Is this normal within IT departments?

Johnjones

Basically within our IT department nobody ever speaks to each other. Like in the morning, there's no "Good Morning" or etc. Throughout the day it's pretty much the same. Only time people speak to each other is when something is wrong or they need something. An instance that recently happened to me is one of these co-workers found out my spouse is from a certain country and can make a dish he likes and asked for instructions to make it. I provided them. Since then he hasn't spoken to me at work or looked in my direction...he wasn't really before.

I understand IT people can be anti-social and/or focused due to the natural of our work, but is it so hard to speak in the morning/evening?

Hope nobody takes this the wrong way.

jamesleecoleman

Not at my place of employment. I'm the only person on site but I still talk to others in IT at other sites. Call in to talk about business and joke around. I do try to talk to people in other departments to get away from the 'view' of IT people and to know whats going on at the site.

nster

idk if I'd call that normal at all, kind of a boring environment

docrice

It's a bit more anti-social than I've seen where I've worked, but that doesn't seem extremely unusual to me.

JamesKurtovich

Certainly not in my environment!

Have you tried asking your co-worker how the recipe turned out?

RHDS2K

i've never experienced that. As the "IT guy" at all of my jobs everybody seemed to talk to me a lot and get buddy buddy with me since i was always the one that helped them out.

anhtran35

Sometimes. I'm pretty outgoing so it hasn't been an issue but at some previous places we had people that were the silent types.

Chev Chellios

I had this in a previous job and hated it to be honest, it's good to have some social interaction at work. My current employer is much more upbeat and a nice environment, more gets done as well so it's win win!

Kai123

The main office for NOC/IPOps that I work in is like a school playground sometimes. Too many gamers and anime fans in one place.

Hosting Dept...now that be a cold and strange place.

I've had interviews in some companies where you can sense the attitude in the workplace. It might be down to the manager heavily micromanaging, or an unfortunate turn that everyone hired are just not very social. If you are being friendly and getting a cold shoulder, then be careful that you might turn cold yourself!

earonw49

I'm the "IT Guy" for over 700 users and believe me, its hard NOT to talk . Whenever I am on deployments with my co workers we talk a LOT, joke around, hang out after hours etc.

I find it strange that your work environment is that way...

hurricane1091

I hardly talk to the jr and sr developers and they sit right across from me. There's days when I don't talk to the CTO or systems engineer either. I talk more to the intern next to me.

NetworkNewb

sounds depressing

cyberguypr

I've been doing IT for 15+ years and have seen always a loner or two who do not talk to anyone. A whole team not talking to each other definitely sounds awful and not a place where I would want to be.

Nafe92014

At my current job, me and my other associates always talk. When I was at my hospital position, I was talking with my supervisor and other co-workers everyday, along with the 30+ people I've met in different departments while I was there.

aftereffector

In my environment, I think the IT guys (three of us) are more outgoing and have more fun than the entire rest of the company combined.

Tremie24

Definitely not in my department. There's people that talk all kinds, I'm surprised they get anything done. Then there all the **** talking behind each other's backs too. Great fun.

kohr-ah

Where I work I am a very friendly person. I tell people consistently hello, good morning, etc. I rarely get a response as well from other team members.

From the local members around my cubicle they always respond back but it isn't the first time I've seen it this way and mostly ignore it.

snunez889

I hate working at places like that. I feel some what that way in my current situation. I am the only IT guy here, I do talk to people in other departments but its tough cause I'm stashed away in a corner office. I kinda missed my old job where I had good co workers, we would talk about the most random stuff.

Nightflier101BL

My work environment is great. We are all very close friends and everyone jokes and laughs and goofs off from time to time. We all sometimes take lunches, dinner, events together. Everyone does a little bit of everything and we share some of the work between all of us. My wife also works on the the next street over and she's friends with everyone, too. She'll come over and participate in the go-in's on.

anhtran35

There are a few INTROVERTS out there. I notice that it's more a confidence issue that causes them to CLAM up.

ratbuddy

ahntran35, that's a ridiculous generalization to make.

Danielm7

Sounds like a miserable workplace. I'm fairly social, I like most of people I work with, lots of chatter. People get lunch together, laugh, etc, I'd hate to work in total silence all the time.

gespenstern

Agree with the topic starter. If I work in the field, when I'm surrounded, say, by salesmen that I've met just yesterday, we always talk and joke. If I work in an IT datacenter there's not much talk. And personally I'm okay with that. I prefer not to talk at all, so, like you said, I talk to others only when I need them something to be done and rarely share news and do small talk.

olaHalo

Ive noticed behavior like that at call centers and tech support areas.
Everyone just does their own thing and are usually socially awkward.

E Double U

I'm one of the most outgoing people in our building except when I'm getting close to exam day. Then I just block out everyone while using my free time to study because I don't get a lot of that.

I try to make my days as fun as possible which helps time go by.

TheFORCE

OP you need to try and engage them into conversation.