How do you handle a talkative Co-worker?

Question

Everyday my friend tells me of this co worker at her job who is always comes over and talks non stop. She said that this co-workers talking is stopping her from doing work because she doesn't want to be rude and tell him to go back to work so she listens.
she told me that yesterday she avoids him, and now she is rarely seen at her desk for fearing that he might appear. I told her to let him know that chatting can be done at lunchtime. She told me that he won't stop talking. she said one day things were quiet and he came up to her and said "I dont mean to interrupt, I want to talk to somebody" and goes off gabbing. I dont know what to tell her, its irratating her and me cause I can't call her at work cause she stays away from her desk. what to do?

Answer 1

My husband has this same problem with one of his employee's and it burns him up. This employee wastes so much time talking to another employee and to the customers, and now my husband does not know if he will keep him on. He is thinking of letting the other employee go too, for this other employee has not had the guts to tell this other one to leave him alone and just hides and wastes as much time. Because of all this production as not been as good as it normally is and mistakes have been made. Just yesterday the employee that hides lost some very important article they were repairing for a customer.
I would recommend you tell your friend that she must act quickly with guts and lots of back-bone.. She need not be rude, but she needs to tell this man that she cannot talk to him, for she is employed and talking to him is wasting Company Time, and she does not wish to be dishonest with her boss.. From now on whatever she says to this man, she must stand firm, and hold on to her word. In the long run, it is not this person who is paying her at the end of the week. She holds no loyalty to him but to her boss.. Good Luck to your friend.

Answer 2

Ugh, I have that SAME problem. The guy must think I keep UTIs or something, cuz im FOREVER excusing myself to the restroom for 3 minutes of peace. I dont know how to handle it either. They just don't SHUT UP!!!! ugh, and the worst is when he will ask me "did you watch such and such on tv last night?" even if i say yes hes gives me a frikkin recap that lasts longer than the damn show!!!!! I'll look at your answers to see what people come up with.

Answer 3

It's not rude to ignore a coworker as long as you explain that you can talk to them on your break or at lunch but you just have too much work right now to chat and do not want to get disiplined by your boss. I have been there and done that just tell her to be upfront and nice about it, surely he will understand.

Answer 4

Ignore them and stay busy. She may need to ask, "What do you not understand about I'm busy and I don't want to talk?"