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Funkybutt
LIF Adult
Member since 4/15 3049 total posts
Name:
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work question - chatty co-workers
If you work at an office with a receptionist, how often do you chit chat as you walk by? If you don't stop to chit chat, what do you do - make eye contact and smile, stare at your phone, etc?
I'm relatively new in my office (since April) and I like to get out of my office frequently to walk around for 5 minutes instead of sitting at my desk all day. I don't want to come across as rude in my new place, but I'm also not interested in chatting with the receptionist every day (we have nothing in common and she talks with this weird high baby voice sometimes). I try to mix it up whenever I pass her - smile, say good morning, bury my head in my phone, etc...... but she always looks at me with an expecting look on her face like she wants to talk. I'm afraid I might get the reputation as being unfriendly so I've started having lunch once a month with her and a few other office mates that want to talk a lot.
#IntrovertLifeSucks
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Posted 9/27/19 8:31 AM  |
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Momma2015
Mommax2
Member since 12/12 6655 total posts
Name:
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Re: work question - chatty co-workers
I'm a receptionist. If she's anything like me, she's not looking to talk, but trying to look attentive and welcoming. Unless I'm super into the work I'm doing, I try to look up as everyone passes, in case they need me. A lot of times if I'm looking down or at my computer, someone will be wary to approach, even if they did want to come by and ask me a work related question. I do not need a word every time someone walks by and definitely don't want one! A good morning and good night is moooooooore than enough for me.
In fact, one of my co-workers stands by my desk and chats several times a day and I just want to be like GO AWAY! I bury my head in my work and give the occasional "Uh huh" or "yeah" and they don't get the hint.
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| Posted 9/27/19 8:35 AM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54917 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: work question - chatty co-workers
I would just walk by quickly with purpose and say, Good morning, or Hi or whatever when she looks up or you make eye contact.
Don't linger.
Act like you are in a rush or have somewhere important you are heading.
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| Posted 9/27/19 8:51 AM |
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Funkybutt
LIF Adult
Member since 4/15 3049 total posts
Name:
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Re: work question - chatty co-workers
Posted by Momma2015
I'm a receptionist. If she's anything like me, she's not looking to talk, but trying to look attentive and welcoming. Unless I'm super into the work I'm doing, I try to look up as everyone passes, in case they need me.
Ahhh..... this is so helpful! I hope that's what she's doing b/c I feel rude every time I pass her without saying anything.
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| Posted 9/27/19 8:57 AM |
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chilltocam
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 9141 total posts
Name:
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work question - chatty co-workers
Maybe fist time you see her a quick "good morning. what's going on or how are you?" type chat and after that, I think just a quick "hi", "good morning" or whatever is fine
Message edited 9/27/2019 9:22:31 AM.
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| Posted 9/27/19 9:22 AM |
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SusiBee
. . . . .
Member since 3/09 8268 total posts
Name:
S
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Re: work question - chatty co-workers
When I walk past our receptionist, I greet her with a good morning / good afternoon and keep on walking.
The only time I won't say anything is if a guest is at the desk or if she is on the phone.
Now, I know all about chatty co-workers. I have one that comes by my cube periodically and I try to get rid of her as quickly as possible. Usually I duck my head to hide. My previous manager had complained to her manager that she was disrupting my work. She was offended by that, but while she complains that she has a lot of work to do, she is always wandering around and chatting.
Open office = everyone is highly visible and everyone knows your business.
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| Posted 9/27/19 10:37 AM |
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Funkybutt
LIF Adult
Member since 4/15 3049 total posts
Name:
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Re: work question - chatty co-workers
Posted by SusiBee
When I walk past our receptionist, I greet her with a good morning / good afternoon and keep on walking.
The only time I won't say anything is if a guest is at the desk or if she is on the phone.
Now, I know all about chatty co-workers. I have one that comes by my cube periodically and I try to get rid of her as quickly as possible. Usually I duck my head to hide. My previous manager had complained to her manager that she was disrupting my work. She was offended by that, but while she complains that she has a lot of work to do, she is always wandering around and chatting.
Open office = everyone is highly visible and everyone knows your business.
I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that just walks by.
As far as chatty co-workers - there are others in the office that do chat with her a lot and they've tried roping me into talking with them. I went to lunch with one of them twice and I have nothing in common with her, either (and she was kinda braggy). So I feel like I'm getting a reputation as being aloof - which is why I'll go out to lunch with all of them once a month - let them know I'm nice, but I just don't have the desire to chat all day with them.
