Or has my colleague been a bitch?

[QueenOfIce]

Colleague emailed a company that I had dealt with several times due to needing an invoice for accounts dept. I sent 3 emails all of them nice and explaining that I needed the invoice as soon as possible at no point was I rude. Colleague was not copied into any of the emails.

Today I receive a copied email from the company saying how sorry they were etc etc and invoice attached underneath my colleague had written an email giving the company feedback (for a different issue but included the lack of invoice issue) she also wrote that she apologised on my behalf as I can be a little abrupt.

I can indeed be abrupt in person however when I am trying to get something done I have never sent rude emails as I don't feel they are in any way productive.

So given she wasn't privy to my conversations was her comment a tad bitchy and unnecessary?

PS. I agree with Twin (sorry missed that one earlier) I also think that it is almost like asking the outside company to deal directly with her in future as she is hinting they will get a more understanding response. It also implies she is your superior/supervisor when she makes comments like that to them. It implies to them she has been overseeing your work.

If you know you weren't ever abrupt with them then I'd assume your colleague was opting for a good cop/bad cop routine to get the result the company needed ie them to send the invoice.

I wouldn't read her message to say the email was abrupt. I'd read it as other dealings they'd had with you, you were abrupt-which you admit you are. So I suspect it's a reply to their feedback about you.

I've messaged her, she has apologised she wasn't aware her email would be copied and sent to me.
It's not ok to apologise on behalf of someone else for ANY reason other than you have left the company and had had a complaint made against you. At the very least, she should have told you she was going to do this. Escalate it.

I sent her the emails this morning and asked if there was anything in them that would warrant an apology. She replied with I can at times be direct. Direct doesn't mean rude.

She then went on to say I had mentioned something about speaking to visa to rescind the payment if the invoice wasn't given which is an absolute lie. The conversation we had was about a colleague of ours who did just that elsewhere.

I have felt awful all day, I feel undermined and as though I am a really shitty person when I know I'm not. I am never rude to people because I wouldn't expect to be treated like that.

My other colleagues (all Male) are all very direct and never sugarcoat anything, I have been told on a few occasions that my direct approach is appreciated because the job gets done and everyone knows where they stand my honesty has also been applauded.

My female colleague is someone who tries to make herself indispensable to all. She herself has been pulled up for sticking her beak into issues that aren't hers and questioning decisions of others not anything to do with our dept. Although I've made her sound unpleasant she is incredibly sweet to everyone.

She has some very strong views such as when we are in hotels she won't enter the exec lounge if she's wearing trainers and is very vocal that the others in our group should follow suit. The lounge is invariably full of people in jeans t shirts and casual wear.

I thought she and I were friends and after this I wonder what else she has said behind my back and I feel I can no longer trust her. As we are the only 2 females in our team I had hoped for a good relationship.

Sorry for the essay

Wichend this is the 1st time we have dealt with them so no other emails to complain about. I have never had a complaint from any company about my correspondence with them.

I second the earlier poster who said she’s trying to paint a picture, that when taken out of context looks like evidence that you are unprofessional and she is saving the company from you.

I would put money on her going after your job.

You need to report this straight away, ensure this is recorded on your personnel file, and limit any unnecessary conversations with her - at least until an outcome from your reporting this.

Further, document and report all of these conversations in a written statement.

She is not your friend.

This could be a colleague of mine, OP. She paints herself as Little Miss Helpful, but she does so by taking control (whether it’s appropriate or not) and making sure she’s seen to be looking after things, even if all she’s done is send an email confirming what someone else is doing. My boss bloody loves her 🤬 You’ve inspired me to speak up!

Don’t trust her. This is just another attempt to undermine you. I would talk about this with my manager, I think she come out looking worse than you. It will at least give your Manager a ‘heads up’ on her sly behaviour.
Watch her, she seems one of those people that try and get ahead by trampling on others. Maybe she feels in direct competition with you with any potential promotion etc.

I would imagine that someone complained about your abruptness and so she was apologising. To be blunt she got the job done and you didn’t. I have a reputation for being abrupt and it’s something that I work on in a professional environment

You should escalate this to your boss or HR.

Definitely escalate to your boss. Your colleague has deliberately put you in a negative light to a client whilst portraying your company as petty with infighting.

At worst she could be deliberately sabotaging your reputation/career progression. At best she's totally unprofessional.

escalate. She isn't your boss

"
My female colleague is someone who tries to make herself indispensable to all. She herself has been pulled up for sticking her beak into issues that aren't hers and questioning decisions of others not anything to do with our dept. Although I've made her sound unpleasant she is incredibly sweet to everyone.

She has some very strong views such as when we are in hotels she won't enter the exec lounge if she's wearing trainers and is very vocal that the others in our group should follow suit. The lounge is invariably full of people in jeans t shirts and casual wear. "

She is Not increadably sweet. she might want to apear to be, but she isnt

Now she is telling lies to try and dig herself out of this hole. I would print everything out, as Duckbilled suggests, and go to your mutual boss. This is absolutely not on and, from what you say, she has form for interfering in things that do not concern her anyway.

What a two faced cow! I'd print if the emails you sent and show them to your superior with the one she sent and ask for their feedback couching it as 'can you just check that my emails are professional and in no way abrupt'.

"My other colleagues (all Male) are all very direct and never sugarcoat anything, I have been told on a few occasions that my direct approach is appreciated "

It's OK for the male colleagues not to sugar coat, they are not complained about, but she expects you, as a woman, to echo her approach . Hmm.