Meddling coworker

[thesockfromtheroof]

I am in a team of 5. We all wfh, going into the office on different days so we don't see each other. This is only since Covid.

Team member 1 works FT.

I and TM2 work Mon-Wed.

TMs 4+5 work Thurs+Fri.

TM1 is a gossiping, meddling PITA.

Yesterday TM2 was in the office. A piece of work needed submitting urgently, so I picked it up. TM2 had put a few queries in the piece which I was able to amend, so I did and sent it off.

It seems TM1 has since informed TM2 that I 'fixed her mistakes'. TM2 is unhappy with this and emails me asking for an explanation.

Explanation sent and seems to have been accepted. I don't think I did anything wrong. I didn't rectify mistakes, just queries she either wasn't able to complete or didn't have time to.

In hindsight perhaps I should've let her know. However it was her day in the office, and when we're in the office we are doing a different job to what we do when at home. But as she'd put the job back in the shared folder I genuinely thought she'd not had time and as it had been requested as urgent I just did it.

I feel like TM1 really didn't need to bring this up with TM2, and she's only done so to cause conflict. I'm pretty certain she told TM2 I'd said she'd made mistakes. She does have form for causing trouble.

AIBU here?

I'd just make sure you stay in contact with TM2,3&4 as much as you can if you do anything you think TM1 will start stiring with.

I'd say TM1 is stirring the pot for no good reason. YANBU.

Thank you. TM2 is refusing to name the person who raised it, but it would only be one of 2 people and the other is very unlikely to have got involved.

TM1 has form for this and I am so fed up with it. Every so often it happen.

How do I deal with her without ripping her head off causing drama?

I would say to TM1 "Why did you say to TM2 that I had corrected their mistakes? They hadn't made any, it was just work in the shared folder and they were upset unnecessarily"

I had this but the 2 were friends and it bee almost bullying. I just emailed the TM2 and said the equivalent of "I answered your queries and completed the work as it was in the shared folder. I haven't said or thought at any point that you made a mistake, anyone who has said this is frankly lying. If I thought you had made a mistake I'd mention it to you directly and not other team members." Then just tried to put it out my mind/not overthink it and worry whether I was believed (a weak point for me).

It did happen again but more blatant as the only person working the same day/on the same case when it happened was the one I suspected to be stirring so it has to have been her. I emailed them both and asked that they please stop talking about me and things I've supposedly said as there have been either miscommunication or blatant lies and we needed to nip that in the bud as it was unprofessional and might cause issues in the team . They weren't stupid enough to continue in such a blatant way after i put it directly in writing. They can talk about me all they want but not to the point where it affects my work.

Yes, nip in the bud very publicly, and in writing!

'TM1, I wanted to bring up the miscommunication that's clearly happened here so that it doesn't happen again. There were no mistakes, and no corrections - I simply finished the work in the shared folder which was marked urgent. Not only was it unneccessary for you to comment or get involved at all, your comments could have caused an issue within the team. It would probably be best not to get involved in commenting on the wider task list like this in future? I would hate to think that you might be accused of stirring trouble between co-workers! - it's got the potential to reflect badly? Hope this helps! - and you don't need to worry, TM2 and I have sorted out the crossed wires! Best wishes, ME'

You guys are awesome. Exactly what I was looking for! A public acknowledgment without being unprofessional. Thank you!

@Skeumorph

Yes, nip in the bud very publicly, and in writing!

'TM1, I wanted to bring up the miscommunication that's clearly happened here so that it doesn't happen again. There were no mistakes, and no corrections - I simply finished the work in the shared folder which was marked urgent. Not only was it unneccessary for you to comment or get involved at all, your comments could have caused an issue within the team. It would probably be best not to get involved in commenting on the wider task list like this in future? I would hate to think that you might be accused of stirring trouble between co-workers! - it's got the potential to reflect badly? Hope this helps! - and you don't need to worry, TM2 and I have sorted out the crossed wires! Best wishes, ME'

I think the only other thing I'd consider doing, would be to copy in all team members. Blindly or otherwise.