting your work?
If I'm chatting, I'm not working. If I chat for 20 mins I have to stay in the office for an extra 20 mins to get that work done. Is this not how it is for you?
If I'm working, I'm often trying to concentrate - if someone is constantly randomly trying to start chats... how am I supposed to focus on what I'm doing (or do it without seeming rude and ignoring them)?
I really, really don't get chat in the office. chat in the kitchen? Sure!
Jcw28@reddit
Yes, in the office. Yes, it interrupts work. So what? I get paid to do 7.5 hours work per day but it's universally understood that I won't actually do exactly that much work. You can't function that way. In fact, you'll get worse quality work if you expect people to sit and grind out that much work in a day compared to if a little freedom is allowed and a task might take you an hour but you're only actively working on it for saying 45 minutes because there's been a bit of chat / distraction / dealing with misc e-mails along the way.
quenishi@reddit
Depends on your role. I don't have a set amount of work to do, and it's a constant conveyor of work so what doesn't get done today gets done tomorrow. Or next week. Or whatever. Sometimes you're waiting for Mr Jenkins to do his thing, so you may go see if someone else is at a loose end. Or you might just have a social chat whilst you're bashing out some boring code whilst pairing.
I agree wandering up to random people and going "hey" is going to aggravate some of them. But if you get to know people, can learn the patterns of when they're bored or otherwise ready for a conversation. One office I was in we almost had this 6th sense of when to have a break lol.
I WFH these days so it's all more asynchronous via Teams chat. Spam something in the chat and see if anyone responds. Or not.
Financial_Call_7240@reddit (OP)
I suppose its subject to what people actually do, however as far as I understand in most offices chat is common place.
AF_II@reddit
I'm begining to think I may have misunderstood "office" in this context e.g. people are using it colloquially to mean "talking to people at work in whatever location" vs "trying to talk to people when they are sat at their desks working".
Obviously chatting at work is normal; for me chatting in an office/shared cubicle space is irritating.
Justboy__@reddit
I mean, I don’t know where you work but in my job it rarely takes the full 8 hours to do everything I need to do.
Also, if I don’t get it all done I’ll just finish it in the morning. It’s not a prison, you shouldn’t be expected to never speak to your colleagues.
AF_II@reddit
I didn't say that? I'm asking about this "I walk into the office and want to chat" description. I talk to my colleagues all the time, work in teams, have casual chats over lunch, etc. I just don't walk up to them when they're working at their desks and get pissy if they don't want to talk about last night's sportsball or whatever. That was the vibe OP was giving me.
My job is extremely open ended and self-directed. Generally if I get what I need to do done in less than 8 hours I just go home; if I'm at my desk it means I'm doing something productive, rather than that I'm inviting distractions. I can get up and go to the kitchen or break room if I want to talk to people?
RegularSurround7640@reddit
Chatting to colleagues is still work. Developing relationships etc is a major part of being in a team and learning from others. Work shouldn't just be viewed through the old fashioned view of buttons clicked.
In my experience more modern office environments where engaging with colleagues is encouraged, results in much better outputs rather than everyone clock watching.
AF_II@reddit
This is kinda patronising - yes, of course. But I don't understand the sort of chat that is being described here, like someone wanders around an office trying to talk to people who are actively working?
Lots of what I do is team work, and I have plenty of conversations with colleagues in the kitchen, in the break room, casually before and after meetings etc. But when I'm sat at my desk typing, I'm concentrating, and I don't want someone to decide that's the time I should talk about what I watched on TV last night - that's the dynamic I'm asking about.
This isn't "I am a redditor who cannot speak to other humans ever"
ShowmasterQMTHH@reddit
Ours is a small office of 6 people. I'm lucky in that I'm only there on Mondays, out on the road the rest of the time.
We have a radio on in the background on a channel with loads of variety, often see some of the guys tapping their foot along, and there's always chats that the boss starts about stuff, current affairs, sports. It's a good atmosphere all round.
CptCaramack@reddit
Mine personally is a right laugh, we're in corporate film production so it's mostly a pretty chill time and now since AI came along we have more time for our persistent darts tournaments
SleepySasquatch@reddit
No, they're not. Plenty of folks in my office are down for a chat. Office culture varies widely.
lovesorangesoda636@reddit
Are they forced to be there while having endless meetings on teams? Because that kills the vibe.
