A co-worker found out last week that my DH and I are significantly better off financially than her, this came out accidentally, I’ve worked with her for 3 years and was deliberately careful not to mention any obvious economic differences. Since she found out she has made a few comments about this to me and others.
Then today she ridiculed me in front of others as being posh (I’m absolutely not!) and laughed with another colleague about how I wasn’t like them etc. And how it affected our job - we work with some very vulnerable people (I was easily shocked apparently whereas she’s seen it all before etc)
The other colleague was obviously uncomfortable and said she didn’t think I was easily shocked etc. But the woman ploughed on with her opinions. This was all in front of two other colleagues. I felt humiliated and angry, mostly angry I think. I left the room and when I’d had a chance to calm down I went and spoke to my manager asking for the conversation to be kept confidential.
She encouraged me to make a formal complaint but all I can think is that I have to work quite closely with this woman and I know from experience she is an absolute bitch to people she takes against.
So, do I... speak to her myself, make the formal complaint or forget it all and move on? And how do people make complaints against people they work with and then carry on amicably? I’ve always thought I’d stand up to anyone who intimidated or bullied me but now I find myself doubting the wisdom of this?!