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Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.
Two female coworkers talking at the office
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Most people expect a little bit of small talk at work, maybe a quick vent about a bad date, a stressful situation, or the general chaos of everyday life. Offices are social places, after all, and chatting with coworkers is often part of what makes the workday feel a little less like a grind. A quick “Can you believe what happened yesterday?” here and there can make the hours go by faster. But as anyone who has ever shared a desk area knows, there’s a big difference between occasional venting and becoming someone’s full-time emotional support coworker.
Sometimes, what starts as casual small talk slowly evolves into something much more… consistent. One minute you're nodding politely while someone tells you about an argument with their partner, and the next thing you know you're getting daily updates about every twist in a relationship you didn't even know existed two weeks ago. Suddenly you know the names of people you've never met, the details of arguments you were never involved in, and the exact timeline of a breakup that somehow never ends.
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Sometimes, what starts as casual small talk slowly evolves into something much more… consistent. One minute you're nodding politely while someone tells you about an argument with their partner, and the next thing you know you're getting daily updates about every twist in a relationship you didn't even know existed two weeks ago. Suddenly you know the names of people you've never met, the details of arguments you were never involved in, and the exact timeline of a breakup that somehow never ends.
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For one employee, this exact situation began unfolding when a coworker started regularly venting about her chaotic relationship during the workday. At first it seemed harmless enough, just the kind of casual office conversation that happens when people sit near each other for eight hours a day. But over time, the updates became longer, more frequent, and far more detailed. What started as occasional complaining slowly turned into a daily recap of every text message and disagreement in the story.
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Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.
Female worker annoyed at the office
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Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.
Computer laying on a desk in a office
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The tricky thing about these situations is that most people genuinely want to be kind. No one wants to shut someone down when they're clearly going through a rough time, especially in a workplace where you still have to see each other every day. But there comes a point where even the most patient listener starts to feel like they accidentally signed up for a role they didn't apply for: unofficial office therapist.
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And while being a good listener is generally a great quality, it's also important to protect your own energy during the workday. Finding that balance between empathy and boundaries can be surprisingly tricky, especially when you don't want to add to someone’s burden.
Situations like this can end up being surprisingly relatable. Many people have had that one coworker who overshares a little too much, and while the experience definitely tests her patience, it also ends up highlighting an important workplace skill that many people eventually have to learn: the fine art of setting kind, healthy boundaries.
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