But even pre-WFH era, not all offices were nice. The first place I worked was miserable and everyone was out the door as soon as the clock struck 5pm. The next place I worked had an amazing office vibe but that as entirely due to the staff being nice a couple of people already being friends before working there.
Artistic_Bug_7223@reddit
Is that a bad thing? Not being snide, that to me is ideal!
Glittering-Sink9930@reddit
The worst place I've ever worked was like this. You'd be halfway through an interesting piece of work and then everyone would just leave because it was time to go home.
In the best job I've ever had, people stayed late because they wanted to get something done. But then no one cared if they left early the next day, or started late.
dibblah@reddit
I agree. I finished at half three today because I worked on a cool project yesterday till 7. I didn't fully take all my time back so I'll probably start a bit late on Monday too.
Being able to be flexible is a great benefit.
Artistic_Bug_7223@reddit
I think this is where our attitudes to work differ, I don't think I've ever worked on something interesting to keep doing it after I've stopped being paid for it. Fair play to you for finding something that interests you that much in your career!
Glittering-Sink9930@reddit
That's not really how it works. I work a bit extra one day and in return , I work a bit less another day. No one is keeping track.
I felt the same as you at the terrible workplace where I'd stay an extra hour to get something finished, then get told off for arriving 10 minutes late the next day.
Artistic_Bug_7223@reddit
Ah, I get you. My work is pretty flexible to be fair, but there are no incentives. So I get paid the same if I give 100% or 200%, or 5% for that matter. It's not a challenging environment.
lovesorangesoda636@reddit
I was more meaning it felt like the sort of place you needed out of ASAP as opposed to somewhere you were willingly 😂
bangingDONKonit@reddit
I have never been at a place of work willingly in my life!
Financial_Call_7240@reddit (OP)
We work in sales and manage insurance accounts for clients, we dont work from home at all which i actually like, however we arent on meetings all day either
lovesorangesoda636@reddit
Ahh that's a pain. You'd expect a bit more of a vibe from full time office dwellers.
Some offices just don't have a good culture. Keep an eye on it because if everyone is miserable because of poor management then you'll want to jump to a new job before it gets to you.
Financial_Call_7240@reddit (OP)
side note: my boss is a prick and a bit of a bully,
i take banter as good as the next bloke but what he says is just borderline bullying
XihuanNi-6784@reddit
It's not borderline bullying. There's no such thing. He's a bully. The office atmosphere makes sense. He probably uses people's words against them, and comes down hard on them for 'skiving'. So people have learned not to socialise at work.
Gisschace@reddit
He’s killed the culture sadly, people won’t feel like they can relax and have fun with a bullying boss.
I worked at a start up like this, great culture, the first bosses are still friends 10 years on. We’d have beer o clock every Friday where at 5 we’d all stop in and have drinks before going our respective ways.
Then they got new investors and one of them was a totally bully. We brought in a whole load of new people and they couldn’t relax, my old bosses used to ask me ‘why doesn’t anyone want to do beer o clock anymore’. They’d tell me to schedule it in everyone’s calendars (so they knew this was company sanctioned) and they’d all have one and then go back to their desks to work.
Financial_Call_7240@reddit (OP)
Where do i find a beer o clock culture
this is what im missing in life
lovesorangesoda636@reddit
ding ding ding!!
Yeah he's sucked all the fun out of the office. That's why everyone is miserable.
SnooRegrets8068@reddit
Yeh anyone speaking up is a target so people don't.
Mr__Random@reddit
I'm at the office to get work done.
Also it's an open plan office, where everyone including my boss and people I don't like can hear every word I say.
I'm not risking my job for the sake of someone else's entertainment.
The candid chat, and joking around which happens normally happens in more private spaces like a meeting room or out on site.
buy_me_a_pint@reddit
One company I worked at I lasted three days, the job was via an employment agency, nobody talked to each other, not even good morning
I was not even given an introduction by the line manager, he did not want me to be there. so thrown into the deep end, no idea what I meant to be doing
Even though I did not enjoy the first job I had which was doing my NVQ at the funeral directors, the banter was good, the colleagues I worked with came out with a load of nonsense
redrabbit1984@reddit
It sounds like a bit of a poor work environment and work culture. Not all offices are like that, you usually get the louder ones, or those who like a laugh, make some jokes, organise things like cakes, 5-a-side, social drinks etc.
