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Workers compensation questions.

How do you handle co-workers who ask extremely personal questions?

  • I have worked at several jobs where I've been asked, what I consider very personal questions and when I politely decline to answer by stating "I'm sorry but I would rather not answer that" they treat me with contempt and then tell everyone that I am "stuck-up" and anti-social and sadly most people seem to believe them! And no one listens when I try to explain or worse they insist that It the questions aren't that personal and I shouldn't have any problem answering them. I don't think its up to them to determine what is and isn't "too personal". How can I handle them without being made out to be public enemy number one. Oh and of course the offenders are always popular with most of the other employees. I would for once would like to be able to just converse with some co-workers without them giving me the third degree. I don't mean casual questions, I mean questions like what political party do I belong to, What do I think about the latest hot political topic. Or topics that I object to because of my religious beliefs and if I answer honestly they go off on me like I was the devil or something. Correct me if I'm wrong but once upon a time MOST PEOPLE HAD ENOUGH common sense to NOT ASK questions that dealt with politics OR religion.These are hot button topics and it ALWAYS inappropriate to ask such personal questions at work about either of these topics. What political party or religious group one belongs to is no ones business. And people need to learn to mind their own business and stop trying to rally people to their causes at work. That is never appropriate. And if I go to the boss, of course I'M THE BAD GUY! rme What is wrong with some people now days? It's like they have no self-control when it comes to these subjects.

  • Answer:

    I agree with you. When someone asks me a question I do not want to answer, for whatever reason, I simply ask them a question back, like "Exactly why would you want to know my religious beliefs?" Or, "Exactly why would you want to pry in to my personal life, I wonder?" Just turn it around and put them on the spot

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You are right some subjects that where not ever asked about [certainly not on a casual basis] seem to have become open topics for everyone. I would just state that I really do not have much of an opinion either way on the subject and then move swiftly to asking them a work related question..............

candy g

I've learned to either change the subject to something lighter, ask them an equally personal question or just walk away. Sometimes I say to them "that must be an important question to you" and then change the subject. If they are too dim-witted to know I will not engage in their conversation, let them wonder.

Ally S

Ask a question back such as "Why do you want to know?" This switches the discomfort from you to them because they have to explain why they are being so nosey.

If someone asks me a personal question which I do not want to answer I tell them I am not prepared to answer the question.

KENNETH D

just tell them to mind their own business, you dont want them for friends if theyre going to do that anyways

Pearl L

I've learned to either change the subject to something lighter, ask them an equally personal question or just walk away. Sometimes I say to them "that must be an important question to you" and then change the subject. If they are too dim-witted to know I will not engage in their conversation, let them wonder.

You are right some subjects that where not ever asked about [certainly not on a casual basis] seem to have become open topics for everyone. I would just state that I really do not have much of an opinion either way on the subject and then move swiftly to asking them a work related question..............

You shouldnt answer like that ('im sorry but i would rather not answer that') its too formal and does give the impression of being a bit cold, even though on paper youre doing nothing wrong. And you definitly shouldnt go to the boss, although work is work there is still a strong social side to it, there are lots of ways of avoiding questions, you can just smile and shake your head or be like ah that would be telling -You dont have to answer them but just keep it light hearted. A girl I work with wants to know everything personal (sex life/boyfriends etc) I just smile and she takes it that im shy its all fine x

I would keep putting off and being like we'll talk about it later bc u know it is a work place and they shouldnt be doing things like that when they should be working. Or I would tell them and when they got mad I would be like you.ask a personal question you might not get the answer you want. Sorry. That will put them in their place.

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