Toxic workplace - AIBU?

[Princesspollyyy]

Hi,
Just posting to get it off my chest really. My workplace is a lovely place to work some of the time, and other times it really isn't. Everyone works shifts on a rota basis, so you are working with different people from one day to the next. It seems to me that there are a few big personalities there, loud attention seeking people and a few bullies.

If you are on with a few of those then it will guarantee to be a really bad shift and you will be counting down the hours until your shift ends. Yesterday I was working with a bossy, domineering girl who kept questioning my work and she was telling the person she was working under what to do. She told me, 'I know I'm bossy, management have spoken to me about it'... yet her behaviour doesn't change.

This one particular individual seems to be competing with me too, I have just completed a qualification and she has also done the same. All the way through she was asking what I got for this assignment, what I got for that assignment, and she seemed happy if she achieved a slightly higher mark.

I now have a few days off but I feel so drained and upset from yesterday's shift. I can't shake it off easily. I'm thinking of asking management not to put us together. I was hoping to remain professional and just carry on working with her but I don't know if I can.

I feel I am really good at my job and I enjoy it, but when I am working with her, she makes me feel like I am rubbish. She points out every tiny mistake loudly and makes a big thing of it.

Other people must feel the same as she told me that management had her in the office and had a chat with her, as someone had complained about her for similar reasons.

If you got this far, any advice to remain sane?

Thanks.. the only reason I haven't talked to any line manager yet, is because this individual seems to be best friends with her! Very difficult.

I hesitate to suggest something that might be hard, but what about learning some tricks to head her off, such as practising something to put it back on her such as you seem very interested in my marks, or people learn from every slip - sort of refuse to engage with her criticisms. Don't get drawn in - you can't change her very quickly but you can safeguard yourself by not responding in a defensive way.

Just to add to this. Don't engage. What mark did you get-can't remember exactly. Just be vague about everything. Plans for the weekend, whatever so there's no possibility of one-upmanship. If she's questioning your work, find a way to bounce it back. Why are you asking? kind of thing but with little room for her to respond or criticise.
What a pain in the neck for you.

You’ve got to find a way of not giving her the info that is feeding her. If she asks for scores on bits of work say you can’t remember or be vague with specifics. She’s competing with you because she has enough information to compete with you.

We've all worked with people who are unpleasant and difficult. Unless they are directly causing risky situations with work issues, just distance your self, polite but minimal interactions. You know their judgement is off based on how they conduct themselves, dont give it amy head space. Its a skill to learn in the work place, smile, nod, ignore.