Sometimes it's down to leadership which can make things toxic. Like people aren't happy, they're morose, dejected, anxious, miserable, overworked etc.
It may be none of those things - just generalising of course. Keep trying as people probably really appreciate it and enjoy the conversation. Over time you may find it catches on and more people start conversations or have a bit of fun during the day.
EndPsychological2541@reddit
I work in different offices/buildings as a contractor, I went to one a few months ago, dead silence, no chat, no music, just the occasional clackering of keyboards and no customers.. There was 6 workers in total.
I said.. Wow it's a bit quiet in here isn't it? (with a slight smile and a friendly chuckle*
'No' came the reply from a story faced keyboard clackerer.
I was there for another 20 minutes in complete silence.
As much as I don't like small talk.. I couldn't cope having to go there daily.
northernblazer11@reddit
Just run around the office with your cock out.
That should get a reaction.
Zubi_Q@reddit
Nope, very chatty and we have the radio on too
-TheHumorousOne-@reddit
I remember a dead quiet office where noone talked at all. I'm a huge introvert and still found it so miserable and soul destroying. Also I had minor IBS at the time so my stomach gurgling like a combi boiler a few times almost every afternoon was mildly embarrassing.
I get there should be a balance, people constantly yapping away about the same topics everyday can becoming frustrating to deal with too.
jonowain@reddit
Sounds like a bad team to me. In my current office it's perfectly normal to openly have a chat sometimes for an hour or more. Everyone in the team is great though and all of our interests seem to align nicely which helps. In my previous job I was in a smaller office of 4 people and all they did was be silent or talk about alcohol constantly. Every conversation was "I was blacked out on the weekend" "can't wait to get home and crack open some cans" "i feel rough this morning my head is pounding" and that was it for 3 months until I finally left.
Financial_Call_7240@reddit (OP)
ohh so this is a universal experience in poorly ran offices?
jonowain@reddit
I wouldn't say poorly run because it could be a very well managed efficient office that's getting tonnes of work done but it sounds like a drag environment where even if it was easy money it would take it's toll on your happiness relatively quickly.
Justboy__@reddit
Yea I agree. My company has multiple offices and the culture varies vastly depending on which one you visit.
takesthebiscuit@reddit
Get yourself a mechanical keyboard and dominate the sound space.!!!
Clackity Clack!
melanie110@reddit
Me and my colleague work from home up north and our office is based in Wiltshire. Doesn’t help that me and my colleague are really close friends so when we have to go HQ, we joke, take the piss, laugh at each there, talk loudly and the looks we get from our CS manager
I struggle at HQ. It’s like working in a library 😂
GiftOdd3120@reddit
I couldn't care less what people are eating for dinner/breakfast ect it's boring conversation. Try some more interesting topics
Financial_Call_7240@reddit (OP)
if you read the post mate, i said i spark up convo that isnt just that
imokaytho@reddit
In my office, it depends on the department.
IT - They're all quiet. Occasional chitchat if they're talking about the work. A mixture of 20 year olds and 40-50 year olds.
HR - They're quiet unless there's a smoke break or coffee break. Friendly, personal chitchat. A mixture of 30-50 year olds.
Accounts - Never quiet. Sometimes too loud. A mixture of 40-50 year olds.
Tax - Quiet but will occasionally have small talk about the weather. A mixture of 50-70 year olds.
Cleaning/facilities - Talkative thought the entire shift. A mixture of 55-65 year olds.
Engineers - Talkative throughout the shift. A mixture of 40-60 year olds.
Security - Some are talkative, some will be very quiet. A mixture of 40-60 year olds.
spacedoggos_@reddit
My office is almost entirely silent. It creates a very judgey, uncomfortable atmosphere that’s hard to concentrate in. 200+ desks. People rarely chat and if they do it’s to their team.
I was once told off for joining in a conversation about a talk I had just delivered to the whole office because I wasn’t part of that team. Bizarre.
My previous office wasn’t too loud but there was enough walls and background noise that it didn’t feel weird to have a chat.
