Did I do something wrong? Employee snapped at me

[Brooklans]

For context I am male. A woman who reports to me joined the company 6 weeks ago snapped at me and wondered if this is simply a misunderstanding.

A few weeks ago we had to travel to another city for work, I said I’d drove us both there the following morning at 8am. She gave her address (she’s staying at her parents temporarily) and then later sent me a text so I “had her number for tomorrow morning”. The next morning I arrived slightly early and didn’t call beforehand, and rang the doorbell twice. When she got in the car she said “Please don’t ring the doorbell again, it’s not my house it’s my parents I’m only staying there for the time being”.

She announced the role wasn’t right for her shortly afterwards, and on her final day I remembered she had some company equipment at home (for WFH purposes) and offered to pick them up from her parents house the following evening to save her bringing them back to the office. She text me the next day asking what time I will arrive. I told her and she texted back “Okay. Don’t ring the door bell again, just call when you’re parked outside and I will bring the equipment to the car”. When I arrived later I pulled up and rung her telling her I was outside. Afterwards I got out the car and walked to the front door, I arrived just ask she opened the door with the equipment, she looked taken aback and said “I told you to stay in the car!” I said “You said not to ring the doorbell I wasn’t going to” As she walked to the car with the equipment she said “I told you I’d bring the equipment to the car!” Put the equipment in the boot and walked off back into the house without saying bye. Thoughts?

You've all had a lucky escape!

The first time she probably didn’t want you to wake her parents. The next time she was probably pissed off as she thought you were going to do something she’d specifically asked you not to. On both occasions you were doing her a favour and I think she was blunt and rude.

However I wouldn’t give it anymore headspace, you’ll probably never see her again.

I think this isn't worth thinking about. Why give a crap if somebody you will probably never see again snapped at you? Why give a shit, forget about it.

She's rude and unpleasant. Well rid!

She must have had reasons to not want you in the vicinity of her house to which you are not privy. I am guessing she is also one of those people who are terrified of the doorbell which seems to be the norm in the UK for some reason. I wouldn't put too much thought into it, especially since she is no longer working with you.
Might be something to clarify in advance if you even need to pick another employee up from their residence.

Sounds like her parents might be v controlling and not want her talking to a man. On the second visit, if they were watching she could be deliberately unfriendly so she doesn’t get accused of having a secret boyfriend or something. Poor woman.

There could be a hundred reasons why she reacted like this. I doubt any of them have anything to do with you, so just forget it.

To be fair to her she was probably worried about you waking her parents. A bit odd that you rang the doorbell rather than calling her/text

The second time I am wondering why you left the car when she clearly told you to stay in the car and she would drop them to. You overrode her request and entered her parents property when she told you not to. What was your logic?

Let people (women) make their own way to places. You don't need to anounce travel arrangements to other adults. Keep away from their houses and their parent's houses. Stop crossing boundaries on purpose and stay in your damn car. Ugh.

Oh come on, you can't seriously think this is the OP's issue? The employee was rude and odd. There may well be good reasons for it and it's not worth losing sleep over but the OP has done nothing out of the ordinary.

Yeah, I’m not understanding why you rang the doorbell in the first place - I’d only do that if someone had ignored my text or call saying I’m there.

Also don’t understand why you needed to walk up to the front door in the second example - she said she’d bring the equipment to the car, so why didn’t you just wait in / by the car?

She probably shouldn’t have snapped, but your behaviour does seem a bit odd.

But like others have said, you’re probably never going to see her again so no need to give it any more headspace,

She sounds like a right weirdo I’d not worry about it

She might have strange controlling parents or is embarrassed by their home.

She told you she would bring the equipment to the car, and you ignored her - that's why she snapped at you.

Was the equipment heavy?

She sounds highly irritated by you. Why did she hand her notice in after a just few weeks? Could you have annoyed her?

He's not a friggin puppy dog 🙄

Plus he was doing her a favour.

This is not his fault.

Dodged a bullet. She could have said, please don't come to the door, that would have been clearer.

You should have just knocked instead. 😂

Is anyone else wondering why she/they have a doorbell?

I think she sounds rude and unfriendly. Try not to take it on.

Yeah, I’m not understanding why you rang the doorbell in the first place - I’d only do that if someone had ignored my text or call saying I’m there.

Maybe it's a generational thing, but I would have viewed ringing the doorbell as the perfectly normal, natural thing to do, while sitting outside and texting seems slightly weird.

I can't see anything at all wrong with how OP behaved and think the ex employee sounds highly strung and hard work.

Ffs. It was work!

This. I’m guessing there’s a backstory to this and her annoyance which she had to suppress was finally released now she’s no longer working there with him. Would explain why she left the company so soon.

Also it’s not her house, I can understand her not wanting her family and work mixing. I like to keep a professional distance.

This was my first thought -, perhaps parents are hoarders or inappropriate in some way. Perhaps this isn't her issue at all and they are strange about having people at their home and she's trying to respect boundaries they set. I wouldn't have rung the doorbell either unless I'd phoned repeatedly with no response, especially since she doesn't live alone - I think it's fair for her to be concerned about waking her parents. Either way, it's not really your issue now.