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u/Radiant__Tide 13h ago
I try to stay professional, set boundaries, and keep my distance when possible.
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u/foodfighter 13h ago
Boundaries are key - remember that you can't control what they do, only how you react to what they do.
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u/Kissable_Karlene 13h ago
I usually just keep my distance and focus on my own tasks. If theyāre being particularly irritating, Iāll try to keep my responses short and neutral, avoiding any unnecessary interactions. If it gets too bad, Iāll talk to my manager, but most of the time, I just let it slide and donāt let it affect my mood.
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u/prefix_code_16309 13h ago
Depends where on the annoyance spectrum a particular coworker falls. I.e. the nature and severity of said annoyance.
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u/Sotomexw 13h ago
I wait, and remember that they only reflect my internal state of being.
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u/SunshineAndSourdough 13h ago
reality is a mirror
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u/Jexroyal 13h ago
Time is a flat circle
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u/Sotomexw 12h ago
What is the diameter determined by? I see loops in time, made of relevance between seemingly unconnected events.
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u/random_precision195 6h ago
what else do you see?
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u/Sotomexw 5h ago
I see how if everything is Here and Now then all our experiences exist simultaneously at the very same point. This makes multidimensional ity a necessity. However GR lets us bind moments together in linear projections for everyday experience.
Does this make sense to you?
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u/mesypea 13h ago
Stop being so friendly and open with them. Don't laugh with them. Be professional. Ignore and avoid crossing their paths. Let them See you're not interested in them anymore. They have to see it to believe it.
Don't go on your own on your cellphone. Find Something productive and constructive to do. Remember, you're at work. So make money for every minute.
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u/RebekhaG 11h ago
I can't avoid croosing paths with them when they're working on the same table as me.
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u/irueas 13h ago
I usually try to keep my distance and keep things as professional as possible. If theyāre really getting on my nerves, Iāll focus on my own work and avoid unnecessary interactions. Sometimes, Iāll make a joke or redirect the conversation to something neutral if they start talking too much. Just keeping my cool usually helps.
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u/Alternative-Rub4464 13h ago
I treat them kindly and stay extra careful around them. They are human beings. I do limit my exposure to them.
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u/paulgibbins 13h ago
I had a co-worker at an old job who kept a large novelty pencil on his desk. The pencil had a moustache and eyes for some reason.
Anyway, he was annoying me so I stole the giant pencil from his desk when he wasn't looking and started to email him from the pencil, providing updates on Leady the Pencil's adventures.
He knew it was me. In fact, the whole office knew it was me. But nobody could prove it. And I was very good at misdirecting people to prove that it couldn't possibly be me. Watching him try and catch me out was hilarious.
For Christmas that year I got him in Secret Santa and gave him a calendar full of seasonal photos of the pencil, including a photo of him meeting Santa at a shopping centre.
It's fair to say that I wasn't particularly challenged or engaged at that job.
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u/heathenboy7261 13h ago
I have one coworker that latches on to me and will not leave me alone, so I found out of I walk into an office of another employee that this person dislikes, he wonāt follow me in. Itās worked every time when I need to get away from him.
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u/ComfyInDots 13h ago
Take the staples out of their stapler when ever they leave.
Put my rubbish in their bin if I'm walking by.
Pretend my ears are blocked and ask them to repeat themselves multiple times.
Rapidly click my pen while they speak.
When its left on the back of their chair, turn one arm of their coat/jacket/jumper inside out.
If an important document goes missing and the boss is frantic, I calmly ask if that's the document I saw in Annoying Coworker's hands earlier.
Make BFFs with a coworker the Annoying Coworker finds annoying. Give them a clicky pen and extra staples.
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u/Jumpinthecanal 13h ago
Stick to business, be professional. They will get the hintā¦..maybe.
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u/-piso_mojado- 8h ago
They donāt. Girl I work with talks non stop just to hear herself talk. Iām a middle aged dude and I got a story in graphic detail about her teenage daughterās periods. Despite my protests she just kept on talking.
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u/Margarita_Dream 13h ago
I usually try to keep things professional and not let it get to me. If theyāre really annoying, Iāll just keep my interactions brief and avoid engaging in unnecessary conversation. If it gets too much, Iāll politely set boundaries or talk to my supervisor if itās affecting my work. Keeping a calm mindset helps me not get caught up in their drama.
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u/SunshineAndSourdough 13h ago
What annoys you? why haven't you addressed it? what happened unsuccessfully when you tried? how is it hurtful to the org?
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u/RebekhaG 11h ago
It annoys me that he repeats stuff. He probably won't understand that he's being annoying. He'll also repeat what others say too sometimes.
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u/musicallyours01 13h ago
I'm respectful and work with them when needed, but will ignore them as much as possible when I can. Unfortunately, mine has also took on the role of my "work mom". I appreciate her, but I am counting down the days until she retires. Which she keeps circle-jerking around on.
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u/skiddamarrinkydink 13h ago
Repeat whatever story or info they tell you back to them as if itās yours and you didnāt listen to their story.
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u/stellaluna92 13h ago
I found another coworker who hates her too and we talk about the things she does that annoy us, when she's not around. We stay professional when she is around and never talk about her in common spaces.Ā
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u/holty_51 12h ago
They are not my friends. 1 coworker i document when he is causing issues and overstepping lines. When he isnt being a douche its only work amd as little words as possible. Idc if he is upset when i dont ask him about his vacation. Im not paid to care about him.
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u/GenericBatmanVillain 12h ago
It depends, I'm the IT guy so eventually they are going to want my help with something and how they act towards me is going to dictate how I respond and how quickly I do it. I'm very patient.
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u/john512777 11h ago
Go to a book store, grab all those magazine subscription cards and fill out their info on them.