Financial_Call_7240@reddit (OP)
the teams are mysterious and important
spacedoggos_@reddit
Hahaha this made me laugh
ditpditp@reddit
I think this is in part due to having to be 'professional', which is moreso in some offices and organisations than others. With some of my colleagues what we say on calls whilst working at home we absolutely wouldn't say in the middle of an open plan office. I don't mean anything discriminatory or bitching, but we're more blunt.
I think there's an idea that you must always be working for every second and so people keep their head down, but in reality many people work in bursts, and it should be normal to chat shit with colleagues in between those bursts. Or to go for a quick walk around the block for fresh air.
Rebuffs@reddit
My office is so, so quiet. There are hundreds of people per floor. You can hear yourself on the phone - it’s like the whole floor is listening too. I hate it
whynotthissunday@reddit
It's not you. Some places are miserable and anti-social. Well done for trying but you won't change the environment, or as long as the manager is there. It is very discouraging and you'd think in sales people would have banter!
Glad you have another department of nice ladies. All you can do while you work there is keep your head down, be polite when spoken to and and do your work, maybe saving the banter for those clients who enjoy a bit of a laugh and enjoy the company of the other department.
Financial_Call_7240@reddit (OP)
great advice thank you
whynotthissunday@reddit
Anytime! I have experienced this and an office with great people, banter and very relaxed. Guess which was happier, higher performing and people stayed their whole careers?
It's a pity and nobody has to be best friends, but a bit of chat and banter goes a long way. Glad you're putting your energies into getting your qualification and experience to be in a position of finding somewhere better that will appreciate you and where you'll hopefully be happier :)
skatemoose@reddit
The office upstairs (I work production down stairs) is awful. The manager does not allow talking and it honestly drains you just having to go up there for something, like positively isn't allowed. Never want to move up there.
joaomarti@reddit
I’m a Brazilian living in the UK for a good few years now and, having worked for a few different companies, I have started to wonder if it’s just a cultural thing.
Office environment in Brazil (granted, it was before the pandemic) was quite lively, people got on for the most part and you could have a good time. In the UK, with one exception, all office environments I’ve been in were utterly depressing, with people acting like they would rather die than being there with their colleagues. Even on teams, I find the general mood very low most days, which is a bit disappointing.
Iwantedalbino@reddit
No. My office has me, I will absolutely break everyone’s concentration.
Timely_Egg_6827@reddit
Work places vary even within same company. Worked one place where a floor was called "the morgue" - they were all really nice, great to go out pub with,just team culture was very focused whereas team I was in were very chatty and constantly bouncing ideas off one another.
No-Structure-8125@reddit
My previous office was very loud and boisterous, we'd have an awful lot of banter.
At my current office, I sit in a smaller 3 person office away from the main office. I don't know what it's like in the main office, but in my smaller office me and my two colleagues chat quite a lot.
another_online_idiot@reddit
I have a good office team. There are four of us, we are all on the same team we have some quite good chats, a few laughs etc... It is a pleasant place to work.
Life-Bedroom-8886@reddit
Go to work.
Do your job.
Go home.
“General chat” is for family and friends.
Yes, the world of work is 50 years of mind-numbing monotony.
It’s a pitiful existence that we’ve collectively decided is necessary.
Houses, cars, holidays, smartphones, streaming services, £5 coffees, etc., etc.
We’ve all decided that we all NEED this shit.
The price we pay for this decision is having to work for it. The people we work with are only there to pay for the shit they feel they can’t do without.
It really is awful. The first 30 years are the worst.
yellowflux@reddit
With that attitude I'm not surprised you find it awful.
Life-Bedroom-8886@reddit
My attitude is informed by 40+ years in the world of work.
My views are realistic and pragmatic.
YellowSubmarooned@reddit
You’re not wrong, but you can make it more bearable for everybody around you by passing the time of day with them in an agreeable manner.
Artistic_Bug_7223@reddit
Can't you read the sign? 'General chat' is for family and friends!
YellowSubmarooned@reddit
Are these all your imaginary friends?
Artistic_Bug_7223@reddit
Hey OP I found one of your colleagues!
Financial_Call_7240@reddit (OP)
My argument would be that, we are with these people for large proportions of our lives, surely being positive to one another and making an effort would do better for everyone?
