God I am Mad! ? Sorry a bit long!

[Tippytoes]

I work with a woman is is very quiet - not saying this is a bad thing, but she seems to have a very bad attitude as well - she works part time in the afternoons and sits by me. She does little things to annoy me and the other girl I work with - like never offers us a drink, even though we make her one, doesn't talk unless spoken to, huffs and puffs to herself when given any work etc. She never goes to look for work, so if not busy will be on the internet all the time (I'm a good one to talk! lol!).

Anyway my worse bugbear with her is that she starts at 1pm - and is never ever on time - sometimes 1.05, 1.10 - sometimes 1.30, with no explanation whatsoever and she never makes the time up. Also her boss has had a word with her about this and she still does it.

This week, the other girl is off (who usually covers lunchtime) and so I was waiting for her to come in at 1pm to relieve me for my lunch - she came in at 1.40! No word of explanation or nothing. So I complained to her boss about it and he had a word yesterday while I was out at lunch.

Came back and world war 3 broke out with her - this woman usually so quite started ripping into me accusing me of all sorts of things that I strongly deny. I asked her for backup or instances so that I could either apologise or explain if I had in any way upset her, but she couldn't think of any. I always go out of my way to make sure I speak to this woman, even though I get nothing back. It wasn't only me she had problems with, it was about 5 others as well - all of whom are lovely people and we all get on well. We have not in any way shape or form ganged up on her or anything like that.

She also told me when she first came her that she left her old job because the girl had become distant and stopped speaking to her.

I'm hopping mad at her accusations and have spoken to my bosses about it, and they know that none of them are true.

How am I going to sit here on my own with this woman this afternoon. What should I do - act normal? Speak when spoken or try to make conversation like I usually do (with no response!)

I would just get on with my job and speak when spoken to, or when necessary to get the job done. Maybe there's a reason why the girl at her last job because distant.

Yes have all formed an opinion that it is her and no us, iyswim.

By the way this woman is 60 - I am 33 - the others that she says have a problem with her are also younger than her. We are sure she had an age problem - as yesterday when she was shouting at me she was saying 'don't blame me if I am quiet' etc. But she seems to be quite with particular people and very chatty to some others who are more near her own age group.

I realise that maybe we don't have that much in common - but always think there is something to talk about, whatever age, even if its only to talk about what happens on Coronation Street or whatever.

Obviously this woman has real problems. Your boss should now be alert to this. All you can do is to remain civil to her and hope that your boss will have a good talk with her to find out what is wrong and whether she is able/prepared to pull her weight at work. You were quite justified to be annoyed that she didn't come in at the right time to relieve you and didn't feel she needed to give an explanation for her lateness.

Hi tippytoes - are your bosses going to act? There's no way you should have to put up with being spoken to like that at work.

I had a lady in my last job who worked in a different dept but both our depts shared an office. She was senior to me in 'rank' but one day she actually shouted at me so much after she left the room I cried (was pg at time but didn't know). The office was empty for a few minutes but then another lady came in and realised I was upset and asked why and I told her. The woman who'd shouted at me had to have words with my manager who was very annoyed about what she'd done. Although I felt embarrased about having complained and felt the response was a bit out of proportion the lady in question never did anything like that again - I think she realised that being a professional required a level of professionalism!

Sounds like the woman you're on about needs a kick up the backside too! hope she gets one for your sake.

Thanks for your replies everyone.

She works for a different boss than me, so her work isn't actually anything to do with me, but the other girl, whom I do get on with jobs shares with her, but its her who does all the work in the morning and her nothing in the afternoon. But we do share an office and the phone cover is all of our jobs etc. We also have to check with each other over holidays etc, but she just books hers.

Her boss is aware of what happened yesterday and understands and said he has seen enough of her personality himself to realise where the problem lies.

Apparently she has asked to drop her days from 5 to 4 - which her boss said gets rid of 20% of the problem. She wants a Tuesday off which is the day she is usually around 40 mins late (as she plays golf!)

I have a funny feeling though now that she is going to say we have all victimised her (which is not true at all). I have typed up our whole conversation yesterday just in case I ever need it.

Her boss says that he is thinking of putting another angle on the situation, but doesn't want to talk about that yet with me, so don't know what he is planning.

I have asked him that he doesn't repeat to her that I told him what went on because I don't want to make the situation worse.

I'm glad your boss is going to do something tippytoes - if it were me I'd probably just keep my head down but make a note of any incidents just in case for the future IYSWIM.

Hope it was a one-off!