Annoying colleague

[Puddleclucks]

I've started a new job a few months ago, working in a team of 4, we're all the same relatively senior HCP'S.

Two of the team are lovely, but the third one, Lucy, is an absolute pain. She's sort of self appointed herself as my defacto manager and is driving me mad. We work across sites, and she'll Teams me a minute after our start time and 5 minutes before our end time and if I don't have my background visible she'll ask where I am. She makes endless suggestions about how I manage my diary, checks up on my case notes, tries to micro manage the off duty etc.

I'm not new to the role, just new to the team, and I actually have much more experience than she does.

I've explained I don't need help and if I did I'd ask our actual manager, but still she persists.

I don't know whether to ignore her calls, complain to the team manager, put itchy powder on her chair 😀 or something else.

Anyone else solved a problem like this?

I have a Lucy in my team. I find it incredibly insulting. I think it's OK to let her line manager know. She's being unprofessional and it's affecting morale.

Complain to the tm , I had this with a colleague a few years back. I had to report it as she was stalking my diary and asking me constantly where I was going , it’s mental . Report it.

To answer your question, no, my situation is unresolved. But I do at least know that my line managers know about it so that they can sort it out, which is happening. I'm not sure how it'll play out, though.

Respond to her calls with 'If there isn't something that you actually need, I need to get on', and contact your line manager about this and get him/her to clarify that this colleague is not your manager, and should stop snooping around your diary and case notes.

Complain to your manager - email Lucycunt, copy in your manager and hers (if different), explain that her hounding you is a waste of company time and to let you do your job.

Then, launch a grievance on her for harassment.

Ignore her calls. You are busy. You don't need to answer a TEAMS call.

If she offers advice give her a blank look and say, 'I'm aware of what I'm doing Lucy. Please don't interfere'.

If it persists raise it with your LM as a complaint. She's an interfering pain in the arse.

(Who needs to get on with her own work)

Ignore her calls unless they are for a relevant reason, message her to say "sorry I was caught up in something, put a slot in my calendar if you need a catch up".
If you are in a call with her and she asks where you are, just say "not really relevant is it?" And move on. I think I'd always hide my background just to irritate her. I'm assuming you're allowed to WFH etc?
Tell your manager about it.

Stop answering and report it to management.

“What business is it of yours?” to asking your whereabouts. That is outrageous! If she persists I would just say “why don’t you ask my manager? They know where I am as it’s their job to, I’m not sure why you think it’s yours?”

For everything else: “If I want your help, I’ll be sure to ask”.

I would mention that there seems to be “confusion” regarding roles to your manager, as Lucy seems to think she’s your manager. Perhaps your manager can dispel any disillusions on your behalf.

I worked with a colleague who wanted promotion and as part of the criteria had to demonstrate they had 'leadership' qualities. With only me to practice on I very quickly asked what effect a complaint of harassment would have on their promotion chances. Sorted!

I would immediately stop answering her Teams calls, particularly the first and last thing ones.
Definitely have a background EvERY single time you do pick up though.
Don’t even follow up to apologise. If she enquires why, ask her what it is that she needs to discuss? And ask her to schedule a time for discussion, request notes or questions in writing beforehand.
If she gets annoyed by this, point out that your time is valuable and she appears to be dominating it for no particular reason. So you thought some boundaries would help her to plan her schedule better.

She’s a classic busy body and ignoring is always the best course of action.

Speak to your manager and ask them whether this Lucy is your supervisor or not, because she keeps trying to micro-manage you.

Tell your line manager. I'd maybe pitch it as 'Lucy calls me a lot to ask me what I'm doing. I'm not sure whether she's looking for some help on how to do her job, but she keeps asking me about my notes and how I manage my diary. Would you like me to mentor or coach her?'

Omg this would do my head in. I would stop answering her questions. Just ignore her calls.

She's not just a self-imposed manager, but she's a poor one. Micro management is the hallmark of the inadequate, ineffective, and incompetent manager. I would put my Teams on permanent "Away". That should never be used as an indicator of presence anyway. Our director did that and because of a fault in the platform she accused an employee of not working when I was, in fact, in a meeting with her. The employee quit because she was insulted at the constant accusations and monitoring, and the director was subsequently fired for harassment.

I would submit a report to HR if your actual manager doesn't put a stop to it. If you trust your hiring skills, you don't need to micromanage adults. If they aren't performing, that will become apparent soon enough.

Ask your line manager if they have any concerns about your work because you’re feeling confused about why Lucy keeps checking where you are and what you’re doing. Confirm this isn’t usual or expected practice and then tell them you’ll ask Lucy to stop and will let them know if it continues. Then tell Lucy your manager has said it’s unnecessary and ask her to stop. If she doesn’t, note the time and date of every call and report back to your manager.

When you say checking case notes, is she accessing computer records as she doesn't have a legitimate reason for accessing if she's not line managing you.

I like @15storeys approach... 🙂

This

I would 100% speak to your manager about this. I’d lose my mind if someone behaved this way

I work with one of those. He's very irritating. I've indulged it so far because I'm newish to the job (but experienced) but it fecking me off now so I'm going to start ignoring his calls and not be available when he wants me to send him something etc.

I think I'd be tempted to take a different approach...

I'd tell her you want to make it absolutely clear that the only hot breath you ever want to feel on the back of your neck is your partner's.

And that you believe it's best to clarify this due to the sheer volume of wholly unwarranted 'interactions' she manufactures - in particular, her patent need to check up on your whereabouts.

I would make a time to talk to your manager. If you talk back to her you might be the one in trouble. I would stop answering her calls, and ask your line manager how to handle it.

Where are you?
Why do you ask?

What are you doing?
Why do you ask?