HoraceDerwent@reddit
40 years of doing something doesn't mean you are right.
Choosing to have zero connection with people you are around 8 hours a day is a decision you have made, and you've found it miserable - that's on you.
Saying it's "realistic" to not have general chat with anyone at work is wrong and also a pathetic way to live.
Real_Cauliflower2334@reddit
It really doesn't have to be like that. I'm an office manager and my view is you spend half your life here, let's not make it miserable. The work isn't particularly interesting but we have a laugh and get shit done as a team.
Financial_Call_7240@reddit (OP)
please may you manage my office
horrorfanuk@reddit
Can i copy this for a job advert ?
Durzo_Blintt@reddit
If they forced me to go into the office this is how I'd be because I'd resent the management for making me go in. I'd make it as unpleasant as possible whilst doing my job well.
FranzLeFroggo@reddit
Nah mine ain't quiet. I love the lads I work with. Lots of jokes and banter but the work gets done. Busy season so we are cracking on with lots of work but at the same time, moral is high and everyone is having a laugh.
whynotthissunday@reddit
That's lovely and makes the day go quicker when people have a laugh and genuinely get on. Work is pleasant and people generally stay in the job.
I had that. A lovely team with great management who got on, helped each other and chatted as the work got done. We were the highest performing team.
Joined the NHS after redundancy as few jobs in my area. Very pressured but gossipy, backstabbing, not allowed to be real or have a laugh to help the day along. Nobody cares. People work in isolation yet they have Diversity Officers and Culture Champions for "inclusivity". Not surprisingly people leave and move around.
Financial_Call_7240@reddit (OP)
this is what im missing out on, i work in sales, and theres no banter, competitive spirit, or any environment to help the sales. its ridiculous!
Real_Cauliflower2334@reddit
Same here although I've worked in quiet offices (generally with older people) and it is utterly miserable
Individual-Tank2022@reddit
Just put an airpod in and let em be miserable
h00dman@reddit
My current office is very quiet, and it's a struggle for me due to ADHD (officially diagnosed before I'm jumped on).
I'm actually pretty quiet myself but a buzzing office gives me energy that I can use to help me concentrate, but without that I find I get very little done on the days when I go in.
My last office was completely different. We had music playing (not too loud thankfully), there was chatter, people were moving about. It helped that we all had our assigned areas whereas my current office is all hot-desking or pre-booked seating, which means you can be sitting next to someone completely different from one day to the next.
It makes it harder to strike up a bit of short conversation, and also it's easier to forget to do things like going out for lunch with colleagues or even smaller things like getting up to grab a coffee at the same time as the person next to you - all things that help to break up the day.
I'm mostly ok with hybrid working but it is harder than the previous ways of working whether it was fully in office or fully remote during lockdown (I could call someone for a quick chat on Teams or something).
JennyW93@reddit
I once worked in an office where I was labelled the extrovert of the group simply because I’d say good morning when I arrived
dbxp@reddit
Pretty normal with a modern open office, the big idea is to foster collaboration but in reality it results in people wearing headphones so they can concentrate and chatter decreases. This was included in the book Peopleware decades ago but the people in power keep trying to push this lie that open plan offices offer better collaboration rather than just being cheaper.
elvpak@reddit
My office is dead. Even worse because I share with only one other person and he is the quietest, most boring person I've ever worked with.
It really does make the day drag if it's a quieter day with not much actual work to do and I've actively started looking for a new job because of it. I'm an extrovert and I just don't like quiet, awkward people who can't small talk.
Financial_Call_7240@reddit (OP)
Mate nail on the head, I could speak the back legs off a donkey, but these guys are about as exciting as a long weekend in jail
elvpak@reddit
It literally feels like jail a lot of the time.
FudgingEgo@reddit
Polar opposite to my office, you can't think in my office as everyone doesn't stop talking.
FHFBEATS@reddit
I work at the back of an office building and have to drop my work off up to the front office, where about 10 staff members are sat. I’m so glad I’m not stuck up there it’s deadly silent all day. Most days I walk in and crack jokes like “wow I can hear my blood circulating” or “I can hear my hair growing” and watch people try not to break before I quickly scamper back to my desk
SpudFire@reddit
Different offices have different dynamics. Even at the company I work for, we have two offices and they're completely environments. The office I work in is only silent about 10% of the time. It's open plan so it's easy to start up a conversation with anybody in the room and anybody can join in if they want to.
