ALT-1 The Consequences of Shunning People in the Workplace
Avoiding people from your workplace can have more serious consequences than you realize. It can cause a stressful atmosphere for yourself and those around you, and in the process, prevent others from getting their work done as efficiently. If you completely shun someone without realizing that later it could affect the way you do your job, then you probably aren't thinking clearly.
The advantage of working at a larger business, is that interaction with that person you are trying to shun, might be able to be avoided. Unfortunately, smaller businesses do not have that luxury. What do you do if you need to ask someone for a favor, and the only person that can handle the situation is this person you have newly decided to avoid? You are bound to run across that someone one way or another.
It could also affect the way people view you. If your superior notices that you do not work well with others, it might hinder the possibility of a promotion or pay raise. Others could see your strange behavior as a prejudice against that person or what they represent. Perhaps this person is the opposite gender or of different racial background, and you shunning of them creates the image that you are sexist or racist.
There is also your own health and well-being to consider. It can become quite stressful on the body to constantly keep up a stone wall to someone, and this could wear you out. Your productivity at your workplace could decline and lead to the loss of your job.
Still another problem arises if you and this new-found enemy of yours were once friends. Maybe you still share relationships with people close to this person, such as their sibling, spouse, etc. It can make for a very strained and awkward environment whenever you come into contact with these people. It could also mean that you have to shun several people when you only meant to shun one. This could cause others to be hurt by your actions.
Overall, the above are just a few of the results of completely shunning someone that you work with. That is not to say that trying to avoid that person is completely wrong. If circumstances arise and you wish to take action without making it awkward for everyone involved, simply pulling that person aside may the best solution. If it comes to the point that even this is no longer an option, trying to discreetly remove yourself from situations that could put you in this person's path, is the next step. There are ways of avoiding people without completely shunning them in the process.
Whatever your reasons are for avoiding that person, try putting yourself in their shoes for a while. Maybe some of their actions will make more sense to you then. Just remember if you are going to shun someone, be prepared to face all the consequences that will come your way.
