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Cutting remarks from a colleague...why is she doing this to me?

I've been contracting in this job for 9 months now. The job is much more junior to what I've been used to (I was in Management) but I looked for this level on purpose to avoid long hours and much stress I used to experience. Also I like to work hard for months then take breaks & travel. I am single & this is the life I live. A couple of months ago, a married female colleague said to me 'you know temps will find it difficult to get work now with the recession'. I mentioned one day that I'd love a shopping assistant (joking), she said 'ah, I have one, are you jealous?'. She also told me that I seem to know a lot about a lot of things, that I should take up knitting instead of reading economic articles. She said she used to knit when she was single & bored. I replied 'oh, I'm not a bit bored'. She is always throwing sickies. I've only had 2 days ill in 9 mths. The fact is, I'm much more qulified than she is. I travel more, speak more languages and generally am more balanced. She is married, 3 kids. Why is she full of jabs? Is it bullying?

Public Comments

1. she honestly probably has nothing better to do... if it really starts bothering you that contact the hr department. Just envision her as a little housewife who is so board of going home to her kids and husband and also board of coming to work so she picks someones life who she is envious of to put down so she feels better.
2. Sounds like she is afraid you might want her job, and she thinks you would be better at it and is scared the boss will think so too. If she makes any "are you jealous" remarks in the future, smile sweetly and ask "Why on earth would I be?" If she is crass enough to say something like "Because I have what you want." or such, Look her in the eye and tell her "I am not that petty. Do you know anyone who is?" It will put her in her place, but politely. If she questions your reading choices, ask her " Since you don't read them, do you need me to brief you?" That would show her you know it is important, and won't let her mess you up. Some people just are mean, and she sounds like one of them.
3. you would not beable to take it to the police for bullying! becasue these remarks are just little silly remarks and not major!!
4. She is probably jelouse. Either that or is someone one that has to feel superior to others in someway or another. Or both. Either way, dont pay her any mind
5. She sounds like a bully. A lot of people think of a bully as that big boy that lives down the street. Women can be just as tough on each other, if not more, in some ways. She sounds like she's trying to assert her dominance over you, her statements w/ the shopping assistant thing make it sound that way. There's always a sort of one-upmanship with any kind of bully. She may see you as some sort of threat, real or perceived. Then again, she may be just a b****. There's a few of them around. The only thing I can recommend is to ignore the jabs, and get on with your work, and your life. She might be your colleague at work, but you don't have to live with her, or put up with the crap that she's handing out. Once you're at home, try not to let it bother you. I know that's hard. I don't know why she's full of jabs, but I feel real sorry for her kids. There's going to be a real expense when those kids end up in therapy, if she treats her own kids the way she treats her coworkers That would be really sad. Just try to think of it that way.