It sounds like you can't change this in your office, you've tried to talk to them and it hasn't worked. If you don't like this environment, start looking for a new job as not all offices are like yours. And remember that when interviewing for jobs, you're also interviewing the employer as much as they're interviewing you - I think this is where in-person interviews are better than over Teams, as you'll often walk through the main office to get to the interview room and can pick up on the vibe.
VastClimate4195@reddit
Yep. In my office there’s a little bit of chitchat when people first arrive but then it’s dead quiet the rest of the day. It drives me mad so I often have my headphones on just so it feels like I have company.
If it bothers you that much, you could always leave.
Financial_Call_7240@reddit (OP)
Ofcourse, however i'm studying to become chartered in insurance and this company is paying to put me through it, which is a bit tricky
VastClimate4195@reddit
That’s fair! Stay as long as you need to, get your qualification then get gone. It’s good that you’ve realised early on that work life doesn’t have to be this miserable. I always ask a question about the working culture at interviews for this reason.
pureplay124@reddit
Talk about deportations, apparently it’s very popular online
BillyJoeDubuluw@reddit
A major factor here is that a considerable chunk of them don’t want to be in there, would rather be working from home now and resent having to go to the office so I genuinely believe that a lot of the social side evaporated back on the other side of covid.
You will get plenty of small talk on a zoom call and it’ll merrily run over the designated time slot but you’ll regularly sit in silence when you have to physically be there.
This, teamed with limited physical attendance, is from my angle very much why a lot of offices are no longer my priority clients as a cleaning company director. They have gone way down the list behind much more blue collar environments where the staff have to be there to operate.
Financial_Call_7240@reddit (OP)
Completely understand,
However we work in sales where arguably environment is one of the biggest factors, and I'm the only one in the office that even small talks to the clients ha.
BillyJoeDubuluw@reddit
Ah I see.
I’d honestly just focus on engaging your customers and be as minimal with your colleagues as they are with you.
Strange-Yam4733@reddit
Did a year in a place like this, wanted to quit at lunch on my first day and I wish I did. Id you aren't happy there, find something different, I had 12 months of waking up with dread. Finally decided it wasn't going to improve, found somewhere new and it was worlds apart, sociable & nice chatty bunch who were a fantastic team. Oddly enough, the quiet office shut down a couple of years later, maybe unrelated but worth noting.
YellowSubmarooned@reddit
It sounds odd. Normally somebody is up for a chat. Blanking is simply rude and they are wankers. I’ve walked into other offices on client sites where it’s completely silent and it feels miserable and not a normal healthy environment. Don’t get me wrong I hate working and colleagues as much as everybody else but you have to make the best of it. In fact I retired at 50 as K couldn’t stand it any longer. Start looking elsewhere, you don’t want to stay in that environment too long.
Financial_Call_7240@reddit (OP)
The job i was previously in, practically was terrible, but i had mates who i socialised with outside and it was a lovely community, i thought every job was like this ha
abgc161@reddit
Mines exceptionally quiet. We only go in once a month so no one really knows anything about each other. In fact last time I was in, all I said all day was ‘good morning’ and ‘see you next time’
EdmundTheInsulter@reddit
Have they grown up in the social media era and don't know how to talk to people?
Valuable-Wallaby-167@reddit
Considering OP says they're the youngest by far, presumably not
EdmundTheInsulter@reddit
Yeah good point
bonjajr@reddit
People are just boring mate. It’s not you. Chatting about small things like what are you having for dinner etc can make the time pass so I don’t blame you for trying.
Mental-Risk6949@reddit
Yes, though everyone is British, we may as well all be from different speaking countries the way conversation is limited (a quick complement, a quick question, a fake giggle). The wildest what happens in this department is a person changes from their bike gear into their work clothes. I'm not complaining though as I would much rather this than the noisy people as at uni. computer room/library. It's also why I have reddit.
durkheim98@reddit
Yeah my colleagues are nice but also very, very mild mannered. Bordering on repressed. I know the women who work in reception better than most of the people I work with.
That said, blanking you is a bit odd. Maybe they'll loosen up at the staff do or after work drinks?
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