My annoyingly work colleague just stood up for me and saved my job.

[Shrekk]

I've had a really stressful month at work. We've had an inspection going on all week as well as me having a number of emergencies to attend to.

There is one woman at work I just can't take too. She talks all the time, gossips, says the wrong thing all the time. We just don't get on and have nothing in common. I've overheard her say bitchu things about me. I don't like her. We just don't speak to each other now except for the odd pleasantries as I'm sure she finds me as irritating as I find her. Over the years it's become more than Indifference. It's more dislike.

In our job we have to keep all our papers in locked draws in our desk and mark names off some reports before they're filed. We also have to keep a log of all our phone calls and complete a specific report at the end of each day.

I had done none of these things as I'd just dealt with an emergency situation and I was in a state of complete stress. We were being investigated and the investigator was coming in an hour. As I rushed back to save my bacon basically I was called to another emergency.

At this point I knew I'd be in big trouble. Confidential information was lying on my desk. Names not blacked out with pen, notes not upto date, report not done. I was so stressed.

I actually felt sick when I returned to my desk. Only to find my irritating work colleague closing the draw just as the inspector came in. The papers had been anonymised, everything locked away, phone log upto date, report completed. It would have been two hours work.

I am always very professional and have never ever not done my job to a high standard before but this was an extraordinary week with much more than normal on and my stress levels were through the roof.

We work independently so if I'd been found to be inadequate that would have in no way reflected on my work colleague. She did this for me.

The inspectors found nothing of concern and left. She's not been back from annual leave since Thursday since this happened.
AIBU to think this was really lovely? Do I now try and get on better with her.

Or was this pretty standard thing to do, and I just go back to ignoring her/not really liking her?

You two may not like each other, but she's clearly a team player.

Perhaps she finds you irritating as much as you find her so but that doesn't mean to say that she respects you and the job you do. I have plenty of colleagues I don't like but several of those are very good at their job and I respect that. I would not want to see someone who ordinarily is good at what they do fired or admonished due to an extraordinary set of circumstances beyond their control and if I could do anything to help, irrespective of my personal feelings toward them, I would do so. I would be a bit embarrassed to receive flowers on the back of it but a sincere thanks (verbally) would be appreciated.

*that doesn't mean to say that she doesn't respect you and the job you do

"It just seem very 'sucking up to someone' to me."

Someone saves your ass and you think she did it to suck up. Why don't you share that with everyone at work? That way they can avoid you like the plague.

It may not have reflected badly upon her had your confidential stuff been on view... but possibly on the department as a whole. I too work in government where confidentiality is key and I too have a colleague who sounds exactly the same as yours. So can understand where you're coming from! I don't think you sound nasty at all. I'm by nature non confrontational and kind (often to my detriment). I'm also guessing you are doing a very worthwhile job (social services?). I wouldn't go overboard to focus attention on what she did, but definitely thank her.

OP All the people at work that you do like and get on with, what did they do? How did they support you and try and save you from disciplinary action?

aww that's really nice say thanx don't keep ignoring her

She may drive you mad normally, but this was a sweet thing to do. How you choose to respond is entirely up to you, but I would at least make it clear that you noticed, appreciate what she did, and say thanks.