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I am currently sharing an office with a woman who gives potential stalker/clingy/needy/weirdo vibes and it is starting to unnerve me a bit. She has a very negative, defeatist attitude and demeanor. She constantly talks about her domestic issues, poor financial situation, lack of friends/social life and other weird things (such as she stated that she almost committed suicide a few years ago because she had a really bad problem with bedbugs and couldn't afford an exterminator).
This woman has a problem respecting my boundaries (tries to start conversations with me while I'm on the phone with clients or otherwise engaged in my job duties). And she has started try to copy my style (clothes, hair style, etc.) which is scary and stalkerish (a la the movie Single White Female). She constantly asks where I bought this or that and then makes snarky comments about fashion being "silly" only to try to duplicate my style. And she has eluded to the fact that she is wiccan or likes "things that tend to the dark side". I have asked to be moved to a different office but it won't be ready for a few weeks to a month from now.
I try not to be rude to her but she really creeps me out. Advice, please, on how to handle the situation.
Draw firm boundaries with her and don't let her overstep them. Be assertive and firm in your interactions with her, for example if you're on the phone and she's trying to strike up a conversation with you, look her dead in the eye and say, "I'm on the phone". She sounds like the type who will take a mile if you give an inch.
Then, if she keeps being weird, document everything and go to your supervisor.
Engage as little as possible. Answer in one or two-word replies. Do no ask her personal questions, and do not take the bait if she talks about personal stuff.
Also, could you get away with wearing earbuds in the office?
She sounds really creepy. Since she likes the dark side things, you could pretend to be a Christian, put up Bible verses, talk about church, and try to scare her off.
When she asks where you got something, either tell her you got it at somewhere you never shop (she'll waste time looking for it there) or somewhere outrageously expensive (maybe she won't bother looking and trying to copy it).
Other than that, you do need to protect your boundaries, but try to maintain a civil distance from her until you can be moved into the new office. She sounds like a broken soul. It is unlikely that anything other than professional counseling or treatment would change her behavior, so your salvation will be escape.
Look her straight in the eyes and say...I'm a very serious minded person about my job...Maybe we can talk another time when we are not on the clock....Don't wait for her response...turn around and get right to your job. She is likely over friendly normally...and has...some need to reassure herself that you accept her....It doesn't matter...Do your job...and do not let her railroad you....Who moved her into your office...Who'd you P--- Off lol
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