Questions tagged [coworkers]
For questions about interacting with one's coworkers, whether local or remote.
240
questions
3
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477
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How to Re-establish Professional Boundaries with a Coworker?
Several months ago, I decided to invite a coworker to a personal social event where they met my friends, something I had never done before.
Subsequently, I began seeing them frequently outside of work....
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18
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4
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3k
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My co-workers keep calling me a robot, how can I resolve this?
There is a running joke in the office that I am a sophisticated humanoid-like robot, who has undergone thorough AI-learning to reach the state that I am now at.
This originated when a co-worker ...
55
votes
13
answers
20k
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How can I offer my prayers to an atheist colleague facing a serious personal situation?
A colleague of mine commented me the other day he is having a serious family issue. (An important sickness brought a relative very close to death.) As a Christian, I believe in the power of prayer. As ...
- 5,513
5
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3
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1k
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How to deal with a younger lady who I may have inadvertently offended?
I seem to be having some interpersonal problems with a female co-worker in my workplace. To put it into context, I'm a middle-aged male and she is a fair bit younger (early 20s).
I first met her at a ...
- 1,582
4
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2
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833
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How do I deal with an office colleague whom I cannot avoid and he just won't stop talking about his favorite topic?
I like a little social interaction with my colleagues. I've spoken 1-1 for quite a while in order to get to know my colleagues at my new desk job.
There is a particular colleague who is obsessed with ...
- 21
1
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2
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317
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How can I carefully inquire if I would be welcome to join a group of colleagues at their regular social event?
I have learned that a group of colleagues sometimes meet after work for a social activity. I might be interested to join them, but they have not invited me. How can I carefully inquire if they would ...
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381
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How to turn down all future invitations without sounding rude?
Situation:
I am invited to various functions by someone I see regularly (peers, coworkers, friends of friends). When I reject their invitations they will continue to invite me to things even if I ...
- 268
8
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1
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1k
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Dealing with a white lie that caused problems
So we have a new intern in the office. They are entirely unpaid and only really here because their university makes it mandatory. Boss welcomes the free labour as there are plenty of small spare ...
- 25
3
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2
answers
1k
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How to inconspicuously distance myself from an unwanted friendship at work
Background
I've been "good" friends with a co-worker for 2 or so years now.
We have lunch together, from nearby food vendors, every day.
After some recent events, I've decided I want to create some ...
- 25
5
votes
1
answer
5k
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How to know how much money to give someone for a ride home?
With my work, we sometimes travel to different locations. At the end of the day, it's common for people to offer and ask for rides home. There was one person who lived relatively close to me. We never ...
2
votes
2
answers
2k
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How do I find out if this girl has a crush on me, without asking her directly?
I am working in an IT company as project manager. I have met this girl who is a software engineer in a different team. We have known each other for one year now.
She likes to talk to me. She calls me ...
- 317
29
votes
7
answers
14k
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Carpooling coworker sometimes makes me arrive late or stay late
TL;DR: I drive to work at my own expense. My friend gets a free ride from me, saving her money and time. I say "don't be late" sometimes, and she freaks out.
So I live in a metropolitan area and have ...
35
votes
7
answers
6k
views
How to helpfully react to a male coworker's sexual comment about a woman
I'm a male in my late 20s. Sometimes find myself in a situation with a male coworker who I've just met, or a male stranger who I'm talking with (at a bus stop, for example), and they make a comment ...
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2
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2
answers
531
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How to complain to co-worker about their behavior using non-violent communication?
I work in a shelter and the other day my coworker and a client got into a protracted, heated exchange. The client suffers from some paranoia and delusions (mild) so cannot really be counted on to ...
A J♦
- 7,732
3
votes
1
answer
578
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Inviting a colleague to hang out without giving the impression I'm interested in something more than friendship
I have one collaborator from another country for whom I have great admiration. In fact I'm learning a lot with her and I think she is amazing both professionally and as a person, and I would like to ...
- 1,100
3
votes
1
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421
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How to tell coworker to learn and do it themselves?
I started using Docusign about 4 months ago. I have a coworker who needed to learn how to use Docusign as well and we attempted to connect so that I can show her how to use it.
First attempt was not ...
