Stop Whining and Go Away!

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Specializes in LTC.

I frequently work with this girl who complains about our job constantly. Mostly it's about a couple other coworkers. I totally understand her need to to vent about things that bother her and actually, I happen to agree with everything she says. I just don't want to hear it all the time. She goes on and on about every little annoying thing these people do, without stopping, all day long, even on breaks. I've tried to change the subject but she changes it right back. I have to deal with the same annoyances as her, which is bad enough-- I don't need her following me around all day forcing me to relive them over and over! She is on me like white on rice and i can't !@#$ing take it anymore! Occasionally I work on another hall at the other end of the building and she still tracks me down on breaks to tell me things. I'm starting to wonder if she put a GPS tracking device in my shoe, lol! There is one day every 2 weeks that I'm not there and she is. I don't know what she does with herself on that day! Aside from her complaining, she is a great person to work with because she actually moves her butt and gets stuff done.

Anyone else work with a chronic whiner and/or stage 5 clinger?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Have you tried telling the whiny coworker, in the most tactful manner possible, that you are not really in the mood to hear the complaining today?

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Specializes in CMSRN, hospice.

Yes, I do! But she's not a stage 5 clinger, so she distributes the "wealth" a little more, lol.

We all need to vent. We also all need a life outside of work and other things to think about. I realized recently that I am not getting paid enough to be crabby about work on my days off, or to be worried and tense while I'm there.

My complainer usually gets the hint after, "Gosh, I'm so sorry, that sounds awful. So, how's your daughter?" For yours, you might have to be real with her, since changing the subject doesn't seem to help. "I understand what you're saying, but I don't want to talk about it anymore today." If she asks why, I'm sure she can understand not wanting to relive the same annoyances over and over again.

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I have a similar one at my job. The others have given some good advice, and I don't feel there's much I could add to it :p

Big hugs, we all have a challenging enough job without people whining all the time and making it more stressful

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Specializes in LTC.

I've told her I didn't want to talk about it anymore and then she thinks that I'm mad at her, even when I say it nicely. Lately I've just been saying "mmmhmmm" when she starts, and that seems to work... a little. :)

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Specializes in Psych, LTC/SNF, Rehab, Corrections.

LOL

That's what I used to say when I was caught in a Storm o' Pooh Talk with the 'gossip crowd'.

I'd just 'Mm Hmmm' and 'Mmm' and inch my way out of there.

It works.

I've never really had a clingy whiner like that before. Or, I've seen it. They just don't attach to me, thank God.

We'd complain about work, but it wasn't to that level. Once the bad apples were let go, there wasn't much complaining about other coworkers though.

I'd really rather not even get into discussions like that. People like that just turn me off, anyway.

I feel, like, if you have that big of a problem with someone? Why not tell them and hash it out instead of yacking my ear off?

Also? If they're running our coworkers into the ground? They're probably doing the same to me when I'm not around to hear it.

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

There seems to be a constant complainer at every job. Something that has worked for me

is to say something like, "I'm sorry but I've already used up all of my complaint (or ***** and

moan) time for today. While the complainer is standing there absolutely speechless... escape!

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I don't have a complainer, per se, but I do have a clinger. Well, two of them, actually. I don't know what their problem is, but they attach at my hip any time I work with them and won't let go. I worked with one all night tonight. Everytime I turned around, there she was, smiling at me, talking to me. Don't get me wrong, it makes the night a little more fun, but there are times I want to just escape for a little while. Luckily we had to take our breaks seperate tonight, so I did get that 30 minutes to myself.

Probably doesn't help that I'm the only single male working at the facility...but to be fair, they're both married. They should know better.

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