Being blanked by work colleague

[30ishiwish]

A work colleague has been blanking me since January. She doesn’t look at me when I talk to her, avoids sitting next to me, won’t look at me or interact during staff meetings and presentations.

Recently, one of her close friends, also a colleague, has started to do the same. I have no idea what I have done to be treated this way. We work in a very small setting so it is becoming increasingly noticeable and as I am in a senior role, it’s beginning to bother me.

She has had a rough time of things recently with the break down of a relationship. Just wondering what I should do. I don’t want to ask her if I’ve done something to upset her as I honestly haven’t and I feel it would give her some satisfaction as it feels as though I’m being bullied. Perhaps I just need to toughen up and grow a pair!

Sounds ridiculous. Are you her direct superior? If so there's no way I'd accept that! I'd ask her very firmly if there is an issue.

I would absolutely call the pair of them out on it in a professional way of course. That is a really horrible way to behave especially in a small setting.

Seek advice from your boss and her boss to make sure they’re noticing their treatment of you. You don’t want to start making accusations without evidence.if you are her line manager you should start with an informal chat to ask why she is blanking you. If not, ask her line manager to say something. What she is doing is a form of bullying and should not be tolerated.

Thank you for your replies.

I can’t discuss this with my boss as my colleague is a firm favourite of hers and can’t do any wrong. Colleague is very, very good at her job.

Could you frame it to her boss in a concerned way like "I've noticed Sharon seems very withdrawn recently. She doesn't speak up in staff meetings or at presentations anymore. I hope she's OK, please let me know if there's anything I can do to help." Her boss might then start to notice Sharon's behaviour once you've drawn attention to it like that.

Are you her line manager?

I’m not her line manager. She is amazing at what she does, hence the reason for her being a favourite. She can do no wrong. Doesn’t matter if she’s late, leaves early, doesn’t arrive etc, has my boss eating out of her hands.

Tilikum that is a good, non confrontational way of addressing it. Thank you. I intend to kill with kindness. Don’t really have any other option.

We are a very niche, small group. I don’t want my boss or directors to know there is an issue in case it affects future professional development opportunities.