Fourteen percent of US businesspeople have stopped talking at work since the start of 2017, due to the fear they might say something offensive to another person or group. Since not talking severely limits one’s ability to interact with colleagues who speak, hundreds of companies have established separate divisions for their non-talkers.
St. Paul retro-brokers Hollings-March launched such a department in late 2018 – though it still hasn’t given it a name for fear of upsetting any of its 21 members, or anyone else.
“We applaud their deciding that talking is no longer a viable option for them,” says company spokesperson Davis Devan. “And we are committed to providing them a safe environment and the opportunity to earn a livelihood.” The group passes its workdays reading, watching television, and performing simple work-related tasks when the need arises. Mainly, they don’t talk.
The reasons they’ve stopped vary, says Devan. One stock conveyor quit when she was reported to HR for saying she was “in the dog house.” A decimalist stopped after being reprimanded for offering a doughnut to a colleague who hadn’t asked for one. Many haven’t had any specific issues, but are just scared.
Devan estimates there will be over 100 in the department by the end of 2023. Since Holling-March employs only 130 in total, this will place added pressure on the other 30. “Those who utilize the spoken word will become even more essential to our success,” he says.
Accordingly, the company is looking at incentives for its talkers, including extra vacation days, prime parking spots, and complimentary mints – though out of consideration for non-talkers, says Devan, the same benefits will be offered to them as well.
