How to deal with overly chatty co-worker?

[ToeInTheWater]

This is a fairly minor issue compared to most of the ones discussed here, and it isn’t technically “Family Life”, but hopefully I can get good advice here.

There is a lady I work with who I usually get along with, but the problem is that often I find myself “trapped”, for lack of a better word, conversations with her. Even when I’d think it’s fairly obvious that I am in the middle of something, she doesn’t seem to notice, and I find it very difficult to get out of those conversations. I find myself inwardly praying that the phone will ring, or that some other person will join the conversation so that I can discreetly exit it.

Of course, she is not the only person I work with who likes to talk, but most of them seem to have better social awareness about when it’s appropriate to socialize and when it’s not. She does have some kind of neurological disability, so she just might not be able to help herself, so I do try to be accommodating, but sometimes I get very frustrated at her. I’m really not sure how to handle this situation without being perceived as rude or even discriminatory towards her.

 

[1ke]

“Eloise, it’s been lovely chatting with you, but I must get back to work now.”

“Marjorie, let’s finish this conversation during break or lunch time, I need to focus on my work right now.”

 

[tawny]

“Eloise, it’s been lovely chatting with you, but I must get back to work now.”

“Marjorie, let’s finish this conversation during break or lunch time, I need to focus on my work right now.”

Exactly.

 

[phil_at_dayboro]

I work with female school cleaners,and they never ever feel any sense of urgency …
A couple of them do team cleaning which is something I refuse to do,
For obvious reasons ,
They just never Stop talking, I tell them their jaw must need a grease &. Oil because it just doesn’t stop, !
So I know EXACTLY. What you mean, I will be polite and chat for one minute ,then I just say, sorry got things to do,bye, and walk away,
Which at times can be challenging in itself because I just can’t get a word in,
So I say, got things to do, and lock a door behind me,
Really sympathise with you,

 

[acadiANNA]

Nothing worked with Chatty Cathy and yes, her name was Cathy. No one else had a problem with her camping out to talk, they seemed to handle it firmly. She just liked taking up my time. Go figure… Sometimes I had to say, “Excuse me, I have to go to the ladies room.” But how can you get your work done doing that all the time? Then I learned that she felt I was a threat to the promotion she wanted and had seniority over me. There are sticky situations in the workplace. From Workplace etiquette: Here’s what you do: don’t smile. Don’t raise your voice — instead, lower it so you’re speaking more quietly. Continue what you’re doing — if you’re writing, keep your pen in your hand, or your face half-turned to your computer. Say clearly, slowly, and quietly, “I’m really busy right now and don’t have time to talk to you. Sorry about that.” And then turn back to what you’re doing. It may take a few visits of complete non-friendliness for the coworker to get the picture, but they will eventually. Praying this will end for you.

 

[ToeInTheWater]

Thanks for the advice so far, and the prayers - always helpful. acadiANNA, I don’t think this lady has any ulterior motives for her actions, at least not anything personal against me; I’ve seen her talk others “to death” as well, and as I mentioned in my OP, I do believe she has some level of neurological disability, though mild. If not, I’d feel much less guilty about giving her the brush-off.

I suppose this is a general moral question as well; if a person has some neurological, intellectual, or mental disability, or perhaps even a psychiatric one such as ADHD, should we treat them the same as a “neurotypical” person, or should we cut them more slack?

 

[amsjj]

Are you able to wear earphones at your work? I usually listen to homilies but sometimes I just put them on to tune people out. I try to be aware of my coworkers in case they really need to talk to me but sometimes others go into chat mode!

 

[chevalier]

“Eloise, it’s been lovely chatting with you, but I must get back to work now.”

“Marjorie, let’s finish this conversation during break or lunch time, I need to focus on my work right now.”

Yeah. And also think how you could actually miss her chatty nuisance if she stopped being around, e.g. if she quit or something happened to her.