My co-worker got talked to by the Boss for being too Mean

[JanetRose]

She's just unhappy that she can't retire (her husband doesn't want her to) and that she makes the least amount of money at work (she is the office secretary), etc, etc, etc. Since she is so unhappy and tends to complain a lot, she is sometimes mean to people. One of her problems is she compares herself to others who have more than she does and in doing that, she will never be happy. The boss doesn't say much to her in the morning any more since he does not want to start each day in a depressing mood. I finally told her last week that she needs to keep her problems at home.

Anyone else have this situation?

 

[Tink888]

She's just unhappy that she can't retire (her husband doesn't want her to) and that she makes the least amount of money at work (she is the office secretary), etc, etc, etc. Since she is so unhappy and tends to complain a lot, she is sometimes mean to people. One of her problems is she compares herself to others who have more than she does and in doing that, she will never be happy. The boss doesn't say much to her in the morning any more since he does not want to start each day in a depressing mood. I finally told her last week that she needs to keep her problems at home.

Anyone else have this situation?

I did. Used to work with a woman who was literally mad at the world. EVERYTHING made her mad and she never shut up about it. She did have a lot of personal problems and I did feel sorry for her for that but she was toxic. She made everyone around her miserable and stressed with the constant anger and complaining.

When the bosses talked to her about it. She'd either stop for a week or so and then go right back to the behavior or we'd have to listen to her complain silently to herself (but loud enough to hear) about how everyone had it in for her or she'd retaliate by calling off.

I no longer work there but I definitely feel for you. People like that make the workplace MISERABLE. I understand people are going to be unhappy from time to time but at work, if a person can't be pleasant, they shouldn't talk at all. Hard to be compassionate when you're listening to the constant stream of misery day after day after day.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I had a boss like that unhappy, mean, complaining about everything and everyone. Older lady. Wore mini mini skirts, lots of makeup and would prance about complaining. It was a sight! Miserable and comical at the same time. I'm sure I was like this a lot. I was elated to leave!

 

[C.Ann]

Unless it would cause a significant financial hardship, I would not have a DH who "told" me that I can't retire..

DD's FIL tried this with his wife the same year that he retired and for once she stood up to him and retired anyhow..

Seems to me her unhappiness stems from issues with her DH..

 

[ElliePeters]

Some just dont get that complaining so often wears people down- I wish you all the best!

 

[bettymae1121]

Not quite the same, but we had a former co-worker that just made life difficult for everyone. Totally inflexable, and everything was a MAJOR PROBLEM. She wasn't always in a bad mood, but on a daily basis something work related wouldn't be to her likeing and we all had to hear about it.

We didn't realize how much stress it was all causing us until she left to be a SAHM.

 

[Pakey]

I have someone on my staff who is like this and I have a "chat" with her about once every other week about the attitude. She's good for a few days and then starts sliding back into the nasty witchiness towards the rest of my staff.

Hers is a combination of 1) being at the same company too long (she's been here 27 years-the only job she's ever had) and feels that her limited clerical experience in one company should trump everyone else (including me many times) and 2) an idiot husband who is self employed but doesn't work very hard so she goes home and works another full time job at home.

I do value what she adds to the team work-wise but I wish she could leave her personality at home every day.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Judy and I discussd retirement for years. And she always wanted to retire before me. So we waited until 3.5 months after she had the age and service needed for her to retire. I then retired a month later even though I could have etired more than a year before she did.

 

[Judy from Boise]

I have someone on my staff who is like this and I have a "chat" with her about once every other week about the attitude. She's good for a few days and then starts sliding back into the nasty witchiness towards the rest of my staff.

Hers is a combination of 1) being at the same company too long (she's been here 27 years-the only job she's ever had) and feels that her limited clerical experience in one company should trump everyone else (including me many times) and 2) an idiot husband who is self employed but doesn't work very hard so she goes home and works another full time job at home.

I do value what she adds to the team work-wise but I wish she could leave her personality at home every day.

why don't you take her through progressive discipline?