How to deal with this co-worker

[Anonymous]

Some things she has said:

-Right around the time Hurricane Sandy was coming, she says to me: "You know why this is happening right? It's because America elected Obama."

-"Where is Larlo! I am going to murder him!" (in front of clients, yes she said the word murder about one of her employees)

-Me: "Would you like some girl scout cookies?" Co-worker: "No. No. No. I do NOT support the girl scouts. I am very very very very very against girl scouts and do not support them."

-After someone asks her what she is doing this weekend. "I am going to the March of life. I am VERY VERY VERY pro-life. VERY! I am extremely passionate about this. VERY."

-After someone asks if she is going to see the pope. "I hate the pope."

My boss knows she makes people uncomfortable and while some things are not work appropriate, how should this be handled? Isn't it her right to say all these things? If he asks her to "cool down," could this backfire? In my opinion, politics, religion, stance on abortion, etc. should not be discussed at work (our jobs have nothing to do with any of these things).

[Anonymous]

I think you just don't engage her. If she goes into a rant about an issue, you can just say "OK" and move on. If she pushes you for a reply, you can say that you're not comfortable discussing the issue at work.

If she is saying inappropriate things in front of clients, then I think her supervisor needs to have a talk with her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you just don't engage her. If she goes into a rant about an issue, you can just say "OK" and move on. If she pushes you for a reply, you can say that you're not comfortable discussing the issue at work.

If she is saying inappropriate things in front of clients, then I think her supervisor needs to have a talk with her.

Yes to all this. Make it a game to change the topic. After she gives a tirade of what she is doing this weekend, without a beat: "Well I was going to that new coffee place to try their gourmet chai and then watch a soccer game. Jack, does your boy still play soccer?" Or even more out there and mundane "Well I am going to a clinic on toenail topcoat. Just the topcoat, mind you, I'm not ready for colors yet. That's the advanced class. Jack, does your boy still wear nair polish?"

[Anonymous]

OP here. I have learned over many years to just nod and smile or say OK. I do not engage her. But for new staff or clients, this is totally unprofessional. Seriously, blaming the victims of Sandy on Obama? I think this woman has forgotten what it means to be professional.

Even my boss came up to me and said something along the lines of "man she is just getting worse and worse, isn't she?"

Can he say something to her? Or are her comments "free speech?"

[Anonymous]

Where is she on Trump?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I have learned over many years to just nod and smile or say OK. I do not engage her. But for new staff or clients, this is totally unprofessional. Seriously, blaming the victims of Sandy on Obama? I think this woman has forgotten what it means to be professional.

Even my boss came up to me and said something along the lines of "man she is just getting worse and worse, isn't she?"

Can he say something to her? Or are her comments "free speech?"

Free speech doesn't mean you can say unprofessional things in front of clients and suffer no consequences. The only thing she might have is a religious discrimination claim if you fire her for the content of her speech. But if you say to her that it's unprofessional to bring up political issues like that in front of clients, regardless of which way her politics skews, and she continues to do so, yes, it's perfectly reasonable for her to have to suffer some consequence for that.

[Anonymous]

She sounds entertaining

[Anonymous]

Were you trying to sell her GS cookies or just offering her one from the box you already bought? Because you shouldn't be trying to sell stuff to coworkers in the work place.

Aside from that, just ignore. Sure, it's not professional but people over share stuff all the time - don't encourage it, but don't make it a big to do. She's shooting her own career in the foot. No need to pile on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some things she has said:

-Right around the time Hurricane Sandy was coming, she says to me: "You know why this is happening right? It's because America elected Obama."

-"Where is Larlo! I am going to murder him!" (in front of clients, yes she said the word murder about one of her employees)

-Me: "Would you like some girl scout cookies?" Co-worker: "No. No. No. I do NOT support the girl scouts. I am very very very very very against girl scouts and do not support them."

-After someone asks her what she is doing this weekend. "I am going to the March of life. I am VERY VERY VERY pro-life. VERY! I am extremely passionate about this. VERY."

-After someone asks if she is going to see the pope. "I hate the pope."

My boss knows she makes people uncomfortable and while some things are not work appropriate, how should this be handled? Isn't it her right to say all these things? If he asks her to "cool down," could this backfire? In my opinion, politics, religion, stance on abortion, etc. should not be discussed at work (our jobs have nothing to do with any of these things).

You know what else shouldn't be discussed at work? Trying to sell things to coworkers.

[Anonymous]

simply ignore. not your job to "fix" her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some things she has said:

-Right around the time Hurricane Sandy was coming, she says to me: "You know why this is happening right? It's because America elected Obama."

-"Where is Larlo! I am going to murder him!" (in front of clients, yes she said the word murder about one of her employees)

-Me: "Would you like some girl scout cookies?" Co-worker: "No. No. No. I do NOT support the girl scouts. I am very very very very very against girl scouts and do not support them."

-After someone asks her what she is doing this weekend. "I am going to the March of life. I am VERY VERY VERY pro-life. VERY! I am extremely passionate about this. VERY."

-After someone asks if she is going to see the pope. "I hate the pope."

My boss knows she makes people uncomfortable and while some things are not work appropriate, how should this be handled? Isn't it her right to say all these things? If he asks her to "cool down," could this backfire? In my opinion, politics, religion, stance on abortion, etc. should not be discussed at work (our jobs have nothing to do with any of these things).

You know what else shouldn't be discussed at work? Trying to sell things to coworkers.

Relax. I brought in GS cookies to share! Did I say I was selling anything?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where is she on Trump?

I would never ask her that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some things she has said:

-Right around the time Hurricane Sandy was coming, she says to me: "You know why this is happening right? It's because America elected Obama."

-"Where is Larlo! I am going to murder him!" (in front of clients, yes she said the word murder about one of her employees)

-Me: "Would you like some girl scout cookies?" Co-worker: "No. No. No. I do NOT support the girl scouts. I am very very very very very against girl scouts and do not support them."

-After someone asks her what she is doing this weekend. "I am going to the March of life. I am VERY VERY VERY pro-life. VERY! I am extremely passionate about this. VERY."

-After someone asks if she is going to see the pope. "I hate the pope."

My boss knows she makes people uncomfortable and while some things are not work appropriate, how should this be handled? Isn't it her right to say all these things? If he asks her to "cool down," could this backfire? In my opinion, politics, religion, stance on abortion, etc. should not be discussed at work (our jobs have nothing to do with any of these things).

You know what else shouldn't be discussed at work? Trying to sell things to coworkers.

Relax. I brought in GS cookies to share! Did I say I was selling anything?

OP here. This really bugged me. A simple "no thank you" would suffice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:simply ignore. not your job to "fix" her.

Exactly. You have the same boss? It's your boss' job to fix her, and it sounds as though boss is just saying "man, she's getting worse, isn't she." Either boss is a substandard manager or he isn't concerned about her behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where is she on Trump?

I would never ask her that!

Looks like your only option is to have fun with this.