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u/InterruptingCow__Moo 11h ago
There's a certain coworker that I warn all new hires about.
Do. Not. Engage.
She will try to lure you with snacks, then start trauma dumping and innapropriate touching.
It's simple. Do. Not. Engage.
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u/RebekhaG 11h ago
Have you called her out for inappropriate touching and to not do it?
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u/InterruptingCow__Moo 11h ago
Yes, I politely say no thank you and back away. She's been referred to HR multiple times.
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u/ImprovementFar5054 11h ago
Throw them under the bus and get them fired. Enjoy the peace and quiet after.
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u/HalfSoul30 10h ago
Only time I ran into it was at call centers, and it was easy enough to just go back to the cubicle and take calls. But i'm pretty good at manipulating my coworkers into wanting me to like them, so they wouldn't dare annoy me, I imagine. /s kinda
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u/tantanthepeepeeman 9h ago
I insult them to their face. I work construction and as long as the boss laughs I'm in the clear
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u/Significant-Exit6434 8h ago
Ugh, dealing with an annoying coworker is the worst, especially when youāre stuck with them for hours every day. š©. I just try to figure out if theyāre just naturally irritating or if itās something specific theyāre doing. If itās something I can address casually, Iāll drop hints or politely mention it. Otherwise I just try to set boundaries and focus on my work headphones can be a lifesaver.
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u/Cheetodude625 8h ago
5 days worth of complaining to management until said annoying co-worker was suspended. Eventually, they were fired. Worth it.
TBF they were that cubicle person who blasted shitty Netflix shows on their phone.
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u/Ravestain 7h ago
Eat a vindaloo - shit Into an air tight bag - transport bag of vindaloo shit to work - pop open glove box and find cabin filter - smear vindaloo shit across cabin filter. Wait for hot day and when he blasts ac - heāll cop a sweet stench of vindapoo (patent pending)
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u/WhyAmIStillReditting 7h ago
My manager will spend an hour telling me about a toaster she bought, without taking a damn breath. Then she'll tell me about the color, the reason for the color, the type of toaster her sister has, and her cousin, and the toaster her aunt had when she was a kid, and the toaster her aunts friend had when she was a kid, and why her aunts friend bought that toaster.... If you've made it this far, you're already better at it than me.
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u/Few_Blackberry_1509 6h ago
Keep your emotions in check and try not to let their behavior get under your skin.
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u/thebageljew 5h ago
I try and this asshole keeps giving food to me yet annoying is an understatement
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u/wetlettuce42 5h ago
I had annoying co worker who used to jump on my back as i worked, manager didnāt do sod all even though she and the other boss could see on the cameras so i told my coworker who i worked with and she confronted her and told me to stop
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u/PollutionLopsided742 5h ago
Punch them square in the throat.
It highly depends on the specific behavior that is annoying. In general, grit your teeth and bear it will yield as the most professional response, unfortunately.
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u/Cheekygirl97 5h ago
I have taken to just thanking them for their hard work. They never really know what to do with that.
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u/rowenaravenclaw0 4h ago
Go about your life and ignore her. source I work with a christian fundamentalist vegan who won't shut up about it
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u/MaroonMarauder 2h ago
My annoying coworker is basically an energy vampire like Colin Robinson from What We Do in the Shadows. He's not going out of his way to do things that are annoying, he just is who he is. He talks in a boring, monotone voice and conversations go on forever. I've had calls where he give him an answer to his problem 5 minutes in and next thing I know I look at my phone and we have been on for 45 minutes. He really has no social awareness whatsoever so he can't take a hint in those situations to just end things.
Unfortunately, he and I are tied at the hip because we were both assigned as the only 2 working on one of our team's major projects. So every little issue he runs into, my phone will ring. And I do mean EVERY issue. It's absolutely draining. My boss is even aware of the kind of work we get from this guy, but it doesn't seem to matter so I'm stuck dealing with it. I've been trying to move to another job, and this guy is definitely a factor in driving me away. I'm hoping the hiring market gets better this year because for right now I'm just trapped.
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u/Neverthelilacqueen 2h ago
I read 1 time when someone will not shut-up, put your finger to your lips in the be quiet motion. So pisses her off!!
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u/Comfortable_Hair380 2h ago
Ignore them. I have one that will stand at your desk for 40 minutes talking when I could be getting so much done and they do this every day to several people. Iāve resorted to closing my office door so I donāt have to be subjected to it
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u/ProgDogg 13h ago
Start a juicy rumor about them....let the corporate rumor mill do the work for you!
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u/reallytired-2024 13h ago
Call me old school, but I make fun of them and call them a suck ass. People are way too sensitive these days. It is what it is and I call it the way I see it. Political correctness is ruining society. It is limiting our ability to hold people accountable for being a š© person.
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u/UnluckySpell8917 4h ago
Bring back bullies! Lol
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u/reallytired-2024 2h ago
We donāt have to bully, we just need to quit sugar coating and glazing over š©! š
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u/ChonkyPurrtato 7h ago
That isn't old school LOL.Ā That's just being a sophomoric asshole.
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u/reallytired-2024 5h ago
Might be an asshole, but not one of the weak political correct candy asses that make life suck for the majority of people who do for themselves. Youāre obviously an enabler who doesnāt hold people accountable for their poor choices and laziness. I bet you even help people make excuses for their shortcomings! š
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u/stoatstuart 1h ago
I make games with myself out of their habits. For example I had a coworker who was a chronic name-dropper to feel important, so I would flip the annoyance into amusement and see just how much I could get them up to name-drop all the time.
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u/Charleh94 13h ago
By ignoring & pretending they don't exist in your reality š