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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to be really annoyed at my work colleague for revealing pregnancy to manager

17 replies

mamaolivia · 19/12/2008 12:10

bit of a long story but bear with me and would love to hear your honest opinions please.
There is a woman at work who I have lunch with every day (lets call her lunchlady). We are not friends outside of work but always had lunch together. My dh and I had been trying to conceive for a few months and the woman knew this, so when we finally conceived I told her. She was specifically told that only she knew and I said I would be telling work in the new year when I would be 14 weeks as didn't want to tell everyone before xmas as didn't want them worrying at all about staffing etc.
At 11 weeks did tell another colleague (will call her higherlady) who I am more friends with (but who is in a higher position at work that me or the other woman which is why I didn't say anything until later on).
Anyway, to cut to the chase, on Tuesday, was told by higherlady that the manager of my office knew that I was pregnant as he had asked lunchlady and she had told him. A little later manager then came to me and told me he knew!
Was obviously annoyed at both manager and lunchlady: at manager for asking someone directly (I have been moody at work, and am showing a bit, but only if you know I am pg iykwim), but also at lunchlady for telling him.
I confronted her the next day, as she still had failed to tell me that manager knew or apologise. She said he put her on the spot and she assumed I had told him. I reminded her that just 3 days earlier when she said I needed to tell them, I had said I was going to do so after xmas! She said she just though I must have said. This is a blatant lie as she knows I wouldn't have and that I would have told her first ifI was going to do that.
Manager has said that I had put her (lunchlady)in a difficult position as she is the health and safety rep and that if something happened to me and others knew she knew then she could be in trouble. I politely informed him that it is only once a woman has told work (which she has the right to up until 25 weeks - I am only 12 weeks!) then there is no need to do a risk assessment and if I had not informed them and something did happen I wouldn't have a leg to stand on!
I was not rude to lunchlady when confronting her, but was quite firm and direct as I wanted her to know I was upset and that she should not have said anything. I did ask her what other stuff she has told the mnager that I have told her inconfidence (such as my desire to be PT upon return to work) and she said she was offended that I would even think that she would tell someone something like that! I said that after what had happened I didn't know any more. The conversation did move on and I assumed everything was Ok as we then carried on chatting for at least another 15 mins and itwas friendly and civil.
Got into work this morning and was told by higherlady that lunchlady had complained to the manager (informally when they went for lunch together) that I was being horrible to her and that she felt uncomfortable!
I know I wasn't that nice to her when talkign about what happned, but didn't want to be a pushover (which I normally am, but am feistier than normal at mo due to hormones I think). Feel she is trying to turn it around and play the victim.
Now, if you are still with me after all this - am I being unreasonable - shouldn't I be the one annoyed at her? Does she have the right to be annoyed at me?

OP posts:
TotalChaos · 19/12/2008 12:14

YABU. It's not fair to expect lunchlady to lie when asked outright or for you to put a guilt trip on her. But lunchlady should have tipped you off that she had ben asked by manager.

mrsjammilovessantababy · 19/12/2008 12:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

DeckTheHallsWithBling · 19/12/2008 12:15

she was in the wrong. She knows it. She feels bad and is projecting.

HappyMummyOfOne · 19/12/2008 12:17

If she was asked directly, she answered truthfully - would you of had her lie? Even if she had said "you should be asking x this" most people would have assumed that meant yes anyway.

If you had been quite firm and direct, then maybe she did feel intimidated and she should not be made to feel that way at work.

For your manager to ask, he must have noticed something himself anyway.

DeckTheHallsWithBling · 19/12/2008 12:17

Wow, I x posted. I generally don't tell colleagues super personal things based on the assumption that they are colleagues, not friends. But... if someone I eat lunch with every day and who therefore has a personal relationship with me is all uncomfortable, then I would have a real problem with that.

if my manager asked me if a colleague was pregnant, knowing that as I get on well with said colleague and have a relationship with her I might know before work does, I would consider the manager to be acting inappropriately. And I would not ask the people who work for me to tell me private things about other people who work for me.

PuppyDrunky · 19/12/2008 12:18

I feel quite sorry for lunchlady being put on the spot like that. Does anyone else reckon higherlady blabbed to the Manager, that's why he asked?

DoubleBluff · 19/12/2008 12:18

You really should haave kept it to yourself. For some reason when it comes to pregnancy no one can keep it to themselves.
I ahve been put on the spot before and i don't like to lie, esp when you know that person will be announcing it within a few weeks. What do you do?
Congratulaations btw

Simplysally · 19/12/2008 12:19

I imagine she was put in a difficult position and now feels embarrassed at letting the cat out of the bag. Not sure why she has complained, maybe she wants it all on record for some reason. Work knows now so it'll be old news come January.

Try and put it behind you and enjoy your pg.

ChristmasDisco · 19/12/2008 12:21

I agree with all, she was put on the spot and asked by someone senior to her. She couldn't and shouldn't have lied.

basementbear · 19/12/2008 12:23

It sounds like your manager had guessed, and put lunchlady on the spot. I don't think you can blame her for confirming his suspicions but she should have immediately let you know that HE knew. Don't be cross with her, she probably was genuinely worried about health and safety and they had to find out sooner or later didn't they.

mamaolivia · 19/12/2008 12:26

thanks everyone -it is really good to get honest impartial advice by people not involved in all the office politics.
Will go and have a chat with her now and check she is ok and apologise if I was mean.

OP posts:
Simplysally · 19/12/2008 12:26

It probably depends on your job - where I work, we're quite keen on pg ladies telling us they're expecting early as most of them have physical jobs, moving machinery and working with chemicals, walking around all day etc. We want to know not as we're nosey (well, not all the time!) but we want to get it right as early as possible plus they can go for their ante-natal appointments in work time then.

BlueSapphire77 · 19/12/2008 12:28

Think as lunchlady seemed capable of keeping it quiet until the time she was asked that maybe higherlady dropped you in it and lunchlady couldn't lie when confronted.
I would also have it out with manager as certain things are private and confidential and basically he/she should have asked YOU not lunchlady.
With me so far? lol
Would apologise to lunchlady on behalf of manager for manager being such a twat
Would have higherlady up for blabbing and putting u and LL in bad position
And as previous..have it out with manager cos he/she is the one most definately in the wrong here..wtf happened to people skills in managers lol

mamaolivia · 19/12/2008 12:31

won't even go there with manager - so many shortcomings would be here even longer than my first post!

OP posts:
BlueSapphire77 · 19/12/2008 13:08

Lol yes i had my manager (i work with all men no other women) say that i was 'talking myself out of a job' because i wouldn't do any heavy lifting ... what a bell end he looked when all the lads put in a complaint about him saying that to me after i turned the tears on hahaha Seriously though i would make a point of saying something and at the very least make up with LL xx

whonickedmynickname · 19/12/2008 13:26

mamaolivia - I would be annoyed at the manager - hes the one who shouldn't have asked lunchlady - he should have asked you

You would be within your rights to moan at him about it but I don't think you can slate lunch lady for doing what most would do - and tell the truth when confronted by manager

Manager is being unreasonable - lunchlady is not imo- moan at him not her

Congratulations on getting pg and happy healthy 9 months btw x

stoppinattwo · 19/12/2008 13:36

If i was lunchlady i would probably have told the manager that he should direct his question at you directly instead fo lunchlady...I think the manager is in the wrong not you. I think Higher lady has blabbed to the manager!!!

anyway the secret is out now and only a couple of week sooner than you expected. I wouldnt stress too much about it.

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