Colleague often suggests maybe I'd like other work

[Lena18]

So I don't want to say too much in case it's outing. I have a colleague who works along side me and often a little friendly competition or rivalry. During lockdown we were all wfh and I would get emails saying how's your day going? I would reply same as usual and the response would often be maybe you should look into alternatives departments and I would get your clients. In my industry it would be normal for external competitors to feel out prospective new staff. I mentioned this over the last few days and I keep getting little comments such "you should follow up with #### they might have an an opening nearer your home" or "if you worked for #### maybe you could wfh all the time that would be nice" or "maybe the work with #### would easier a lot less crap to deal with why not have a chat with them" or "maybe the money is better at ####"

Thanks for sticking with me thus far DH says they are only trying to wind me up and to let it go over my head but truth is they are and it's getting a little frustrating.

Do I bring this up? Thanks

Personally, the next time they make a comment regarding this other tile, I would respond saying if they feel it's so much better there, then why don't they go & work there.

Then any further comments, I would respond in a similar way

I’d go with “That sounds ideal for you, why don’t you apply.”

Thanks guys will try this and see if it continues

Threatened by you probably.

I’d have a list of responses ready like, ‘why do say that?’ ‘Not this again!’, ‘you really want me to go, don’t you’, ‘why are you obsessing about me leaving?’ ‘You keep saying that’ ‘it’s almost like you’re after my clients’. All followed with a laugh.

'Oh, do you think so?'

Or

'I'm fine thanks'

All of these are great thanks so much. .

Possibly a little threatened I have found them checking to see how much work I've done in a day .. ie how many clients I have spoken with. Questions why a client contacts me first when the only reason is I've been there about a year longer ..

Wind them up on purpose with misleading comments, hehe.

That's out of order. I would ignore them and only text when you actually need to.
Or just text back 'that's really inappropriate'

I find that a simple “are you threatened by me?” works quite well. Call them out!

"You seem to be over invested in my work at the moment".

I've done that but only with friends I know are looking!!! (Usually when we've both been lookkng.) Its a bit odd otherwise