Set Boundaries with Work Bully but...

I was hired as a Contractor for a company to analyze processes and implement new ones as needed. Knowing this can be touchy, I've taken special care to listen, get to know the team, welcome feedback, etc.

But one lady has had it out for me since I started.... going as far to reach out to me personally to ask what my purpose was on the team (though she doesn't sign my check).

It's ballooned from there. Anytime I present a change (at the request of both of our manager), she will personally call me to tell me what's wrong with the change, why she can't do it, or what she is NOT going to do.

I've passed this up the line and referred her back to our manager every time. Most recently, she decided to publicly "Make me aware" of "barriers" she's experienced with my changes in our weekly meetings (no one else has these barriers).

It's so bad that a coworker asked me what was going on with her.

To make matters worse, she tries to patronize me by calling me "Wonder Woman" in the group meetings or writing "Don't ever leave us, you're amazing" in the group chat or sending me "praise" on MS Teams. It's nauseating and completely FAKE. I am not motivated by public praise and even less by BS.

I finally shared my concerns with my manager and got a "Oh that's just how she is..."

So today when she started up with Hi AMAZING BEAUTIFUL lady (I already knew she was going to share another "barrier", I simply said.

"If you don't mind, I'd prefer that you addressed me by _____, and would love for you to share your barriers in the survey so that we can document them and benefit the team." OK I did follow that statement with a snarky "Thank you for sharing," but I've had it!!

... much to my dismay, I got a call later from the manager stating that she had just gotten off the phone with this wacko and that her feelings were very hurt by my unnecessary rebuke in the meeting. This was followed by a lecture from the manager about professionalism and not letting this lady get to me..

Thankfully, my contract is up in a few months, but help me...

Should I have handled it differently? Apparently this woman is known for being this way and her poor behavior is excused.

Am I wrong or did she succeed in her gas lighting mission?

Yeah, contractors are always wrong.

In my case, the client manager was kind enough to inform me that they were trying to give the problem employee a good review so they could pass him onto another team. A bad review would mean they stay with them until the person "improves."

Is it possible she had a terrible experience with contractors before and is projecting? Could you talk to her one on one?

Honestly, I never in my life had a good experience with contractual employees. It’s been always extremely bad. Last few we had got fired. If they hired another contractor, I’d likely have huge bias (they promised us no more contractors).

I am sure you are a great contractor but they might be bitter and disillusioned due to bad experiences. They might not believe you. They might think you are out to get them? It might help to smooth it over by explaining your position to her?

Are you sure she’s fake? Last contractor we had some people publicly wrote her extreme praise kind of messages like “Wonder Woman” style don’t ever leave us you brought us bright light etc style. I thought they loved her so much and they don’t normally praise people over the top. Most of us were puzzled

Well she does sound unprofessional. You don’t have to put up with her. Just sharing different perspective though on what might be happening