- 499
2
votes
0
answers
254
views
How do I nudge my coworker to reframe his mindset from 'me' to 'we'
I just joined a new company. My immediate coworker, who's also been assigned at my line manager, takes a lot of pride in the work he's done. Even when it came to my onboarding and in general, I notice ...
CommunityBot
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0
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1
answer
283
views
If I know my interlocutor native language, it is approprieate to respond them using it? [closed]
I got an email in English from a staff member, and it turns out that he speaks the same native language as me (which is not English).
Would it be rude/appropriate to respond to the email in our native ...
- 22.1k
5
votes
1
answer
762
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I have a co-worker from India, who has lost several family members to covid. How is it most appropriate to express condoleances?
I am an academic in a US university. My co-worker is a more junior academic who grew up in India and has family in New Delhi. Today I learned that he has lost several family members (uncles, aunts, ...
CommunityBot
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3
votes
1
answer
671
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How to become a closer friend with someone of the opposite sex
Context
A couple of months ago, I (24 M) moved into a new country and a new job. I didn't know anyone over here but I met quite a lot of good people at work. One of those people is a girl (23) who's ...
- 22.1k
3
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1
answer
995
views
A friend always talks in dry-professional language even though being very close to me for years
It is strange that one of my close friends, who I know for years and have spent a lot of time in recreational activities, talks to me in very dry-professional language. It is a very minor thing, but ...
- 1,723
1
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1
answer
668
views
How to tell my senior friend stop talking me about the life's experience?
I have a senior friend (colleague) who keeps talking to me about her experience even something it costs me a lot of time (one or two hours per time) unnecessarily. She may want me to be better or else ...
- 1,723
4
votes
1
answer
621
views
How to reach out to an estranged coworker without coming across as nosy?
I have worked with Alice for five years, and we had a pretty standard work relationship, not really friends, but appreciated each other.
We did not talk since I left the company two years ago.
I had ...
- 22.1k
0
votes
1
answer
224
views
How to start the interaction in one online meeting in a friendly manner?
I have always had some issues to start interactions. Things usually go smoother when the other person starts talking. But there are times I need to start the interaction and I often end up doing it in ...
- 33.9k
57
votes
12
answers
22k
views
How to say no to an extremely pushy friend
My friend, which is also my coworker, likes to organise events for his friends. He invites a lot of people, but always expects everyone to join him regardless of if they have already planned something ...
- 22.1k
1
vote
1
answer
271
views
How to respectfully reject invitation to joint work from a colleague?
A colleague of mine is inviting me to meetings with them "to do joint work". The colleague is new, so the "joint work" is more a competence transfer.
I fully embrace the idea that ...
- 5,891
8
votes
3
answers
5k
views
How can I tell a coworker about my feelings for her without damaging our working relationship?
A coworker and close friend of mine is in a serious relationship; one day she may well marry her current boyfriend. Even so, I’ve had strong romantic feelings for her for approximately a year. I’ve ...
- 467
2
votes
2
answers
727
views
How to avoid being a wallflower in a group conversation
Is there anything I can do to avoid being the only person who doesn’t say anything in a social group setting?
The obvious answer is to talk, but I find it difficult to (i) find the right time to ...
- 4,760
67
votes
10
answers
25k
views
How to stop a colleague from talking to me about work when I'm on my lunch break?
More often than not, I eat my lunch at my desk. There aren't any shops or cafés nearby, so this suits me just fine. I usually put my headphones in and browse the news or SE to take a break from work.
...
- 631
48
votes
10
answers
11k
views
How to communicate to a new coworker that I am not comfortable being touched?
Last week a new coworker joined our team, and yesterday we were both invited to eat lunch in the work cafeteria with some other colleagues that I have known for around a year and a half. As he, ...
CommunityBot
- 1
5
votes
5
answers
1k
views
How can I be left alone during the work day without looking awkward or offensive?
I am not a total introvert, as I am very social and stuff but when I am working during breaks or on transportation I want to be like an introvert. I guess there is a word for that which is ambivert. ...
- 690
1
vote
2
answers
834
views
How to apologize after unwanted sarcastic comment while giving feedback?
A colleague of mine sent her thesis to me to give comments on it. I really liked the work. So I replied saying it was an interesting study and nice attempt. Wished her all the best.
I later realised ...
- 5,891
7
votes
1
answer
804
views
How to stop coworker from tuning me out
Issue
One of my coworkers has a habit of "tuning me out" while I am talking. This involves completely ignoring me and working on something else.
