To Say Hello or Not?

Kenya
August 25, 2012 3:33am CST
I work in a male dominated office and I am the only female and most of the time all the work load is left for me and they treat me like their domestic worker. They keep me in the dark when something important is happening in the office and expect me to be happy and friendly with them. My question is should I bother to say hello to them in the morning or should I just mind my own business and just do my job to the best of my ability?
5 responses
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
25 Aug 12
Why don't you use your womanly charm in asking for their help on some works to be done, rather than giving them all to you. I was thinking that if you are the lone girl in a company of males, they will treat you like their sister, hence will be helpful to you. I was shocked that your real condition there is very much contrary to what i am thinking.
• Kenya
27 Aug 12
I get your point I did start by by being very friendly but that encouraged very tasteless jokes as some of them thought that it was an invitation to my personal life and I just decided to be strict and only talk about work and that is when things got so tough but at least the jokes stopped.
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
28 Aug 12
That's more tolerable than being the center of jokes.
• India
2 Sep 12
Firstly, I think you should report about your colleagues behavior to the highest authority in your office. Tell him how your colleagues put their workload on you. Also, be firm in refusing to do their work. Secondly, you should not bother to say hello to such colleagues. Just concentrate on your work and give your best in your work.
• Kenya
3 Sep 12
Thanks Inderjeetkaur, The problem is I work at a family owned business for the father, mother and 3 sons and the driver is their relative and I am the only outsider so the case is not viable as the overall boss is not fair.The mother is not involved in the everyday running of the business.
@maezee (41997)
• United States
31 Aug 12
In my opinion, you might as well be above them. Kill 'em with kindness, I've always said! If they really are treating your poorly, you should be SURE to subtly guilt trip them by saying "Hello [John], how are you this morning?" Whenever someone is rude to me, I try to do this - shock them with my niceness. I think it probably bugs them more than you being rude back to them, actually. It sounds like an unfair working situation. In all seriousness you should probably start looking for something else, or at least look to get whoever is in charge in trouble for their gender discrimination.
• Kenya
3 Sep 12
I wish this would work in this scenario but we are talking about people who are trying to get my attention because they think that I should play at their game.The best thing that has come out of just minding my own business is that they don't bother me or touch my things which would be a worse situation.conversation with them is opening a door for colorless jokes which I can not entertain.
@enelym001 (8322)
• Philippines
26 Aug 12
Say hello. Greet them every morning. Smile at them. And asked their help when you need it. Like you, I am also the only female here in the office. Although there is one dominant colleague here I just ignore it and do my usual work. I try not to take every thing too personal and sometimes I just try to calm myself down so I wouldn;t have to argue with anyone. I explained and defend myself if necessary.
• Kenya
27 Aug 12
Thanks, I can't promise to smile at them because I have seen that it encourages unwanted conversation and the audacity of it is someone will take the opportunity to tell me a rude joke. Ignoring actually works very well.
@Shavkat (137261)
• Philippines
25 Aug 12
Be casual, there is nothing harm if you greet them every morning. It shows how professional you are. Then, do you thing in your job. Don't let yourself be affected.
• Kenya
27 Aug 12
Thanks I will try to be very casual and not be affected.