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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to ignore a colleague until work on Monday?

147 replies

Careerchanging · 03/07/2026 21:43

On a Friday I call into a supermarket local to my work and pick up lunch (for myself and others).
Today there was a queue to use the coffee machine and I ended up being 3 minutes late for work.
When I got into work I apologised for being late and my line manager said to not let it happen again and to make up the time in my lunch.
I did my 3 minutes of work and then went to take my lunch in another room.
At my finishing time I got up and left and a member of the team mentioned something about swanning in late and leaving early to which I replied I'd made my time up as I'd been told to by our manager and I didn't realise that they were now my supervisor.
He followed me to my car to try and start an argument but I kept walking got in my car and left.
He's known in the workplace to be hotheaded and very argumentative and management have had to step in/give warnings before now.
He's tried to call me twice on my personal number but not left any messages.
AIBU to ignore until Monday

OP posts:
NerdyBird · 04/07/2026 10:34

Stop picking up lunch for people unless it’s a defined part of your job (and therefore you shouldn’t be penalised for being late). Report this to your manager first, if he won’t deal with it, go to HR. Also, although your manager may have been joking about the three minutes needing to be made up, it clearly missed the mark with both you and your colleague, so I’d guess it’s not a great place to work.

rwalker · 04/07/2026 10:31

Just ignore if you need to shut it down then just tell him you said you peace and the matter is closed and he’s free to go to hr if he has an unresolved issue with it

for those saying about 3 minutes is petty we too are to the minute and this is due to we ALWAYS had a bit of leeway but as usual people took the piss and pushed it and pushed it which inevitably spoilt it for the rest of us

itsgettingweird · 04/07/2026 10:22

I was 3 minutes late for work the other day and ended up later to get to my office as I was stopped by so many people surprised at my tardiness they wanted to know if I ok and if anything had happened.

PS when I apologised to my boss she just shrugged and said “hope alls ok - you know where I am if you need me”.

That’s the sort of work culture you need.

Some arsehole bullying you over it should be ignored permanently - not just for the weekend.

Brunchatstephanies · 04/07/2026 10:21

No way I’d interact with him outside of work.

He is an aggressive bully.

He made a faux pas, you didn’t give him the response he wanted and he aggressively chased you down to chastise you for it.

I’d barely want to interact with him inside of work.

Gonk123 · 04/07/2026 10:15

Block his number

Thebinisrightthere · 04/07/2026 10:13

notanothernamesurely · 04/07/2026 09:48

Ignore the calls. And in front of people on Monday say ‘I had two missed calls off you over the weekend - was there something you wanted to discuss.’

That's just giving him attention which is what people like him thrive on

YourJoyousDenimExpert · 04/07/2026 10:09

He has caused you to feel both intimidated and harassed - so his behaviour is not acceptable and it is none of his business anyway if he is not your manager. I do not agree that it was a ‘joke’ either - as if it were, he wouldn’t have followed you out.
If he has form for this ,you should raise it with your manager and HR.
Work based WhatsApp groups are a mixed blessing !!

MyOtherProfile · 04/07/2026 09:57

NormasArse · 04/07/2026 09:49

I’d just answer if he rings again- he’s taking up space in your head.

It did sound like a joke that you took badly though.

He followed me to my car to try and start an argument but I kept walking got in my car and left.
He's known in the workplace to be hotheaded and very argumentative and management have had to step in/give warnings before now.

This doesn't sound like a joke.

NormasArse · 04/07/2026 09:49

I’d just answer if he rings again- he’s taking up space in your head.

It did sound like a joke that you took badly though.

notanothernamesurely · 04/07/2026 09:48

Ignore the calls. And in front of people on Monday say ‘I had two missed calls off you over the weekend - was there something you wanted to discuss.’

welshgirl2025 · 04/07/2026 09:39

you had to repay 3 minutes?. wouldnt want to work for the manager. Your colleague needs to be reported for this. totally unacceptable behaviour. Look for another job

HopeIsAScaryThing · 04/07/2026 09:34

I'd be complaining to HR come Monday morning about him following you to your car and calling you out of hours.

MyOtherProfile · 04/07/2026 09:08

Screenshot your call history. Send it to your manager with a note saying he challenged you in the car park. This is really bad behaviour and needs to be called out.

Cherrysoup · 04/07/2026 09:03

I’d speak to your line manager first thing on Monday and say you’re not happy with colleague telling you off re ‘swanning in late’ when lm already spoke to you and that he followed you to your car and has tried to call you x amount of times. That’s really over the top and constitutes harassment. It’s not his place to bollock you, follow you, try to call you to presumably continue the row? He’s an idiot.

Lilacspring · 04/07/2026 08:54

He sounds a dick

StormGazing · 04/07/2026 08:54

What a toaster, I’d complain if he carried on the argument Monday

cannynotsay · 04/07/2026 08:50

That’s intimidating, I’d be speaking to the boss

Gazelda · 04/07/2026 08:48

AImportantMermaid · 03/07/2026 23:24

Don’t reply but keep a record of calls/texts/messages over the weekend and if needed go to your manager and HR on Monday. He should not be intimidating you like that. By Monday it could be seen harassment if he contrived the weekend.

this Is what I’d do. Don’t reply, don’t put up with it, deal with it professionally.

Thebinisrightthere · 04/07/2026 08:39

Definitely ignore & enjoy your weekend without thinking about him again

LlynTegid · 04/07/2026 08:37

MermaidMummy06 · 04/07/2026 02:08

3 minutes?? I work for accountants who monitor & micro manage every minute & even they wouldn't dare to comment if anyone was 3 minutes late occasionally!!

Tell HR your colleague is harassing you. But don't just put up with it. He'll be waiting to harass you on Monday. It always shocks me how people put up with harrassment.

I agree, do that early on Monday, with the evidence of the missed calls. You may be saving someone else from worse, especially if they are not someone who responds as you have done.

SD1978 · 04/07/2026 08:34

Block him and delete the number, tell him any future comversati9ns. It directly about work that day and you’ll report them for harassment

Shedmistress · 04/07/2026 08:32

For a start, do not pick up lunch again on a friday, and block his number from your phone.

Then go see the manager and let them know what their comments kicked off, a weekend of rage from said colleague.

Marwoodsbigbreak · 04/07/2026 08:27

Block him

CaesarAugusta · 04/07/2026 08:21

If you get any more calls at home, report him to HR for stalking.

When you get lunch for others at the supermarket, does it include this colleague? If so, I'd take him off the list.

NoMoreDribbling · 04/07/2026 07:59

Id get the prick done for harassment and I wouldn't be working anywhere that made me make up 3 minutes

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