I’m going through a situation at work with two colleagues, A and B. If I describe the situation to you, please will you be honest and say what you think is going on? any advice appreciated.
So as not to dripfeed, I work in a busy outpatient dept as a receptionist. I’ve done it a while now, so I have developed a routine where at the end of the day, the staff have what they need, and my work is complete.
Colleague A is a favourite in the dept, very loud and opinionated. She works mostly in the same department/room as me, but doesn’t do the same job. This doesnt stop her from interfering in mine. I don’t work there every day (thankfully) so the dept is covered by other people on my time off.
When I return from my time off, Colleague A always has to remark that things are done differently by the other colleagues who cover my day off “Gail does it this way/ that way etc, just thought I’d mention it”. With a smirk on her face. I reply with “well, until somebody tells me I’m doing it wrong, then I’ll worry”, which sounds brave, but I’m dying inside.
She always has to comment on my weight, or appearance.
Talks over me, and interupts conversations between me and other colleagues. If we end up in the same room alone, she goes silent, then an atmosphere develops. I can feel her eyes boring into the back of my head. It’s awful.
Colleague B. Another favourite. Works in an office in the same dept, different job than me, higher wage band. Always has a family emergency so rushes off at a moments notice, mobile phone attached to her ear constantly, and always shouting/hot tempered.
If I’m having a conversation with someone, she has to join in. She then pushes me out of that particular conversation, and carries it on with the other person, as if I wasn’t there.
Also, If I had to choose between two things, she always ALWAYS takes great pains to dislike what I’ve chosen, preferring the opposite. Fine, I get everybody has differing opinions, but it’s every single time, and always in a loud voice so everyone can hear. Plus, well, anything I do, really. “Oh, I’d have done this, I’d have done that”.
She has never really liked me from the beginning and always tried to undermine my work. When I was training other colleagues to provide cover for the dept, she told them I was doing it wrong.
Most of the time I roll my eyes at her, but lately, she is ramping up trouble. She has started asking me to help her do her job. I decline (very nicely) every time, due to the reasons mentioned above, and her being on a higher pay band and a different job, makes it a bit difficult.
When I decline, she then gets other staff involved, asking them to ask me to help her. Then it’s them against me, saying I’m not being helpful ☹️.
Again, it’s awful. I get my work done, I make sure everything is where it should be so they don’t have to ask for anything. That’s as helpful as I can be, plus any ideas that I’ve put across to help the dept in meetings, well, its just crap that I’m seen as being unhelpful.
Another thing: colleague A and B are friends, so I think they’re both in this together.
I’m sorry for the long post. Any advice, and opinions on what you think is going on would be very appreciated. I have two years left before I can hand my notice in due to pension reasons, but Im not sure if I can stand it any longer xxxx