Workplace chatterboxes driving two thirds of Aussie workers to distraction
It’s what water-coolers convos and office kitchen catch-ups are made of – office banter and a little gossip makes all the hours you put in at work just that little bit easier.
But a recent poll from recruitment marketing company Employment Office has revealed that for 63% of employees, an office chatterbox has taken an occasional natter a step too far, impacting on productivity and causing co-workers to resent them.
In scenes resembling the hit US television show, The Office, it seems over half of Australian workplaces are suffering in silence as their very own Kelly Kapoor carries on oblivious.
Employment Office Managing Director Tudor Marsden-Huggins says it’s important for workplace morale for employees to develop social relationships with colleagues, however there must be boundaries.
“Friendly banter is great to build workplace culture, however there is a point where there is too much talking and not enough working.
“If it becomes apparent that there is a distinct workplace chatterbox, steps should be taken to curtail the behaviour, while still maintaining a friendly and relaxed work atmosphere, where employees feel free to share a joke and a laugh, providing them with much-needed short breaks throughout the day. Sometimes it can be difficult to find the balance, but it is absolutely essential.
According to a study in the Journal of Business Psychology, employees reported higher job satisfaction when they felt that there was an opportunity for friendships to exist at work. Furthermore, a recent survey by the Australian Financial Review found that most people would stay in their current job if they have a good relationship with their co-workers.
Though workplace chatter can prove to be beneficial, there is a line where workplace chatter crosses into a work-limiting time-waster. Marsden-Huggins says that workplace chatter can be costly for productivity, but we can’t cut out chatter altogether.
“We don’t want employees to be working in a non-speaking environment, as this can also be counterproductive. Every situation is different, and the subjectivity of it makes it difficult, but a manager needs to be in touch with their team, knowing just the point at which chat stops being something the energises the team, and turns into something that actually drains workers,” he said.
The Employment Office poll also found 66% of respondents said they handled a workplace chatterbox by tactfully asking the colleague to stop interrupting them. Fourteen per cent ignored the person, 12% asked a manager to handle the situation, while 4% of situations went unresolved and another 4% ended in an angry confrontation.
“If you feel that the chatter is impacting your work, you should try to assertively address the issue, remembering that you spend a majority of your week with your colleagues. By not resolving or aggressively confronting the issue, it can impact the quality of your work and the enjoyment you get out of it, not to mention the impact on the organisation,” Marsden Huggins said.
Here are Employment Office’s top tips to manage the office chatterbox:
- Excuse yourself from the conversation and explain you’re expecting a phone call, or need to send an important email.
- Enlist the help of another colleague and work in tag teams. Whenever one of you is stuck in conversation with the chatterbox, make advance plans to bail one another out.
- Tell the chatterbox you’ve got to use the bathroom and you’ll catch up with them later.
- Stay un-engaged. If you work in an office, stay focussed on your computer screen to send a clear message that you aren’t interested.
- If all else fails, approach your supervisor about the situation. Add the number of times the chatterbox interrupts you throughout the day and note the length of each visit. When the boss sees the chatterbox is interfering with productivity, it issue is sure to be raised. Remember to stay professional and discreet.
- For managers – Create an outlet/activity for employees to socialise outside of work so they don’t always do it in the office.
