I (50 M) started a new job about six months ago. I was paired with a 40F divorcee. She used the company e- messaging system to say she was not going to attend a team meeting this morning. The message to the team stated that she took some medicine and was not feeling well. She also direct messaged me using the company system to say that she had a UTI, and would be out the rest of the day and the next.
She has been very chatty, generally, polite, but somewhat pushy. After a few months, she began to confide in me frustrations with her job. She also began talking about her divorce, but only a little, and her father, who had recently passed away, never more than a minute or two, and nothing more than once a week. But, consistently.
Haven’t told my wife yet (it’s Valentine’s Day for crying out loud) but I will.
My bigger concern is what language to use to politely shut this down while maintaining a working relationship.