How can I stop others from thinking I'm dating a coworker?

[Anonymous]

I've been close to this one coworker for two years. Where I work.. I do a lot of lifting and need help sometime. When I ask other coworkers including managers, It's always an attitude, yelling or being plain rude but with this coworker I don't have to worry about that. This coworker was not only helpful to me but to others. We established a friendship in the workplace that caused trouble in the beginning. Other managers didn't like us working together and said we were distracting each other but it was really just one manager causing issues. After that manager got fired, everything stopped. I noticed that when we are together we get a lot of stares and side eyes still. Coworkers have even asked him were we dating and other coworkers have asked other coworkers if we were dating, its annoying. Just the other day I was walking to speak to him but saw he was talking to another coworker. So I didn't want it to look like I was all in their business so I walked away. She assumed that it was because I didn't like her and was jealous that she was talking to him but It was none of that.. She is one of the least people I ever pay attention to.

[Oliverlogan263]

Dang girl, I get why that'd be super annoying! Sounds like you guys just work well together and have good chemistry, but people love to gossip. A few thoughts:

- Really emphasize to both of you that you're just good coworkers/friends. Be consciously friendly/casual around each other so it doesn't seem like something shady.

- Spend less one-on-one time together at work if you can and more in groups if people are around. Optics can help squash rumors.

- Defend each other if others ask direct questions to make it clear you've got each other's backs platonically.

- Toughen up a little too - don't give coworkers the satisfaction of thinking they've gotten to you with speculation. Brush it off!

- Could you invite him out some time with other coworkers outside of work as a friend thing? Might help establish you hang as part of a group.

- Kill 'em with kindness towards gossipers. People tend to back off when their nastiness gets no reaction.

Keep doing your jobs well and don't let 'em stress you. As long as you both know the truth, forget what bored busybodies think! They'll find something else to talk about eventually.

[TommyMountainFigure]

The way to stop people from thinking something, is to remain oblivious from thinking they think it.

That way they can think what they like and it will have no effect on you.. That's what works for me anyway!