'Let's play the quiet game with just you two': Manager snaps at coworkers quietly chatting while working, so they give her the silent treatment, permanently

Author image for Isabella Penn
Isabella Penn
May 4, 2025 9:00 PM EDT

There's something special about the bond you build with a good work friend, especially in a stressful, fast-paced environment like a pharmacy. Between the endless to-do lists and rush hours, sometimes the only thing getting you through the day is a little lighthearted yapping while you fill prescriptions or stock shelves. A quick chat about weekend plans can go a long way in making the shift bearable. But apparently, not everyone agrees.

In this story, one pharmacy tech found herself on the receiving end of some passive-aggressive micromanaging after chatting quietly with her coworker — something that's totally normal at their (surprisingly loud and lively) pharmacy. But when their lead tech snapped and told them to stop talking, they took her request to heart… and gave her the silent treatment of a lifetime.

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     This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • "Coworker didn't like my friend and I quietly chatting while working, made it her problem"

    I (21F) work in a pharmacy as a pharmacy technician along with my friend. We were both chatting about next semester and what classes we were taking while filling medications when my older coworker
    via Ryn_is_existing
  • (41F) loudly shouts "Let's play the quietly game with just you two, and see who can go without talking for 25 minutes" very rudely. All of my other coworkers were shocked as our talking was not bothering them
    via Ryn_is_existing

    This sounds like an HR investigation waiting to happen. Can you even say that at work? To you kids, maybe, but your coworkers?

  • and we had no patients at the time. So I decided to comply, but in her rigorous standards. I stopped talking to her. Period. I only respond if talked to first and only if it is about work. I also do
    via Ryn_is_existing
  • not talk to her once clocked out as she complains about "fratenizing with higher members of management outside of work hours." She is a lead tech, so she is higher. She hates it.
    via Ryn_is_existing
  • Keeps trying to talk to me but I only respond with "is it about work?" And move on. She is the only one I do it to. It's fun. This coworker has a streak of being ride and overly harsh and not apologizing. It's nice to
    via Ryn_is_existing
  • PUSH DOWN APOPEN WITH PALM PUSH DOWN TADRL THIS CAS 16 05/22/2015 WANGE STANLEY EU5/21/2015 T OPEN PUSH DOWN PALM WHILE TO OPEN FRIENDLY 36 78.9 DOWN & W&TURN FRIENDLY 51-3 1172 175.41
    via Haley Lawrence For Unsplash+
  • give her a taste of her own medicine. MOST PHARMACIES CALL THE PEOPLE THEY HELP "PATIENTS". ITS A POLICY. YOU CAN ASK MOST AND THEYLL AGREE. Thank you.
    via Ryn_is_existing
  • Edit: I think some of you guys are misinterpreting this. Our pharmacy is a "loud" one. We talk a lot, and so does she. She is a chatterbox just like the rest of us. That's why me
    via Ryn_is_existing
  • not talking to her is her off, even though she is the one who wanted it. Our patients love us talking and joking around, and know that we are serious with patient care. Also, a
    via Ryn_is_existing
  • lot of our bad reviews are because of her and another older coworker. She is a hard worker but is r de to both patients and coworkers alike. Edit 2: Y'all are missing the point, this coworker is
    via Ryn_is_existing
  • r de to EVERYONE, not just me. That includes patients and coworkers. She also talks A LOT. And our pharmacy would not have as good of ratings as it does if we weren't a talkative and joyful
    via Ryn_is_existing
  • pharmacy. I was speaking quietly, to the point that it shocked MY OTHER COWORKERS when she called me out. Edit 3: I have responded. to all I could but thank you to those who actually
    via Ryn_is_existing
  • understand that this was a last resort for her to be nicer. I genuinely love my job. The people that I see at my job (mostly) are so amazing. Most of my coworkers are so fun, the patients are kind, interesting, and funny, the
    via Ryn_is_existing
  • pay is great, and so is the scheduling with my classes. I have worked my ass off to try and keep it that way, fun and inviting. I am hoping to have a one on one with her soon to try and, for the last time, get her to see
    via Ryn_is_existing
  • reason. I love my job and I don't want the happiness of the others to tank due to her. (I really don't understand how people don't know what a "loud" pharmacy looks like. Is your local
    via Ryn_is_existing

    TBH, my pharmacy is pretty quiet. But I think I'd prefer if the employees talking more instead of waiting for my prescription in complete silence while the tech reads me all the warnings of my meds…

  • one de d or something? Many of my coworkers, ride one included, joke around and talk a ton! I've seen them almost themselves from laughing. The patients enjoy our shenanigans.)
    via Ryn_is_existing
  • PRESCRIPTIONS
    via Patrick Tomasso For Unsplash+
  • a_spark_ This is great MC but you should consider talking to HR about this as well. If
    via a_spark_
  • someone at work said "lets play the quiet game" to me like i was 5 I'm definitely saying something to HR
    via a_spark_
  • algy888 Have a coworker who accused me of calling him names. Went to HR and
    via algy888
  • everything. Manager at the end just said "Just be careful when you talk to him." I replied "Shouldn't be a problem, he can't accuse me of name calling if I don't speak to him again."
    via algy888
  • It's been over 5 years and I've maybe said three sentences. Mostly at those awkward at the door situations that I end with a "Go ahead."
    via algy888
  • Other than that nothing. And we are a small department but mostly leave and do offsite maintenance so we can avoid each other most of the day.
    via algy888
  • That_Ol_Cat What you are doing is called "Gray rocking" and it's a very effective technique to
    via That_Ol_Cat
  • show disapproval for someone's actions and / or eliminate their influence from your life. You should see if you can get all your other coworkers to join in.
    via That_Ol_Cat
  • Everyone is strictly professional, doesn't show disrespect or other issues, but never discusses anything but work with her. Unless it's about work, she doesn't exist.
    via That_Ol_Cat

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patient employee manager job students medicine work coworkers friends pills petty revenge Horrible Bosses pharmacy karen entitled people
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