Greetings, Miss Manners We developed a group text conversation to discuss our shift availability at my new job, which I recently started. Employees, however, have started chit-chatting on this chat.
I can’t just turn it off since I might overlook something crucial for work. I don’t want my phone to blow up, even though they’re all amazing people! How can I say this in a courteous way without offending anyone?
PERSONAL READER: Miss Manners is glad to provide a courteous answer because this is a very common problem with a generally awful remedy.
Coworkers who misuse the channel are usually reprimanded, which is rude, hurts everyone’s feelings, and is ineffective.
More patience is needed for a better answer. If you must, pretend to be interested in personal concerns by creating a second group text chat and directing personal matters there. As often as you need to, reiterate your instructions. The second channel can then be muted.
Stories by
Judith Martin
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Miss Manners: What can dinner host do when guests provide laundry list of foods they avoid, are allergic to?
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Miss Manners: Hostess gets snippy when asked to move tall flowers blocking view of other diners
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Miss Manners: Work friend has asked me to join her for lunch out, but I just can t afford it. What do I say?
Greetings, Miss Manners I was brought up to think that pointing, especially in public, is impolite. Whether in a crowded room or on the street, my spouse used to point a lot while we were married.
I attempted to politely point out that the behavior was impolite, but he insisted there was no such regulation. I’ve searched etiquette books for help, but I haven’t found anything.
What do you think about this for my personal peace of mind?
PERSONAL READER: Generally speaking, you are right. Miss Manners will add that there are exceptions, such as pointing at the truck coming toward your ex-spouse and telling him to move aside, as you were gracious enough to provide a fair warning that your interest is not disinterested. If you feel like it.
Miss Manners can be reached by email at [email protected], via her website at www.missmanners.com, or by mail at Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.
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