Difficult character in the office.. advice?

[daith]

Hi!

So I'm fairly new to a company, having been here around 4 months now.
Besides my manager, we have since taken on 5 other new members of staff in the office.

One is a bit of a character, I could see from the moment that she started with the company that she would be quite opinionated and self entitled. Let's call her A. I don't mind this - everybody has a right to speak as they wish and express their feelings.

Anyway, we had an incident in the office a few weeks ago with another new member of staff. Let's call her B. She came into the office and had a little bit of an attitude, you definitely could have cut the atmosphere with a knife.
She was trying to complete a task that her and I both should have been doing together, without having communicated with me at all.
When I offered input, suggesting a way in which we could complete the task to the company's standard, B disregarded it completely and carried on with her 'own way'. The entire time I was offering help and guidance, plus I was meant to be part of this task so my guidance shouldn't have been ignored, even if B didn't like my suggestions..

Anyway. Fast forward to today, and my other colleague A has told me that she spoke to our manager about the situation, and has advised her that B was bullying me and being rude.
I feel like this was a little uncalled for. I didn't feel this way, yes B wasn't listening to me but I wouldn't class it as bullying. I feel like I'm in the middle of a situation now, that I didn't feel was necessary and I didn't want to be involved in.

Since she's mentioned this today; she's been talking about B the entire morning, asking us things that I don't really want to answer; I.e how I feel about her, if I like working with her, if I feel she's a 'loose cannon' etc. I feel worried about answering A's questions as I feel like I can't trust that she keeps things to herself.. she seems to go back to the manager about most things.

A has only been with the company a few months, if that, and I feel she's really changed the dynamic of the team. I don't really know what I'm asking here.. I suppose I just feel very on edge about anything I mention in front of her / anything I do.

Thank you in advance! :)

So A is a sh*t stirrer?

She’ll be reporting you and other colleagues next. She’s trying to do B up like a kipper, isn’t she?

@Iamthewombat I think she might be, unfortunately.
I feel really wary of her. I keep seeing her glance across to my desk on the other side of the room, it's like she's checking to see what I'm doing as my manager isn't in today (I'm currently on a break)
I feel like each time I put my head down to write / go through paperwork, she's looking to see what I'm doing and why I'm not on the computer.
It's strange.. I've never had to work alongside someone like this before!

A is manipulating you all. She is trying to get a reaction from you that will make you behave unprofessionally whilst also drawing attention to B’s lack of teamwork.

This is a common tactic to get colleagues to to turn on each other whilst they sit back and look like the perfect candidate for promotion/favouritism from the higher management.

I’ve seen this many times and you need to have your wits about you, clue yourself up on office politics and be very careful what you say and to whom.

They are colleagues not your friends.

I'd speak to the manager and put them straight. I'd also be wary of A and wouldn't answer those questions.

Who the hell is doing the hiring in your company though? I think they need to take a step back!

Thanks all, I will definitely keep my wits about me and make sure I don't say or do anything untoward in the office (not that I ever do internationally)
I am very wary of her now.

Put A in her place & tell her you'll report yourself any concerns you have about B's conduct. You will let A know if you need her support.

I wouldn't trust A at all. If she tries to question you give nothing away and just say something about needing to focus on paperwork / your work. I'd also have a quiet word with your manager saying that you think the situation has been blown up / out of proportion. Don't bitch about anyone to manager just be upfront.

Tell A to shut up talking (bitching) about B, it sounds like she wants you to back up her nastiness but then I reckon she’ll go to HR to complain about you!

I'd go to your manager about both of them! A is a shit stirrer who is angling herself into position for a different job - either B's or yours. B is just plain stupid and thinks she knows better than someone who's been there much longer.

Don't say anything negative about b or anyone. She sounds like the type to go straight to them.
Just be professional. Thank you for your concern but I don't have an issue.

You need to be clear with A.

Oh come on, I'm not getting into that!
I'd rather not discuss our colleagues like this.
You're making a mountain out of a molehill.

Let her know she won't get anywhere with you! I've worked with someone like this and it was awful. She eventually dragged down 3 of my other colleagues with her. They were suspended for gross misconduct for gossiping horribly about other colleagues. It started off in exactly the way you describe. So I'd lay it out now that you're not going to get involved with any of it. Of course, you run the risk that she'll start saying it about you. But that's something you can deal with via your manager. Do not be afraid to talk to your management about this either.

Thank you all. I will definitely not be engaging in any kind of gossiping. She's been eying me from across the office all morning.. I'm feeling quite uncomfortable

Ask your boss if they've put A into some sort of supervisory role without telling you. Say you're really uncomfortable with the amount of attention A is paying to your work, and that you'd rather have heard directly of there is an issue.

A has been in a senior role in her previous job, does speak about it and the power she had very often.

Also, A often talks about her ex colleagues from previous job, too. So yes, no doubt she talks about me and the others to each other. I always feel a strange air in the room when I've left and come back. I don't know.

I think in your shoes I’d be more concerned about why two separate new people (who are not senior to you, or are they?) seem to be setting you aside by either ignoring you on a joint project or going behind your back to depict you as a victim of workplace bullying. Are you an unassertive person?

@Brimorion very true. I didn't see it that way. They are no further up the 'chain' as such, than I am. Neither of them are in managerial or supervisor roles.
I am probably less dominant or assertive than the others in the office, I am also the youngest at 23 by probably around 10 years minimum 😔