My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

AIBU?

AIBU for putting her in her place?

326 replies

DrJPuddleDuck · 07/05/2021 22:36

AIBU to think I got the better of this office bully?

Colleague (slightly senior to me) has always been a bit ‘off’ with me, lots of subtle undermining, but nothing I could really put my finger on. More recently though, I was offered promotion in another company (I believe a company they have admired for a while) to a position more senior than her. Perhaps understandably, I don’t think they liked this. I am currently working my notice period.

Anyhow, around three weeks ago, my manager called me in to discuss an error in my work. It was indeed an error/oversight, which I immediately corrected and apologised for. It didn’t thankfully, but it could have gotten me in a lot of trouble. My manager also informed me that “a colleague” had bought this to his attention. I was hurt by this, as I would have spoken to any one of my colleagues first, not least because it was clearly an oversight that was so easily corrected. I immediately suspected this person, but obviously had no proof, which made me suspicious of all my colleagues and really affected me. I discussed the situation again with my manager last week and said how it was affecting me, as I couldn’t understand why whoever had spoken to him, didn’t just speak to me first. I said I felt like I’d been to thrown under the bus. In response to this, my manager informed me (perhaps inappropriately) that it was the colleague I had suspected originally who had spoken to them. For context, this colleague would never have seen this error if they hadn’t been going through my work, as it was not a piece of work they were involved in.

Yesterday I saw this colleague, who wasn’t expecting to see me (as we often work in different offices). She couldn’t very well turn around and walk out, so sat down, but looked extremely awkward and avoided eye contact with me. We were alone in the office which likely made it worse for her. I asked how she was, and got short responses. I then suddenly got this urge to not let her win and to let her know that I knew what she’d done (very unlike me!!) I said “oh, I hope you don’t mind me mentioning it, but (manager) let me know that you reported me for X. I just wanted to thank you SO much for letting (manager) know, or otherwise the error might have gone undetected”. She looked horrified, but it felt so good! Not only does she now know that I know, but she also knows our manager (who presumably she was trying to undermine me in front of) has betrayed her trust and it’s not got me in the trouble she was clearly hoping for. She also must have known that I was being passive-aggressive in thanking her, even though I said it smiling. I leave next week and feel like I’ve won the war.

AIBU to feel proud of myself? Part of me thinks I might regret embarrassing her at some point!

OP posts:
Report

Am I being unreasonable?

2152 votes. Final results.

POLL
You are being unreasonable
27%
You are NOT being unreasonable
73%
GabsAlot · 07/05/2021 23:15

i think you were right who goes looking through ovther people work just to point out errors-bitch

Report
Funnyface1 · 07/05/2021 23:16

I'm not really sure why you feel this is putting her in her place? You haven't challenged her in any way. You let her know you know, then done absolutely nothing about it.

Report
tensmum1964 · 07/05/2021 23:17

I'm proud of you OP. Your manager was a fool to let you know who reported you but that isn't your problem. I hope she was squirming, I hate colleagues like her. Good luck in your knew role and if you come across her type again, nip it in the bud so that it doesn't continue. Start as you mean to go on.

Report
DrJPuddleDuck · 07/05/2021 23:19

Gabs and tens - thanks so much!

OP posts:
Report
Gemma2019 · 07/05/2021 23:21

You didn't get the better of her at all - it was a mental thing to do. You could have landed your boss right in the shit with HR. Have you never heard of the six degrees of separation? Never burn your bridges in work.

Report
NewJobNervous · 07/05/2021 23:21

@DrJPuddleDuck proud of you!

Report
DrJPuddleDuck · 07/05/2021 23:22

Funny face - yes, maybe that’s not the right turn of phrase to use. I guess what I meant was - I’m leaving with her in no doubt now that know what she’s like and because I said it so nicely to her, thanking her even, she can’t even really come back to defend herself. It’s perhaps petty, but I hope I communicated a silent “I know what you are”. Maybe that doesn’t make sense to others?