Thankfully I don't have anyone that's clueless about needing to stop talking so much!
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| Posted 9/27/19 10:44 AM |
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MarathonKnitter
HAPPY
Member since 2/07 17374 total posts
Name:
EMBRACING CHANGE
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Re: work question - chatty co-workers
don't worry about just walking by.
i've been a receptionist and a smile as you walk by is enough for you not to have a "rude" reputation.
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| Posted 9/27/19 11:08 AM |
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Momma2015
Mommax2
Member since 12/12 6655 total posts
Name:
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Re: work question - chatty co-workers
Posted by Funkybutt
Posted by SusiBee
When I walk past our receptionist, I greet her with a good morning / good afternoon and keep on walking.
The only time I won't say anything is if a guest is at the desk or if she is on the phone.
Now, I know all about chatty co-workers. I have one that comes by my cube periodically and I try to get rid of her as quickly as possible. Usually I duck my head to hide. My previous manager had complained to her manager that she was disrupting my work. She was offended by that, but while she complains that she has a lot of work to do, she is always wandering around and chatting.
Open office = everyone is highly visible and everyone knows your business.
I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that just walks by.
As far as chatty co-workers - there are others in the office that do chat with her a lot and they've tried roping me into talking with them. I went to lunch with one of them twice and I have nothing in common with her, either (and she was kinda braggy). So I feel like I'm getting a reputation as being aloof - which is why I'll go out to lunch with all of them once a month - let them know I'm nice, but I just don't have the desire to chat all day with them.
Thankfully I don't have anyone that's clueless about needing to stop talking so much!
No reason to feel rude at all! 9/10 people just walk by without saying anything (aside from the good morning first thing in the morning) or maybe with just a smile or nod. I am not even remotely offended and don't think they're rude in the slightest. And receptionists tend to really know their co-workers since we deal with all of them at one point or another, so I can definitely tell you who is rude and who is nice!
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| Posted 9/27/19 11:33 AM |
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Mushesgirl
Too blessed to be stressed
Member since 4/09 6691 total posts
Name:
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Re: work question - chatty co-workers
just walk by saying hi
gl in the new job!
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| Posted 9/30/19 10:00 AM |
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NYCGirl80
I love my kiddies!
Member since 5/11 10413 total posts
Name:
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Re: work question - chatty co-workers
You definitely don't have to chat her up every time you walk by, but I've found that some of the best connections to make in your office are the support teams - admins, mail room, etc.
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| Posted 10/3/19 3:05 PM |
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Dolphinsbaby
My 3 little guys!
Member since 12/10 2943 total posts
Name:
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Re: work question - chatty co-workers
I don’t know why but I wave. Like a small quick wave while smiling. I do this to pretty much everyone- the cleaning lady, water delivery guy. Sometimes I have random people waving to me and I have no idea. My co-workers are like you probably waved to them once so now they are your best friends. 
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| Posted 10/6/19 4:14 PM |
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LuckyStar
LIF Adult
Member since 7/14 7272 total posts
Name:
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Re: work question - chatty co-workers
Posted by NYCGirl80
You definitely don't have to chat her up every time you walk by, but I've found that some of the best connections to make in your office are the support teams - admins, mail room, etc.
I agree with this 100%.
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| Posted 10/6/19 4:34 PM |
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Peainapod
Peanuts are here!
Member since 1/09 13591 total posts
Name:
Diana
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Re: work question - chatty co-workers
with our receptionist, i smile say good morning if im going for my morning coffee; in the afternoon I am usually with my boss and other cube mates for the afternoon coffee walk and we'll say hi if she's there.
sometimes we have something to chat about b/c her and I deal with the fridge situation in the communal kitchen; or she'll ask me for a book for the display etc. Its never an all the time occurrence. If she wants to chat me up she'll do that in passing my cube. I have the worst spot..im one of the first desks you see as you walk in from the reception area..lol.
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| Posted 10/8/19 9:43 PM |
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Peainapod
Peanuts are here!
Member since 1/09 13591 total posts
Name:
Diana
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Re: work question - chatty co-workers
Posted by LuckyStar
Posted by NYCGirl80
You definitely don't have to chat her up every time you walk by, but I've found that some of the best connections to make in your office are the support teams - admins, mail room, etc.
I agree with this 100%.
thIS 1000%. at my last job in publishing I made friends with the mail guys. they always took care of my packages, always went out of their way for me. at xmas time I'd get them cookies or something. You find out who is leaving, who is hiring by knowing the mail folks and receptionists 
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| Posted 10/8/19 9:44 PM |
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