Hi.

I have a problem and I don't know how to handle it. I have these 2 co-workers.
They are female. 24 and 25. I am male.

They are both extremely irritating.
The one is very bossy and loud. In fact she is so load even if I have my earphones on I can still hear them talking about all their personal stuff the entire day.

Now I got new ear phones that blocks all the sound out, but then they come to my desk and kicks it until I take my headphones off, just so they can inform me they have been talking about me but I didn't hear anything. They then proceed to giggle like little school girls, prancing and hopping around as if they are trying to be bunnies.

This annoys me a lot. They keep pestering me through out the day. I just want to be left alone to do my job from 8 - 5. I don't need someone to chit chat with.

How can I make it clear it would be preferred if they leave me alone unless it is work related?
I recently moved myself to the back of the building near the server room, but my boss soon objected and said I should move back to my desk. I have reached a point where I dread coming to work, the thought alone of these two acting the way they do irritates me to a degree where I feel like finding a new job. But I really love this job.

Please give me some advise on how to speak to people like this.

Are you able to talk to your boss about this? From what you say their behavior is affecting your work performance, I would have thought that he'd (she'd) be concerned about this. This is something your boss should deal with, not you.

Also, it sounds as if they are trying to get your attention by behaving childishly. Why don't you try laughing with them occasionally and it might get them off your back?

I did speak to my boss about this in the past. They then moved the two to another office, but its right next to mine so I can still hear them, and they still come pester me through the day.

Maybe I should speak to him again about this. As for trying to laugh at them once in a while, when I did this it became worse.

Ooohh, sounds like you must be quite handsome.

Your boss should handle it. It wouldn't hurt for you to tell these two how you feel. Tell them you need to talk to them. When it's just the three of you, explain that you have trouble getting your work done when they are having fun. Ask for their assistance. I know that you don't want to have anything to do with them. But ask for their help. See what they say.

Beings you've spoken to your boss once and it was a seeminlgy pointless conversation seeing that it was continuous, the irritating behavior of the two co-workers that is.

I suggest talking to these two ladies and explaining yourself. I am a HUGE fan on communication being key. Usually I say this about relationships but in everyday life situations sometimes its better to just lay your feelings out there. Because the longer you sit and wonder what you should do, the longer this will continue. If you love your job so much do what you have to do so that you are at your most affective self and so where you are excited again, to go to your job.

Communication, communication, communication. The only reason that I say not to go to the boss again is that he/she might take it as a critique on their situational management. They may think you weren't happy with they way they handled the situation before. (the honest truth is you weren't but you don't want to tell your boss that) it may also seem childish that you would just keep coming to your boss instead of acting like an adult and being honest with these two ladies.

Good Luck!

Rick

Are you the only three in the office? Do they bother anybody else, or just you for some reason.

Has your boss not noticed the lack of production from these women?

It seems very immature to me all the way around; their behaviour, and your inability not to be bullied in the workplace, by getting help from management.

Approach your boss again if you cannot stop them by talking to them, and tell him that workplace bullying is taking place, and if he can't put a stop to it, you're going to see a lawyer.

Workplace bullying is now taken very seriously because of the strain it takes on the 'victim', including stress, anxiety, and lost production. It costs the company all the way around to have clowns target people for fun. I has also resulted in law suits.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LJDK

I did speak to my boss about this in the past. They then moved the two to another office, but its right next to mine so i can still hear them, and they still come pester me through the day.

Maybe i should speak to him again about this. As for trying to laugh at them once in a while, when i did this it became worse.

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I didn't say laugh at them, I said laugh with them. Just a thought.

That's what I meant. :)

I kind of had an outburst today and said "please can you two stop acting like little school girls!!!" They paused, looked at me... and then without a word left my office.

It is truly a miracle, they have not spoken a word today after that. And I kind of feel good about the whole situation. Silence is so under rated in today's office space.

When there's a lull, sit down with these two women and tell them basically what you've said here, that you'd like them to leave you alone unless it's work related. Be kind but firm. Tell them that you're too busy for small talk during the work day. If that doesn't solve the problem, then do a repeat performance, but this time in the presence of your boss.

Sounds like flirting.
I think your outburst may have not been the most resposible and tackful way to approach the situation, but you may have gotten your point across.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LJDK

Thats what i meant. :)

I kind of had an outburst today and said "please can you two stop acting like little school girls!!!" They paused, looked at me... and then without a word left my office.

It is truely a miracle, they have not spoken a word today after that. And i kind of feel good about the whole situation. Silence is so under rated in todays office space.

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Good for you! Now that they know their behavior is oh so middle-school, perhaps they'll lay off. They're trying to get your attention, and now they know that you are not finding their behavior charming at all. I'm sure you really knocked the wind out of their sails. :)

I agree that the way you went about it maybe conceieved as a little disrespectful but hey I would have did the same thing.

At some point enough is enough and you say what you have to say to get your point across.

I'm glad you've manned up and told them that.

Rick

Sometimes blunt is what it takes to get through to some people. I agree with justwantfair they either want your attention or they like being annoying.
I think, when they did that with your ear phones and said that you missed them talking about you I would have said something like, ''And your opinion of me matters to me because..? "

If I were you I'd get all of you in your bosses office and tell the this "Look, I understand that you want to joke around and have fun with me, but this is a place of work and I really need to concentrate on what I'm doing. I dont' think it's fun when you're constantly at my desk about something and i can't concentrate on my job. you'ree affecting my performance at work and I'd really appreciate it if you left me be" Harsh but true. Those GIRLS need to grow up. I'm 19 and I don't act like that.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LJDK

Thats what i meant. :)

I kind of had an outburst today and said "please can you two stop acting like little school girls!!!" They paused, looked at me... and then without a word left my office.

It is truely a miracle, they have not spoken a word today after that. And i kind of feel good about the whole situation. Silence is so under rated in todays office space.

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Great! Just have a couple of amusing but firm lines that you can dish out - sounds like the mouse that roared. Well done.

Great for you! I think you did just fine. There are a lot of people that would have been rude. I think what you said was straight to the point, and quite restrained considering your frustration. I would however talk to them and apologize for snapping , but explain that you were concentrating, and under those conditions, it was impossible. You may end up marrying one of those women. Wouldn't THAT be funny?