Dear Snarky
I started a new position at work and now I supervise a woman who not only has a high-pitched voice, which I could deal with IF she didn’t constantly use baby talk, and refer to herself in the third person. It’s killing me! At first I wanted to get her fired, but it turns out she’s great at her job. Do I tell her that her voice is like fingernails on a chalkboard or do I just start wearing earplugs. It’s making me hate my job.
Signed, No Baby Talk
Dear Talk,
Ohhh my, you poor litttttle bwwba. Sorry that was mean, but I couldn’t help myself. My advice is immediately check with human resources because I’m pretty sure talking about yourself in the third person should be a fireable offense. Okay, okay, I know it’s not, BUT it should be – just saying.
Enough kidding around here’s the deal – you’re in a tough situation. As her brand new supervisor I don’t think you can tell her to start using her big girl voice in the office. That’s not going to go over well and as soon as you open that can of worms everything might become very uncomfortable. This employee could even has a speech disability. (Although that doesn’t explain the baby talk or the love of the 3rd person.)
So because she does her job well I would do the time-honored office maneuver known as making her not your problem. Promote her, transfer her, do whatever you can to get her to another part of building and hopefully someone that’s higher up and more established on the office food chain can have a serious sit down with her about maturing her vernacular.
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You are too, kind with your advice. But, the snarky resonates well with me. As I am also a mouthy maverick.
The tricky part is she is the baby talker’s brand new supervisor so she must be very careful and not open herself up to any claims of harassment.
I agree with Snarky 100%. This woman is new to her position and she has to be very careful about which battles she’s going to fight. Trust me baby talker isn’t one of them. Do what baby talker’s previous boss did and move her up, over and around the company.
I have that problem at work which is why I was googling it and came across this! I have two women at work..its their “thing” but its starting to spread to their communication with others besides themselves.. We are in a large open office space and the two of them, on opposite sides of the room, shout it so the other hears. Unfortunately one of them sits right next to me so its grating on me loud and clear…but my fingernail/Chalkboard scratch is elevated a notch or three by the one who sits next to me. She also has a baby giggle to end every baby waby thing she says! teee thetheeeetee weeee …please just shoot me is my silent plea several times per day…I am glad I saw this thread. I like the “big girl voice” verbiage and will probably start using it..and try not to sound .like the mommy. Gaaa.. she might wanna play along and think its “our” new “thing”…ugggg
Oh dear God, you poor woman! Yeah, I would for sure try the big girl voice thing and then hope for the best while you ask Santa for noise canceling headphones.