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Probationary period - co worker is a nightmare

3 replies

Cherryblossom200 · 15/12/2020 11:04

Hi everyone,

I'm having a nightmare at work, and need some advice please 😬

I was made redundant recently due to COVID and lucky enough to find something quickly.

It's a local company which is handy as I'm a single parent.

On my first day I was really happy and thought I'd enjoy the job, however it quickly became apparent that my co-worker who I share an office with is a full scale nightmare.

We do the same job and she's having to train me, something it's clear she hates doing. She complains constantly about everything and everyone, she has a difficult family environment which most definitely is affecting her.

She admittedly drinks a bottle of wine every night and most days her moods change rapidly from one minute to the next. It's incredibly hard work and draining working alongside someone like this.

My manager who is her boss seems to get on well with her, they go for cigarette breaks together. But I guess the dynamic is different as that's her boss abs they don't share an office together.

I'm trying to professional and initially we got on well, but she talks a lot and I felt as i'd only been here a couple of weeks it was important I get my head down and work. I want to give the right impression.

On Friday, I had a heap of work to do and kept quiet and I find it easier this way. Today I came into the office and she's moved into another room from me. Apparently this is COVID related, however it's clear she's angry with me and talking to everyone other than me!

It's only a small office of 9 people, I know people understand what she's like but not doing anything about it.

The other thing which happened which I'm really quite upset about, is she said a racist word about the man who works at our local shop. You can guess the word...only issue is I'm half Asian myself and was speachless when we said it 😬

I don't know what to do, I'm in my probationary period and don't feel I can say anything. Plus if I did try already unstable work colleague is going to make my life even more of a nightmare.

Come January I'm looking for a new job, I'm just unsure what to do in the meantime? x

OP posts:
PillowPrincess · 15/12/2020 22:07

How do you know she drinks a bottle a night?

Cakles2010 · 15/12/2020 22:19

In my opinion if you told management/hr about the racist comment she would be taken to disciplinary (or at least should be) particularly if it's offended you. This is very big in organisations now and comes up time and time again where people assume they are having "banter" but it goes too far and offends someone.

Will you have a probationary review coming up? If you do (you should have) then you could raise this then. If you genuinely like the job and would rather stay than look for somewhere else then I would bring it up with your manager

Cherryblossom200 · 16/12/2020 08:51

Thanks everyone!

Because she told me drinks a bottle of wine every night. It's not something I assumed 🤣

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