Anonymous
Post 03/08/2016 10:49     Subject: How to deal with this co-worker
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).



Other than not showing a united front to the client, this wouldn't bother me. It may be regional, but this is something I heard all the time growing up, and no one would ever think the user meant they would *actually* murder someone - it's more an idiomatic expression to express significant frustration / annoyance where the transgressor is likely to get in big trouble. I'm certain I've said it about both my husband and kids many times. Now whether she should work on not using that phrase in the current climate is a separate question.

All the rest of it seems problematic and I understand why you're frustrated.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2016 10:42     Subject: How to deal with this co-worker
Freedom of speech protects you from GOVERNMENT action, not from your employer telling you you're a horses arse and need to STFU.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2016 10:23     Subject: How to deal with this co-worker
Anonymous wrote:
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.


+1
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2016 10:22     Subject: How to deal with this co-worker
Anonymous wrote:
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.


+1! Just practice excusing yourself to do something else. Interactions will just distract you from your work and may affect your home life if they happen near commute time.