Problem Colleagues!! Help Advice Needed!!

[sam100]

I have been at the company i work for for 8 yrs and recently have got two new work mates who have been here 3 months (One Male & one female) .

The three of us are the only people based in our office so work pretty closely and we see our boss for 20 mins a week and the rest of the time contact is by email or phone. I am slightly more senior to her but him and i are equal (in a way)....ANYWAY....

As they started together they formed qy=uite a close bond and i have reason to believe something is going on between the two of them (which is fine) however, there are a few problems..

one is that they email each other on personal email accounts constantly during the day! The others are that they whisper to each other, all emails are sent signed from the both of them, they work together on projects which dont require it, they come to work together, go to lunch together, work late together, they sit giggling and dont share the joke, they have secretive conversations and stop talking when i walk into our shared office.

My boss doesnt really know much about it (and doesnt show much interest anyway) .....it is making my working life quite uncomfortable and awkward as i feel like the goosebury.

I cant go running to my boss whinning as it will make me seem like im being awkward and will create an atmosphere in the office and i will be the only one to suffer as there are two of them and one of me!!!!

Any advice would be extreamly appreciated!!!

[germanguyuk]

Hi there,

I think the problem seems to be somewhat with you.
If you have been there the longest, and feel that the 'newbies' are creating an uncomfortable work environment, then the only way forward, without involving the boss, is to sit them both down and talk it over face 2 face.

With regard to their 'shared lunches, times together etc', there is not much you can do about that. But whilst they are at work they have to conform to simple business rules.

And in any respectable business, the time at work to be wasted with personal emails is a definate no-no.

So the ball is in your court, put our foot down and re-enforce some rules and take charge. They may not like it, but tat's tough. Someone has to be in charge.

[pingping]

how about suggesting a christmas lunch with them and try and talk your differences out over a few glasses of wine? let them know that you are happy that they are in a relationship (if indeed they are), but could they show some consideration to you during working hours?

it does sound as though they are being a bit unreasonable with their cliqueyness (doesn't sound very professional) and they certainly shouldn't be spending work time on personal emails.

[angeldraws]

How about 'joining in' by asking them if 'something is going on' between the two of them....in a humorous way.....? ......then perhaps you wont feel so left out or grumpy about the whole thing. Perhaps you are being a bit 'stand-offish' with them when you could lighten up a bit? Perhaps you could approach your boss and suggest that you become team/office manager with a nice mix of a wage increase??? Bet that would make you feel better???