Today at work we celebrated a co-workers birthday with having free lunch from a local BBQ restaurant (his choice). Well, no one informed me that lunch was there and I couldn't smell it because I have some sinus/allergy problems that make my sniffer malfunction every now and then (and, yes, my co-workers know this). The only reason I found out lunch was there was a co-worker had just happened to come up and ask if I'd gotten any food from the back. When I went to get my lunch, the birthday co-worker was sitting a the table with three other co-workers and they were all having a little conversation going. When I got my food and was leaving, I waited for a pause in the conversation to say "Happy Birthday" before walking out. I got silence. I know I said "Happy Birthday" loud enough because I tend to be a very cheerful person when it comes to such celebrations. But I didn't even get a smile. And honestly, I found it quite rude.
Could they be doing this on purpose?
2007-09-10 05:29:41 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Sorry! Typo! That should be "Being"! =D
2007-09-10 05:30:03 · update #1
I've been working at my office for a little over 9 months now and I'm pretty much the lowest person on the totem pole. They'll tell me every once in a while when lunch is there, but not very often. I try to be nice by smiling and saying "Hi, how are you?" but most of the people I work with have money and/or were born with a silver spoon in their mouths.
2007-09-10 05:38:41 · update #2
Howie: what I did is what EVERYONE does for the little birthday celebrations. They walk in, get their food, tell the birthday person "Happy Birthday" and get back to work. The only difference is, everyone else is told "Thank You".
2007-09-10 05:41:36 · update #3
Possibly they were just so absorbed in their conversation that they viewed your b-day greeting as an interuption, which is indeed rude on their part. Your greeting should have been acknowledged, by the very least with a nod and a smile, if not a thank-you, too. In some companies (like mine) where people have worked for a very long time (I'm a newer person and I've been here 17.5 years), a newer person can be looked upon as a nuisiance, which is unfair and unfortunate, but sometime just part of an unpleasant office enviornment, and it sounds like your office may be like this, and it's no true reflection on you or your work.
2007-09-10 05:51:33 · answer #1 · answered by GEEGEE 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you just showed up for the free food and mumbled happy birthday as you were leaving, then you were the rude one. You should have sat down and wished the person a happy birthday and had some lunch with them.
More than likely no one in your office even thinks about you and your runny nose. Stop feeling sorry yourself.
2007-09-10 05:37:06 · answer #2 · answered by howie r 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Sounds as though you are not being included. I have no idea why . How long have you worked there? Are you friends with the B-day person? do you normally get invited to these things? Is this the first time this has happened.?
2007-09-10 05:36:04 · answer #3 · answered by kathy s 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would think so...or maybe they didn't hear you?
Sounds like they might not know you very well, or there's no rapport. Of course, I can't say because I'm not there. Perhaps, they don't like you and didn't mean to tell you anything about the food. Why would you really care? Why would you even want any of that nasty BBQ and they didn't mention it to you? *These people have no respect for you, and it sounds like it's because of your "status"...* FKKEM!
Forget 'em!
2007-09-10 05:37:44 · answer #4 · answered by gobraghomagh 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ask someone in the office who you think will tell you the truth.
perhaps there was a misunderstanding of some sort.
if you have no luck then just forget about these free lunch birthday things and bring/buy your own lunch.
2007-09-10 06:09:42 · answer #5 · answered by Greeneyed 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Remember they are just co workers and you don't owe them anything. Just keep being your bright self and ignore this attitude.To me it sounds as though you are viewed as an outsider still.Maybe they have a probationary period for newcomers before they can let them in to their exclusive little club! Whatever!!!! Don't worry honey you are better than them!
2007-09-10 16:16:49 · answer #6 · answered by Baboushka 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, that must make it tough to work there. Just keep on being polite and don't let them get to you. You don't always have to be friends with your co-workers. Just do your job and remind yourself that you are the better person.
2007-09-10 07:09:21 · answer #7 · answered by Angela C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you sure your co-workers are your friends? Sounds to me like you are an unwelcomed employee.
2007-09-10 05:36:01 · answer #8 · answered by Pancake 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