"Friend" at work enjoys being negative

[rainbowsandblossoms]

So I have a work colleague who really wants to be good friends with me. But I find it hard to the point I don't get her destructive behaviour. I have a more senior role at work and if I delegate work out and a member of staff doesn't like it she will tell me what they have said about me. I confided in her a while ago and said I'm a very sensitive person and find criticism hard. But this year I have been going to therapy and really working on my self to heal that.

But it's as if she gets off on telling me some one has called me a name or put me down in any way. I don't get it. Why would some one do trust when they claim to be your friend.

I think because it's work you can quite firmly ask her to stop. Take the "friendship" element out of it.

(As in "I find it unprofessional to gossip at work, so please don't do this")

Tell her that some people need to blow off steam while at work but you don't need to hear about it. If they want to take an issue higher they'll speak to you directly.