Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

My DH is overly concerned about his colleague

131 replies

Yiu124 · 13/09/2024 22:13

My DH works in a stressful job. He often comes home offloading. He has a few peers at work he’s friendly enough, but lately, he’s become overly invested in his female peer work stresses. They are in stressful situations- I get it, and they offload. But they are chatting a lot. She checks some of his essential emails. I often overhear him telling her to look after herself, that he’s concerned about her, not to work late, and that she cheers him up. Is this normal? Corporate environment for context

OP posts:
MarkingBad · 14/09/2024 10:43

Yiu124 · 14/09/2024 06:30

Sorry if I didn’t make it clear. He confides in her and offload his work issues as much she’s to him. He offloads to her a lot.
Is she good looking - yes.

Is it personal offloading or work offloading?

This is how people get emotionally involved when it starts turning personal it's gone too far.

Yiu124 · 14/09/2024 13:19

MarkingBad · 14/09/2024 10:43

Is it personal offloading or work offloading?

This is how people get emotionally involved when it starts turning personal it's gone too far.

I don’t know the details, but since they talk for 30 minutes or so at a time, I presume personal stuff will come up.
I know him, and he prioritises our family first. It’s just that lately, he’s been very stressed and it sounds like there are some blurred connections with her.

OP posts:
Yiu124 · 14/09/2024 14:38

Should I be worried?

OP posts:
Sceptical123 · 14/09/2024 15:21

I think so yes. Tell him she shouldn’t be interrupting family time in the evenings or at weekends. Why would he disagree?

Yiu124 · 14/09/2024 15:24

Sceptical123 · 14/09/2024 15:21

I think so yes. Tell him she shouldn’t be interrupting family time in the evenings or at weekends. Why would he disagree?

I don’t think she’s calling him on the weekends/evening.
He offered it to her, but I didn’t see him chatting with her in the evening/weekends.

OP posts:
MarkingBad · 14/09/2024 15:38

I can't tell you how to feel but I would be very much discussing it with him rather than accusing him of anything or leaving it by considering it a father daughter dynamic. Whatever anyone says the father daughter, mother son dynamic is often only in the minds of one, not both, in these relationships. I know plenty of people who would keep their occasional fantasies to fantasy while the boundaries are kept to but any blurring of the boundaries like discussing personal issues that suggests she might be available or just needs a hug can send them off in a tail spin, a broken marriage and a situation that had their blood not left their brains to service other organs in that moment, they wouldn't have wanted the situation they end up finding themselves in.

If they are both stressed they are not helping each other only winding each other up. He and she needs time away from work and worries about colleagues to regenerate and be on the ball for their job. If he is stressed could it be because she is stressing him out with her woes or vice versa. She needs help from people who can do something about it, your DH can't do anything and he is not her confessor either. She and he are building a bond here and that would make me consider taking action sooner rather than later.

I'd be trying to show an interest in why he is so concerned about her, how you can both help her, not just him and by this I mean professional advice on her worries not both of you shouldering her problems. That bond needs to be broken between them so they can get back to being professionals and colleagues not dependant on each other for emotional succour. Don't accuse them of anything, try and put a positive spin on it that you are interested in what is happening to them both and how you can help DH set strong boundaries so it doesn't tip into emotional territory

I'd also consider if something is lacking in your relationship that he is looking for elsewhere. There is usually an intimacy or communication worry that causes people to look for someone more amenable, it doesn't necessarily mean they intend to have an affair but it can be how it starts. How can you both work on your relationship to strengthen it? If he is sharing information about your relationship with her, then you need to act now as it is a sign that this is not platonic on his side and he may not yet realise that.

Emotional affairs can affect not just the marriage but the workplace too. Teams and colleagues aren't stupid, they will know something is not right and will act accordingly, they might feel he makes her a priority or they get fed up with hearing all the whining, someone somewhere may complain to HR and then there is a career issue for DH or his work wife in career progression or even gross misconduct. No one thinks about that when they are creating work bonds, I've seen many lose years of their career over a silly crush or a complaint from someone who is hurt.

