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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that this is odd (office queen bee related)?

62 replies

ArabellaBoo · 18/08/2015 21:09

I just wondered too if the queen bees (or their male equivalents) at other workplaces do this too, as I've worked in three different workplaces each with a definite queen bee ruling the office and they have all done the same thing.

Basically rather than just using the office/desk as a functional work space, they try to stake their claim on it by bringing in loads of stuff from home and just basically doing lots of 'home' things at work that are often inappropriate. Presumably for attention and to show others that they are so 'in' at work that they can do as they please?

The queen bee at my current workplace does things like cook a roast lunch for herself in the staff kitchen, taking ages when she's supposed to be working and making the whole office smell. I think it's a bit weird, as surely workplace kitchens are just intended for making hot drinks and heating up the odd microwave meal?

She also sits and paints her nails at her desk, does her make up at times, and has just brought in several large boxes of her kids old toys to 'store' in our office until she gets the chance to sort through them. They take up loads of room!

Plus there are the constant, very loud, personal phone calls; complaint calls to companies, calls to family members and her DH, phoning travel agents to book holidays....

Like I said too, other queen bees in other workplaces I have worked at have behaved in a similar way.

Does anyone else think it's odd,and has anyone else come across this kind of behaviour?

OP posts:
howtorebuild · 18/08/2015 21:12

I have seen the phone calls and nail painting fixing makeup. Cooking a roast and storing that is a new one on me.

LadyintheRadiator · 18/08/2015 21:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ArabellaBoo · 18/08/2015 21:14

She also sometimes cooks a fried breakfast in the office kitchen. Then leaves the grill pan for some other mug to clean.

OP posts:
fuzzywuzzy · 18/08/2015 21:15

I've not seen any of that, she'd be having a conversation with HR if anyone 'queen bee' attempted that kind of ting where I work!

ArabellaBoo · 18/08/2015 21:15

Yeah it is usually just for herself; I think she does a chicken breast as the meat but she peels and roasts the spuds and cooks loads of veg.

OP posts:
MaudGonneMad · 18/08/2015 21:15

She cooked a roast dinner at work? From scratch?

newoldmum · 18/08/2015 21:15

You have to work in the civil service?

It's the only place I can imagine that being got away with.

Cooking a roast? Make-up and nails? WTAF?

ArabellaBoo · 18/08/2015 21:16

She gets away with all kinds of crap that no one else would get away with.

She has also been known in the past to clear her desk as it was messy and just dump the stuff on other desks.

OP posts:
BerniceB · 18/08/2015 21:16

No, thankfully, that's just bizarre.

AlpacaPicnic · 18/08/2015 21:17

There was a QB at our place who used to cook fish for het cats in the staff kitchen because she didn't like the smell of it in her own house...

I must confess to doing my makeup at work but I get there 15 minutes early to do so, and put the kettle on. Priorities!

ArabellaBoo · 18/08/2015 21:17

Nope not civil service!

OP posts:
eurochick · 18/08/2015 21:20

I've done nails at work loads. It takes 30 seconds (and I had my own office so wasn't bothering anyone with the smell). I also touch up my make up at my desk before meetings. The roast dinner is very odd!

newoldmum · 18/08/2015 21:22

I'm knocking civil servants before anyone starts!

So this is a private company? How large?

newoldmum · 18/08/2015 21:23

*not knocking

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 18/08/2015 21:23

She sounds nightmarish!

How is she getting away with storing toys?

ArabellaBoo · 18/08/2015 21:25

Private company, around 30 staff.

She gets away with storing toys because our boss just lets her do as she wants to.

OP posts:
gaggiagirl · 18/08/2015 21:28

Arabella you and me must work in the same office. I can say no more stores her children's Xmas presents in the office all year round

XiCi · 18/08/2015 21:30

She must be shagging the boss to get away with such behaviour Grin
I can't think of any company that I have worked for that would tolerate that

ArabellaBoo · 18/08/2015 21:30

Gaggia, I can imagine the QB from my office storing Xmas presents too! Probably under other peoples' desks as she doesn't want them underneath hers Grin

OP posts:
Squishyeyeballs · 18/08/2015 21:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ArabellaBoo · 18/08/2015 21:31

I have wondered whether she's shagging the boss. She is married though and goes on about how happy she is and about how perfect her life is

OP posts:
Squishyeyeballs · 18/08/2015 21:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

newoldmum · 18/08/2015 21:32

Yeah, something has to be going on there.

Or she is so ingrained in the company and the bosses are so shit they just don't deal with it.

I cannot get that at all!!

LunchpackOfNotreDame · 18/08/2015 21:32

Our Queen bee is a nightmare. There have been numerous attempts to get rid of her in restructures but still she remains. She royally takes the piss - turns up when she wants, leaves when she wants, spends the day Internet shopping, has personal emails to her work inbox etc.

Management can't abide her. We can't abide her but still she remains

NicoleWatterson · 18/08/2015 21:35

Cooking a roast is a new one on me!

Mine used to paint her nails, and announce she's had to take her knickers / stockings off as they are annoying her. It's ok she's put them in an envelope in her draw.