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dear introverts, what can I answer to a needy and clingy coworker who believes not talking means something's wrong (with me), so he leaves me alone? (programming.dev)

submitted 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) by dennis5wheel@programming.dev to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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I go to work to work because I need a paycheck, not to make friends.

Where I am there is a new coworker that to me acts needy (think of Slow Horses's Struan Loy), tries befriending me, but he invariably asks if everything's ok. I don't care about this person's life.

The first 2 times I didn't think anything of it, but he asks that every day and it's becoming tiring.

I feel mobbed and stalked, mobbed because he keeps insinuating there is something wrong with me just because I don't ask him about his private life and do my job, and stalked, because he is so fixated on me.

going to HR over this seems ridiculous, but I'm starting to hate his voice.

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[-] orcrist@lemm.ee 29 points 2 weeks ago

You didn't tell us when he asks if everything is OK. That is a large omission, and I hope you can update the original post with examples of what led up to the question being asked. Also, what is the setup there? Are you working at Subway making sandwiches? Do you have adjacent desks? Do you show up to work with black eyes? We are left wondering what's up.

Certainly anyone who repeatedly asks "Are you OK?" is exacerbating some issue, but I would be hesitant to offer any advice about what you ought to do without reading more details.

(In other words, the missing missing reasons applies here just as it did in the original scenario, for those who remember it.)

[-] cone_zombie@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 weeks ago

Here's my take. OP is a girl working at Subway, both her and the guy are 16. The guy is romantically interested, tries to get her attention, does so awkwardly. OP is not interested, tries to excuse it as "being an introvert". Course of action - say you're not interested and move on. In case I'm wrong, disregard this comment.

[-] Zoop@beehaw.org 1 points 2 weeks ago

Agreed!

[-] dennis5wheel@programming.dev 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

You didn’t tell us when he asks if everything is OK. That is a large omission, and I hope you can update the original post with examples of what led up to the question being asked.

I'm a nurse and where I work at we all have to eat together, meaning I'm a captive audience and have to be there, like it or not. My coworkers are so special if I eat alone, away from them, they'll come to me later and ask if everything's all right. If I eat my lunch together with them but read a book, they invariably ask if everything's all right.

I cannot win here. They need this level of attention and I just want to be left alone.

this post was submitted on 30 Oct 2024

205 points (96.0% liked)

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