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Insecure colleague

3 replies

TheRedHen2 · 02/08/2021 13:32

I've worked on and off with a colleague for around 10 years.

It's often just the two of us in the office.

She is a capable worker but struggles with dyslexia and is poor at communicating. Sometimes it's very difficult to understand what she means when she explains something (others definitely struggle with this too).

I like her, she's a nice person.

But, I find working with her difficult. Firstly she is constantly talking out loud to herself. She talks through (to herself) everything she is doing. She also slams things around a lot. Files, drawers etc. It's like a constant stream of noise coming from her. It feels like she is attention seeking for the sake of it. Even when I'm on the phone, she will shout over my desk to the boss and I've had to ask her to go to speak to the boss in her office not shouting across me when I'm on the phone. She was overly apologetic but I couldn't help but have the niggly feeling she felt happy getting the attention!

I also get told many times a day how good she is at her job and her outside work job too with constant self praise and criticism of others and how she's "fixed" x and y problem.

I compliment her, ask her for help etc so I have no idea why she does this. I think she feels threatened by me but she's just as (if not more) capable than me.

Mostly I just put up with it but there are some days when I find it so draining and want to tell her to shut up and the world doesn't revolve around her!

I just quietly get on with my work.

The boss is aware I find her self talk irritating but she's not going to do anything.

OP posts:
ToDoListAddict · 02/08/2021 15:29

Can you request to work from home on the grounds she is affecting your mental health?

Saidtoomuch · 02/08/2021 15:43

Wow, well done for not exploding at her, you are a better person than me. Can you go the other side of the office, so the boss is between the two of you, or wear a headset?

TheRedHen2 · 02/08/2021 21:36

Hmm thanks. I'm glad it's not just me being sensitive.

I think I might ask to change my working days so I'm not in the office with her (we are both part time).

I'd rather be on my own in the office than put up with this for ever more.

OP posts:
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