Attention seeking woman at work driving me insane

[Gloc]

Name changed as outing to anyone that works with her!

She’s driving me insane, seriously - to the point where I have urges to shout at her or literally walk out. Shes so loud, constantly shouting and screaming. She’ll literally scream all of a sudden, waits for everyone to ask what’s wrong and then will say “I’m just so bored!” Or “I’ve just remembered it’s pizza for tea!” Or some other stupid shit.

She’ll randomly throw her papers up in the air and say “it’s stressing me out!” And everyone laughs. What exactly is funny about that?? Maybe the first time I’d laugh but when it’s a weekly thing - not so much

On Friday she suddenly slammed her laptop shut and screamed. Of course everyone was like “what?? What??” And she’s sat there lapping up the attention before declaring “I’ve just seen that my favourite band are touring”. Everyone laughed and said “Jesus I thought it was something serious”. It’s never serious, it’s always something stupid.

She’ll get up and suddenly start dancing - even getting up on the tables etc. at Christmas she brought in a load of those dancing snowmen/santas/clapping monkeys etc, set them up all around the office and turned them all on together. The voice was unbearable. The manager made her get rid of them in the end so she screamed and pretended to cry.

The woman infuriates me. I don’t even know why she annoys me so much. I seem to be the only one not laughing! Before anyone says I’m jealous, trust me - I’m the most introverted person ever, the last thing I want is to be centre of attention

She’s actually making me consider changing my job. I can’t stand it. I’m literally dreading going in tomorrow.

Imagine how she would respond to visiting the Sistine Chapel

Talk to HR as a group.

it will turn out to be some crazy sideways move because some muppet couldn’t face dismissing her.

she basically assaulted that guy with the headache.

can you all walk out if she screams?

YANBU to find her annoying. She sounds like a prize knob.

YABU to allow her to get to you so much. She's really not worth you dreading going to work, OP.

Sounds like a complete nightmare.

I’d be tempted to try to video a couple of episodes if management are not in the same space as her.

It does sound though that she might be deaperately unhappy / emotionally needy. Not something you feel you should have to deal with at work. But if you’re feeling saintly you could try leaning into the working relationship and see how she responds to truly engaging with her. Otherwise, colleague cancelling headphones?

Wfh if you can

Yes to headphones. Even if she manages to penetrate them you can pretend she didn't and ignore. Other people might follow suit.

I take it back - this would make me want to throat punch her 😂

I had this too once - only a quarter as bad but I wanted to kill her!

I raised it with her manager who did nothing, went to HR who moved me to another office, I felt so sorry for those left behind! And as a pp said, the awful acolytes who laughed and thought she was a character were almost worse!

I'm getting flashbacks now - but definitely raise it, it's really poor management not to tackle it.

You need noise cancelling headphones and a big sign that says "stop fucking screaming"

Scream back.

Seriously.

It does work because you're taking the attention from them. Just shrug if anyone asks and say "Oh, soz, I thought we were all joining in". Make her look as stupid as she is.

She might well then complain that she's being bullied...

OP she sounds unbearable. My nerves would be in shreds.

Jeez, she sounds awful. Next time she's trying to be the centre of attention say in a loud voice 'BORRRRRING'.

😂

She sounds insufferable OP.
I once worked with an attention seeker - drove me mad to the point I moved jobs.

She have been in serious danger of a punch in the face if she did that to me, especially if I was ill.

Speak to your manager and ask for it to be dealt with, if they refuse ask for the grievance procedure.

Do you have a feeling about why they haven’t dealt with it already?

Go to your manager and tell them you are worried about the screamer. She doesn't seem well and she is proving disruptive to the office. Mention your dread at coming back to work, but only because of her. Manager has already note the wacky Xmas toy things. She will know you are not making it up.

That would drive me cracked. Can you take in earbuds or something to reduce the amount of noise you hear from her?

😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

Get some noise cancelling headphones and crack on with your work.

I can only echo going to management. This is such appalling behaviour. I’d be tempted to have coffee (cold, ‘elf ‘n’ safety!) and when she screams, throw it up in the air. I would anyway, I’m extremely jumpy. Then you can say ‘For god’s sake, Linda, look what you made me do. Can you stop your ridiculous screaming, please?’ in a really annoyed tone.

I'd give her a dead pan stare and tell her to calm ,down that nobody is laughing with her just at her. She sounds like a fucking idiot.

Noise cancelling headphones and encourage others to get them as they are great and really helps to drown out loud noises. Making it super obvious the loud noises you are talking about! Then hopefully everyone will start wearing them and ignoring her. I'm sure people are irritated and will soon get annoyed and follow suit!

Or maybe get some ear plugs and next time she screams make a big show of putting them in while sighing and rolling your eyes!

Doesn't the NHS have a dignity in the workplace condition or something similar? This should be a performance management issue.
You need to raise it with your manager and start keeping a log of her behaviour.
Im guessing that as I most public sector workplaces nobody in management will want to deal with this unless you make it an issue.

She’s obviously loving the attention, but your colleagues are making it worse by indulging her. Do they feel sorry for her?

Making that much noise in a shared office, shouting and throwing papers are not reasonable behaviour, in fact it’s pretty much misconduct. But ultimately it’s her manager’s responsibility to get her under control. I agree with the PPs who advise keeping a record of the things she does and reporting to her manager and HR. They might not know how bad she is.

Interesting that she left her previous job when there was a bullying allegation against her. If the allegation was true, she’s misbehaved very badly in at least two workplaces.