A 21 year old female coworker acts like a child.

[Dell873]

A 21 year old woman at work will whine and fake cry like a baby when she doesn't get what she wants. She also talks like a baby too, and gets very jealous of others.

It's starting to irritate other coworkers, aswell as myself. What do I do?

Laugh at her.

Are you her manager? If so, pull her up sharpish and tell her that her behaviour is not acceptable.

If not, probably roll your eyes and ignore.

It’s the world we now live in. 🙄Roll your eyes and tell her to grow up?

Tell her that her behaviour is inappropriate and that if it persists she’ll be on a warning (assuming your workplace does this)

Tell her she will never get Star of the Week while she acts like this?

Behaviour chart?

It's difficult as some people respond with "aww" and talk about how cute she is, but she's 21 years old not a child, and this motivates her to do it even more.

I know I have my flaws, but this is becoming extremely irritating.

If you're her manager then manage her.

If not, but her behaviour is disrupting your work then speak with your manager.

Christ alive this would drive me crackers!

I would have to laugh.

Sticker chart?

I’m probably reading too much into this but sometimes if people were abused as children then their inner child can be a prominent part of them. They also may have poor boundaries. I used to act quite young because of this.

It does sound annoying. I would either have a word or ignore. Or maybe try and assign her things to do that will build her confidence and help her develop herself.

Take away her golden time? Naughty step? Can you ignore her? Walk away? Are you her manager? Can you do a ‘Tim/Jim from the office’ look to the camera every time she does it?

"Oh grow up"

But then my workplace weakness is a tendency to be forthright ;)

Omg this is ridiculous!

So when she’s not talking like a child compliment her on being mature about something. Blank the baby talk or say you don’t understand please can she repeat what she’s said clearer.

more details needed about the crying

I couldn’t be doing with that shit. I’d just blank her until she’s ready to act like a grown up

Treat her like a toddler......I'd ignore it until she acted like the 21 year old she is!!!!

I honestly think I would have to ask her to repeat herself in a normal voice. I wouldn't plan this, it's just come out.

I was never big on nonsense from my children never mind adult co-workers.

It's difficult as some people respond with "aww" and talk about how cute she is, but she's 21 years old not a child, and this motivates her to do it even more.

This is why she does it - because it works as a strategy while she is young and attractive. Leave her to it because you will look sour if you say anything, even if you are genuinely just cringing for her.

It's manipulative behaviour. I'm sure she's perfectly able to act like an adult if she wants to.

I managed someone like this but I'm a no nonsense sort and it didn't wash with me. If there had been genuine pain and upset I would have been empathetic, but it got in the way of her doing her job properly.

I made it clear she could come to me for support at any point if she was struggling with her work and I would make time to help her, but that if she didn't seek that support and didn't behave with confidence ultimately no one would ever have confidence in her.

Perhaps she's been doing it all her life at home in order to get her own way, who knows? She will grow out of it in time, but the penny will have to drop that it isn't working any more.

I think I'd ask her why she's speaking like that at work?

My face tends to give away what I’m thinking, so I’d probably just laugh out loud!

She sounds hard work though.

Ask her if she identifies as a baby 🤣