In Person
This has happened before the ...
- 44.5k
3
votes
1
answer
322
views
How to have honest talk about current job with ex-colleagues?
When I switch jobs I have colleagues that we get along and keep in touch.
When we meet I'm find myself in a situation where I have to explain about my current employer and the job I do and to give ...
- 22.1k
4
votes
2
answers
890
views
Dealing with a Colleague who never stops eating
At the moment I am working with one other person in an office. I have no complaints about him, but he eats continually and quite loudly.
The problem is he mostly eats bags of snacks and nibbles so it ...
- 4,760
7
votes
2
answers
515
views
How to gain group respect in a workplace setting?
This question is posted as first person but on the behalf of another person. Some details might be lacking.
I work in a nursing home, as a full time employee since two weeks. My contract is for a ...
- 32.4k
22
votes
3
answers
8k
views
How do I politely turn down requests to show wedding photos?
I got married recently and have changed my name at work. People have noticed and are now asking for wedding photos. How do I tell them politely that no, I'm not going to show them? Lying and saying I ...
- 13.6k
6
votes
2
answers
455
views
How do I make sure I don't get credited for other people's work?
At work I have a co-worker who frequently gives me credit for the accomplishments of my female colleague. I am acting primarily as a consultant on the project where as she and her team are the ones ...
- 1,546
3
votes
3
answers
4k
views
How can I deal with a large age gap between me and coworkers?
How can one handle age discrepancy between a local clique and self?
For background, this is well pre-COVID-19 situation, so it does not include the pandemic as a factor.
Around two years ago, I worked ...
- 105
4
votes
1
answer
757
views
How to get coworker to stop saying clearly offensive stories when I can hear
I have a coworker (call him Tim) who says disgusting things and tells disturbing stories. I'm trying to think of a non-confrontational way to get him to stop. Often times he's not talking to me, but I ...
- 22.1k
18
votes
3
answers
8k
views
How to remind someone to do a task that they have forgotten about?
I work in a small team in a smallish company. Every so often, one particular member of the team will say they will do something (typically unrelated to our job such as buying a card for someone who is ...
- 3,249
1
vote
1
answer
2k
views
Getting back in touch with an ex- colleague
I have worked at an office as a contractor and got relieved a few weeks ago. I had fun while working there and at the same time my manager developed negative notion towards me for reasons best known ...
CommunityBot
- 1
6
votes
4
answers
3k
views
How can I tell someone that possibly unwanted body skin is showing?
So the title sums it up, but let me provide an example so it has a bit of context. I am living and working in California in an accounting office, so lax business casual is the usual attire.
I am a ...
- 371
8
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4
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1k
views
How to gently turn down digital small-talk and prevent any new attempts at having it?
The corona virus has everybody working from home. And it seems all of management is recommending to 'stay in contact', to talk with each other digitally. Which may be fun, when it's actually planned ...
- 13.6k
3
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How to approach a co-worker about stealing my sales?
I work in a small office where each of has our own set of clients that we have established relationships with over the years. I've recently moved desks and am now sitting almost side by side with ...
- 1,809
2
votes
1
answer
439
views
How to deal with lack of reciprocity in sharing information?
I am a student. Often times, I share with fellow students information about things I discover -- such as an interesting activity to do, an interesting class in another department, information about ...
- 44.5k
1
vote
1
answer
440
views
How to deal with my project manager?
I've been a software developper at an IT company for the last 3.5 years now and I've pretty much enjoyed it so far. About 9 months ago, I've asked to work on another project as my former attributions ...
- 11
2
votes
1
answer
506
views
How to communicate face-to-face with a person who never stops talking and listen?
I have a colleague at work who when speaking will keep talking without taking a breath AT ALL. I recorded our last call and checked the time he was talking vs. the time I was talking. He was talking ...
CommunityBot
- 1
3
votes
2
answers
325
views
How to tell my CTO that his design ideas are not good?
I have been working remotely with a developer that has become my main and only partner in a business project - a website - I have. I am the CEO and I'd like him to be the CTO if this becomes a bigger ...
- 2,472
1
vote
1
answer
176
views
Helping with Business Grammar
We have some employees who frequently communicate with customers. These employees are native English speakers and yet somehow their written communications come across as though they really struggle ...
- 156