OP posts:
Report
NewJobNervous · 07/05/2021 23:22

All these previous posters have clearly never been bullied at work!

Report
Lou98 · 07/05/2021 23:22

To be honest I think you both sound as petty as each other.

You've also dropped your manager in the shit there if this colleague decides to complain that they'd spoken to them in confidence. Considering your manager told you out of kindness because you said you felt hurt I think that's quite a nasty thing to do. But as you've said you're leaving anyway so what does it matter 🤷‍♀️

Report
DrJPuddleDuck · 07/05/2021 23:23

New job - thank you! I’m guessing you have a new job too! Hope all goes well!

OP posts:
Report
Lou98 · 07/05/2021 23:23

And to the PP - yes I have dealt with bullies in work - professionally

Report
DrJPuddleDuck · 07/05/2021 23:24

Just to clarify, he did say he didn’t think colleague would mind me knowing. Obviously she will, but from his perspective, it wasn’t purely out of kindness to me.

OP posts:
Report
HeckyPeck · 07/05/2021 23:25

Well done you OP!

I've been bullied before and it feels great to finally stand up for yourself.

Even if she didn't think you were being sarcastic you still win because she knows she didn't get you in trouble and will be pissed off thinking you might have got in more trouble if she'd left it.

Report
UhtredRagnarson · 07/05/2021 23:26

@NewJobNervous

All these previous posters have clearly never been bullied at work!

Report
HeckyPeck · 07/05/2021 23:27

@Lou98

To be honest I think you both sound as petty as each other.

You've also dropped your manager in the shit there if this colleague decides to complain that they'd spoken to them in confidence. Considering your manager told you out of kindness because you said you felt hurt I think that's quite a nasty thing to do. But as you've said you're leaving anyway so what does it matter 🤷‍♀️

OP is hardly petty to make one comment to someone who has bullied her for ages. Letting a bully know that they aren't getting to you isn't petty at all!
Report
DrJPuddleDuck · 07/05/2021 23:27

Anyone who can deal with bullies professionally is amazing in my eyes. Genuinely. Previously, I’ve just left with my self-esteem in tatters. I didn’t have the confidence to confront it, or the trust in the organisation to support me, to do the professional thing.

OP posts:
Report
DrJPuddleDuck · 07/05/2021 23:28

Thank you Hecky!

OP posts:
Report
Lou98 · 07/05/2021 23:30

@HeckyPeck it is when you're dropping another colleague in it, how does that make her better?

Report
Strokethefurrywall · 07/05/2021 23:33

I think good for you OP. I don’t believe in “rising above” when it leaves you feeling shit.

The “moral high ground” is a stick to beat people with under the guise of being a better person but sometimes, the better way is calling out bullshit like this.

Bullies continue to bully because nobody pulls them up on their behavior under the guise of “being the better person”.

Next time she’ll think twice about being a massive dickbag 🤷🏽‍♀️

Report
Karmakamelion · 07/05/2021 23:35

Lou19. Her manager didn't say that it was confidential. Good for you op. I have been bullied horribly over the years and I am really really proud of you. Not petty. Deserved. Well done!!

Report
FunTimes2020 · 07/05/2021 23:36

Some harsh posters tonight! Good on you, OP. You sound lovely as you haven't bitten back here at all
Congratulations on the new job! Flowers

Report
DrJPuddleDuck · 07/05/2021 23:36

Stroke - thanks! Even if it wasn’t me, I’d agree with all of that!

OP posts:
Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

HeckyPeck · 07/05/2021 23:36

[quote Lou98]@HeckyPeck it is when you're dropping another colleague in it, how does that make her better? [/quote]
OP is better because she isn't a bully.

Report
DrJPuddleDuck · 07/05/2021 23:37

Fun and Karmak - thank you ☺️

OP posts:
Report
Mary46 · 07/05/2021 23:37

I think you handled it well. Bit petty she running to the Manager. If my work is wrong when Im temping his PA points it out to me. Hate office politics!

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.