Crazy co workers

I have long recognized that some of my office mates are crazy and I need to stay away from them. One reason I like working from home. But when I am in, I have a hard time staying away. Mostly because they come into my office.

I was shook this week when I said an off handed "kidding" remark (also to get her to shut up) to one of them in private and she mischaracterized it and yelled it for all to hear. What she said could get me in big trouble and now I know she is not trust worthy at all. She simply cannot hear properly. The other person is also like that.. and it worries me... she had had many occassions of poor judgment and not understanding what I said. The only good news was when she yelled it I loudly said -- I never said that.

The good news (and maybe why she said it) was that all the important people were at an event and not around. The bad news... someone who I suspect has reported me before was around and could have heard it.

The prior incident was 100% not my fault either. We were at an event where we weren't supposed to take photos. I was just sitting next to someone who pulled out her phone and started taking photos. I didn't even have a phone. She asked me if I wanted one. I didn't know if I understood the no photo rule and was trying to be polite so I just said, just email it to me. Thinking if she did, I would have proof she sent it to me. I didn't get in trouble but I did get pulled into an interrogation session. The photo taker got demoted and moved away from me.

I feel like if I make it through the week I will be ok. But I worry the two office mates didn't understand what I said and if we get pulled into separate sessions it will be two against one.

Do you think I should call them on Monday and clarify my position or just let it be?

If I call them and make a big deal out of it... they could be on notice to try to get me before I get them.

If I don't call them and management questions it who knows what they will say?

If anyone comes to you about it, deny, deny, deny. If they have it on videotape, it was altered. You would never say such things. OTOH, if the company wants to fire you, start building a paper trail. These incidents sound like entrapment / harassment.

I would probably wait to see what happens, as nothing may come of it. If it does, I would simply explain it was a simple misunderstanding. If it is known she has a problem hearing then surely they would understand that.Never start worrying till there is a reason or cause for it. Ancient wisdom from the Sergeant that helped me stumble and bumble through being an officer. Stuff like that can be worrying, yet it may not amount to anything. Good luck.

Normally I wouldn't press my luck but it has been a few days at work and I haven't gotten an unexpected zoom invite... but my boss is out until March 25th. I don't know if they would wait for him to return. His boss, who is in, is the disciplinarian. A work friend tells me she thinks it is unlikely that anything would happen.. and when she got in trouble she said there was a text involved and I didn't put anything in writing.

I go in Friday and already one of the crazy people has emailed me. I responded very kurtly and I think I am going to be late on Friday so she won't be able to talk much.

Do nothing for now.

If you didn’t say what they think you said, then deny in it. You didn’t say it. And it’s not in writing. Screw them.

Yes there is some actual things that could, if looked in a bad light, be considered confirmation that I said it. So basically... if people started looking into it... they could think that what I said was real and even if they couldn't "prove" anything I would be under suspicion for the rest of my time working there.

But I am getting more confident as I go - given that my other friend tells me her discipline did involve a text. I think any manager would like to have something in writing.

Thanks for all the advice of keeping quiet. That is what I am going to do.

Something I thought about yesterday is that because of the two crazy co workers who like to spout in my office... I remembered that I removed a chair from my office. There is still one chair, because otherwise that would be weird, but I removed my second one so as to deter them coming in and (as usually would be the case) having conversations I wasn't even involved in. They still unfortunately do it, but, one has to stand.

Remember, these three could be testing you. Just walk the straight and narrow. Remind them it is a rule. All you can do. Try not to fret other people's issues. I'm sure you have enough to take care of on your own.