What would you do?

Kabazzzz

Just curious as to what other people would do in my situation, I'll try and keep this short!

I work with someone who can be difficult to work with, thankfully I don't have much longer to deal with it as I will be returning to my own job in a different building (I am currently "acting up"). I say this person is difficult to work with as my colleagues have all had some kind of run in with them in the past and I was even warned to watch my back with this person.


Anyway, this is where it gets very weird. I received a private message last night on Facebook from this colleagues little sister, accusing me of saying things about her (about her, not her sister that I work with). Now, I'm 33 years old, don't know this person (probably wouldn't recognise her if I walked past her in the street), I only know it's my colleagues sister as they have a distinctive surname. I would like to point out that I am wholly professional at work and would never talk badly about my colleagues... errr or their sisters!!!


Now her message to me was an unprovoked personal attack on me, so I kept a cool head and replied with an "I don't know who you are, your mistaken" type thing, only to receive the usual school ground guff of "well I've heard differently blah blah blah" so again I replied with the "you're mistaken, I don't know you".


So roll on to today and I've received another message, I can see the first line through my iphone app but haven't bothered to open it. But can see that it's along the same tone as the first two. What would you guys do?

Incidentally, the thing that she's accusing me of saying was mentioned in my office by one of my male colleagues... before Xmas... and it was that our colleagues sister is skinny with big boobs.. I had no part in it whatsoever. But, it was said in jest, in front of our colleague who even laughed about herself.

Person_one

Just block her on Facebook, and maybe just let someone in HR know in case it comes up again in a more intrusive way.

How very odd though!

sulkisu

Kabazzzz wrote: »

Just curious as to what other people would do in my situation, I'll try and keep this short!

I work with someone who can be difficult to work with, thankfully I don't have much longer to deal with it as I will be returning to my own job in a different building (I am currently "acting up"). I say this person is difficult to work with as my colleagues have all had some kind of run in with them in the past and I was even warned to watch my back with this person.


Anyway, this is where it gets very weird. I received a private message last night on Facebook from this colleagues little sister, accusing me of saying things about her (about her, not her sister that I work with). Now, I'm 33 years old, don't know this person (probably wouldn't recognise her if I walked past her in the street), I only know it's my colleagues sister as they have a distinctive surname.


Now her message to me was an unprovoked personal attack on me, so I kept a cool head and replied with an "I don't know who you are, your mistaken" type thing, only to receive the usual school ground guff of "well I've heard differently blah blah blah" so again I replied with the "you're mistaken, I don't know you".


So roll on to today and I've received another message, I can see the first line through my iphone app but haven't bothered to open it. What would you guys do?


Incidentally, the thing that she's accusing me of saying was mentioned in my office by one of my male colleagues... before Xmas... and it was that our colleagues sister is skinny with big boobs.. I had no part in it whatsoever. But, it was said in jest, in front of our colleague who even laughed about herself.

Ignore her, she'll go away eventually.

peachyprice

As you said, you're 33, ignore the silly little girl and do whatever it is on facebook to block her messages.

browneyedbazzi

I agree the the other posters, block her from facebook so you can't receive messages from her.

Treevo

Print off the messages, ensure you've saved them and then take that along to HR and, if necessary, the police if she continues to message you.

aileth

Keep a record of messages received so far, block her, let HR know or your line manager just in case something happens and she starts throwing around sexual harassment or bullying allegations. It could be the ramp up to it, god knows what goes through some people's heads!

marisco_2

Bloody Fbook, it is more trouble than it's worth. Print off the messages sent already and your responses to them. Then block this person from your account. Show your works HR what interaction has gone on between you and this person, to cover yourself in case problem colleague or her nutty sister try to cause trouble. You have to wonder how people function in the day to day of life, when they can behave so stupidly by doing stuff like this. They must be seriously bored to fill their time making trouble this way!

Kabazzzz

Thanks for your replies guys. I am not friends with her on Facebook so wasn't sure if I could actually block her, but I will give it a go.

I don't think that she works for the same organisation (large organisation), so not sure what good going to see HR would be.

Having said that, I am pretty sure that this has originated from my colleague (the sister), as there are only a small number of people in my office with her being one of them. I was covering maternity, but then had to go off for a major op, so she was 'promoted' to cover me, of course, I returned and so did the girl I was covering but my contract was extending and I was given a different service to deal with), so she has had a taste of a superiors role but has now had to go back down to her old post... with me has her direct superior.

I find it all a bit upsetting to be honest as I get on with everyone at work and do command quite a bit of respect in my 'proper' office and substantive post with those in my team and managers of other departments, so for this other colleague to have taken such a dislike to me for no real reason is a little disconcerting.

I have thought about going to see my line manager but he thinks the sun shines out of her backside and the fact that as it is her sister messaging me, I don't really have any other proof.

aileth

I would put a fiver on if she's that much of a problem (and has hassled others), she's been trying to find something you've done and make your life miserable from it. As you haven't done anything, well desperation sets in. Little bit of embellishment, get the sister involved, let the games begin. Some people's lives are rather dull.

Edit: I would say jealousy features HEAVILY

Kabazzzz

aileth wrote: »

I would put a fiver on if she's that much of a problem (and has hassled others), she's been trying to find something you've done and make your life miserable from it. As you haven't done anything, well desperation sets in. Little bit of embellishment, get the sister involved, let the games begin. Some people's lives are rather dull.

Edit: I would say jealousy features HEAVILY

Precisely what I thought. However, I act with the utmost professionalism whilst at work and never let my private life encroach on it.

She did have the girl that I was covering for maternity originally, pulled into our bosses office recently as there was a personality clash which was news to her! Our boss told her to be careful how she treats her and his approach is to treat her the way he does with his 12 year old daughter... the major difference here being that this girl is in her early 30's! She has him wrapped around her little finger.

I could go to him as he is my line manager at the moment although, I think would be a complete waste of time as he appears to have blinkers on or I could go to my proper line manager as at least then I know that I will be taken seriously.