You and he need to create a strong boundary about this and ensure he doesn't cross it again. That starts with conversations outside of work hours and conversations about you and your life together ending right now. Use the words "I" rather than "you" when you want to to prevent sounding accusatory, tell him how worried you are for him and offer your support. Ask him if he has any concerns about your relationship, don't mention the work wife on that one, ask that seperately. It is too easy to say things like "you always put them first so stop it" rather than "I want to be there to help you because I am worried about you and I love you". This helps to keep commnications open so it doesn't drive partners into the arms of a colleague.

redtrain123 · 14/09/2024 15:43

How frequently is she calling? Daily? Several times in the day ? Weekly? Etc

Saying to call anytime is one of those things people say. That in itself isn’t a worry.

Can you suggest that if he’s stressed he walks to you? or if she’s stressed, she should be talking to hr or gp if she’s unable to cope.

it definitely sounds like the lines are blurring.

sunflowersngunpowdr · 14/09/2024 16:02

What does she look like? I have never ever known a man to give so much attention to an unattractive women who wasn't his mother.

Yiu124 · 14/09/2024 16:52

sunflowersngunpowdr · 14/09/2024 16:02

What does she look like? I have never ever known a man to give so much attention to an unattractive women who wasn't his mother.

Attractive

OP posts:
Yiu124 · 14/09/2024 16:53

redtrain123 · 14/09/2024 15:43

How frequently is she calling? Daily? Several times in the day ? Weekly? Etc

Saying to call anytime is one of those things people say. That in itself isn’t a worry.

Can you suggest that if he’s stressed he walks to you? or if she’s stressed, she should be talking to hr or gp if she’s unable to cope.

it definitely sounds like the lines are blurring.

I mean, I don’t know. He’s working from home outside the studio, so I can’t listen to him all day. It just feels when I walk in he’s like sorry I am on a work call with so so

OP posts:
GivingitToGod · 14/09/2024 17:09

Yiu124 · 14/09/2024 16:53

I mean, I don’t know. He’s working from home outside the studio, so I can’t listen to him all day. It just feels when I walk in he’s like sorry I am on a work call with so so

Hi OP, at the risk of sounding cynical, the boundaries are at risk of becoming blurred. He is likely to be flattered and as u have said, he isn't normally warm and open.
Unsure what advice to give you but please take care of yourself and try not to let it take over your thoughts.
Moment by moment

Yiu124 · 14/09/2024 17:45

Deep down, I know he wouldn’t jeopardise his family. I think I will need to speak to him again about this.

OP posts:
MsDogLady · 14/09/2024 22:18

With respect, @Yiu124, he is already jeopardizing his marriage and family. He is investing way too many of his emotional resources into her: his energy, time, attention, protection, and more. They are confiding in each other, which strengthens their connection and engenders intimacy and over-familiarity.

The infamous ‘slippery slope’ is real and he is well on his way down it. It is very significant that he backed off for a while after you spoke to him before, but then did a u-turn and has escalated the contact, thereby disregarding your boundaries.

Yiu124 · 14/09/2024 23:25

MsDogLady · 14/09/2024 22:18

With respect, @Yiu124, he is already jeopardizing his marriage and family. He is investing way too many of his emotional resources into her: his energy, time, attention, protection, and more. They are confiding in each other, which strengthens their connection and engenders intimacy and over-familiarity.

The infamous ‘slippery slope’ is real and he is well on his way down it. It is very significant that he backed off for a while after you spoke to him before, but then did a u-turn and has escalated the contact, thereby disregarding your boundaries.

Edited

Thank you for your views. I hope we are not at this stage. Yes, it’s odd how much attention he’s paying to her, but he’s at home with us all the time when he's not at work. He’s home on time. I think this will fade.

OP posts:
5475878237NC · 15/09/2024 08:34

He's physically home but is he thinking about her all the time?

