Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Did I do something wrong? Employee snapped at me

193 replies

Brooklans · 06/01/2026 22:35

For context I am male. A woman who reports to me joined the company 6 weeks ago snapped at me and wondered if this is simply a misunderstanding.

A few weeks ago we had to travel to another city for work, I said I’d drove us both there the following morning at 8am. She gave her address (she’s staying at her parents temporarily) and then later sent me a text so I “had her number for tomorrow morning”. The next morning I arrived slightly early and didn’t call beforehand, and rang the doorbell twice. When she got in the car she said “Please don’t ring the doorbell again, it’s not my house it’s my parents I’m only staying there for the time being”.

She announced the role wasn’t right for her shortly afterwards, and on her final day I remembered she had some company equipment at home (for WFH purposes) and offered to pick them up from her parents house the following evening to save her bringing them back to the office. She text me the next day asking what time I will arrive. I told her and she texted back “Okay. Don’t ring the door bell again, just call when you’re parked outside and I will bring the equipment to the car”. When I arrived later I pulled up and rung her telling her I was outside. Afterwards I got out the car and walked to the front door, I arrived just ask she opened the door with the equipment, she looked taken aback and said “I told you to stay in the car!” I said “You said not to ring the doorbell I wasn’t going to” As she walked to the car with the equipment she said “I told you I’d bring the equipment to the car!” Put the equipment in the boot and walked off back into the house without saying bye. Thoughts?

OP posts:
TwattyMcFuckFace · 06/01/2026 23:16

purplecorkheart · 06/01/2026 22:44

To be fair to her she was probably worried about you waking her parents. A bit odd that you rang the doorbell rather than calling her/text

The second time I am wondering why you left the car when she clearly told you to stay in the car and she would drop them to. You overrode her request and entered her parents property when she told you not to. What was your logic?

He's not a friggin puppy dog 🙄

Plus he was doing her a favour.

This is not his fault.

Bumcake · 06/01/2026 23:15

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Nevs · 06/01/2026 23:15

She sounds highly irritated by you. Why did she hand her notice in after a just few weeks? Could you have annoyed her?

Theunamedcat · 06/01/2026 23:13

Was the equipment heavy?

VikaOlson · 06/01/2026 23:11

She told you she would bring the equipment to the car, and you ignored her - that's why she snapped at you.

Jaspering · 06/01/2026 23:08

She might have strange controlling parents or is embarrassed by their home.

fashionqueen0123 · 06/01/2026 22:50

She sounds like a right weirdo I’d not worry about it

LighthouseLED · 06/01/2026 22:49

Yeah, I’m not understanding why you rang the doorbell in the first place - I’d only do that if someone had ignored my text or call saying I’m there.

Also don’t understand why you needed to walk up to the front door in the second example - she said she’d bring the equipment to the car, so why didn’t you just wait in / by the car?

She probably shouldn’t have snapped, but your behaviour does seem a bit odd.

But like others have said, you’re probably never going to see her again so no need to give it any more headspace,

HoskinsChoice · 06/01/2026 22:48

purplecorkheart · 06/01/2026 22:44

To be fair to her she was probably worried about you waking her parents. A bit odd that you rang the doorbell rather than calling her/text

The second time I am wondering why you left the car when she clearly told you to stay in the car and she would drop them to. You overrode her request and entered her parents property when she told you not to. What was your logic?

Oh come on, you can't seriously think this is the OP's issue? The employee was rude and odd. There may well be good reasons for it and it's not worth losing sleep over but the OP has done nothing out of the ordinary.

Sunshineandblueskysalltheway · 06/01/2026 22:46

Let people (women) make their own way to places. You don't need to anounce travel arrangements to other adults. Keep away from their houses and their parent's houses. Stop crossing boundaries on purpose and stay in your damn car. Ugh.

purplecorkheart · 06/01/2026 22:44

To be fair to her she was probably worried about you waking her parents. A bit odd that you rang the doorbell rather than calling her/text

The second time I am wondering why you left the car when she clearly told you to stay in the car and she would drop them to. You overrode her request and entered her parents property when she told you not to. What was your logic?

Pleatherandlace · 06/01/2026 22:44

There could be a hundred reasons why she reacted like this. I doubt any of them have anything to do with you, so just forget it.

parietal · 06/01/2026 22:41

Sounds like her parents might be v controlling and not want her talking to a man. On the second visit, if they were watching she could be deliberately unfriendly so she doesn’t get accused of having a secret boyfriend or something. Poor woman.

Catza · 06/01/2026 22:41

She must have had reasons to not want you in the vicinity of her house to which you are not privy. I am guessing she is also one of those people who are terrified of the doorbell which seems to be the norm in the UK for some reason. I wouldn't put too much thought into it, especially since she is no longer working with you.
Might be something to clarify in advance if you even need to pick another employee up from their residence.

ChaToilLeam · 06/01/2026 22:41

She's rude and unpleasant. Well rid!

ColdAsAWitches · 06/01/2026 22:40

I think this isn't worth thinking about. Why give a crap if somebody you will probably never see again snapped at you? Why give a shit, forget about it.

ikethedog · 06/01/2026 22:39

The first time she probably didn’t want you to wake her parents. The next time she was probably pissed off as she thought you were going to do something she’d specifically asked you not to. On both occasions you were doing her a favour and I think she was blunt and rude.

However I wouldn’t give it anymore headspace, you’ll probably never see her again.

Wowzel · 06/01/2026 22:39

You've all had a lucky escape!