Harrietsaunt · 15/09/2024 08:40

It’s odd that whenever this situation arises, it’s always a younger, attractive, female colleague.

It’s never hairy Brian who needs the additional emotional support is it?

I think you are right to challenge this OP. 💐

Smallsalt · 15/09/2024 09:11

Funny how they are never concerned about the well being of balding Bert, age 60.

babyproblems · 15/09/2024 09:14

I can’t think of roles where they’d be checking each others emails etc unless she was a secretary. I think it’s a bit odd your DH is invested in their ‘care’- unless he is some kind of psychologist or similar!? Seems strange to me. I’d be wary of mention it's. You could suggest he invite her for dinner and see how that feels... x

babyproblems · 15/09/2024 09:16

Smallsalt · 15/09/2024 09:11

Funny how they are never concerned about the well being of balding Bert, age 60.

Ha ha this is v true!!! It’s never an old bloke. Always a female colleague who is in distress…

Merryoldgoat · 15/09/2024 09:25

I have an extremely good relationship with my manager. We check important emails for each other, have a laugh at some of the ludicrous nature of our workplace, collaborate, offer support when things are hard. I talk about him a fair bit at home but I think there is a ‘vibe’ with this stuff. I only talk about him relating to work and it would be odd to mention him outside that.

He’s never told me I cheer him up, to call him anytime, or offloaded personal stuff beyond genuinely ‘big’ things (death in family etc).

Your DH is at the top of a slippery slope. He might be in denial but he is.

coldcallerbaiter · 15/09/2024 09:30

Yiu124 · 14/09/2024 15:24

I don’t think she’s calling him on the weekends/evening.
He offered it to her, but I didn’t see him chatting with her in the evening/weekends.

Personally I think all you have to hope for in these situations is the woman’s boundaries. Most men in your dh situation will do what they can get away with, sorry.

You can fancy someone but that’s it, keep it to yourself. Massively disrespectful to you, to give extra emotional time and mentionitis.

That is why they need to know they cannot get away with any potential mishap. Bring it out in to the open if you feel uncomfortable and tell him to cut the extra stuff out.

Is she in a relationship?

Sceptical123 · 15/09/2024 09:38

Harrietsaunt · 15/09/2024 08:40

It’s odd that whenever this situation arises, it’s always a younger, attractive, female colleague.

It’s never hairy Brian who needs the additional emotional support is it?

I think you are right to challenge this OP. 💐

Always. On another thread someone said the difference main difference between male and female friendships - and this was supported by a man - is that women will invest, just because - they care, they’re concerned, and will work at maintaining their friendships regularly, whereas men mainly seem to get in touch with friends when there is something they want, ie. to borrow tools, go to the pub bc they fancy a drink etc. The rest of the time they’re happy/satisfied with their lives and can’t be bothered to put much effort into reaching out to ppl outside, including friends, unless they need or want something. Most men, not all men.

Like @Harrietsaunt has pointed out it’s nearly always a younger/attractive/ young amd attractive woman who they will bother to invest their time and headspace with.

I wonder why 🤔

So disappointing and predictable. The so-called sensible and dependable ones are not immune sadly.

MsLaiyla · 15/09/2024 09:44

I've had a problem with "mentionitis " in the past in a relationship. It was always a sign of a crush, not always acted on, but a pre cursor to at least an emotional affair and evaporating boundaries.

I have zero tolerance for it now but it does sound similar to OP.

DysmalRadius · 15/09/2024 09:45

Anyone who works in the same industry /job for a while will have hundreds of colleagues over their careers, some of whom will be more compatible than others.

The first time that one of those hundreds of colleagues starts impinging on family life, whether that's mentioning their name, discussing their situation, or having direct contact during non work hours, it just happens to be an attractive woman?

Ariela · 15/09/2024 09:49

I presume the corporate industry he is in doesn't encourage or permit relationships between workforce, so I'd simply remind him not to be come too familiar with just x colleague, as this could have repercussions if people talk..