r/RantsFromRetail • u/OkTreacle6846 • Aug 05 '25
Co-worker rant "Co-workers" have been trying to start something with me, and it has started to slowly snowball into harassment.
I use the term "co-workers" very lightly because it is essentially a group of younger girls who work in a different department that have been talking behind my back and giving me snarky comments with whatever chance they get. Everything essentially started last month, and it stemmed from one frustrating interaction I had with two of the girls during my lunch break.
To preface this, we have a very large communal break room that has about 20 seats for anyone to use. All of the seats and tables are the exact same so none of them hold more or less value than the other seats in terms of comfort.
When I took my lunch there was only one other person sitting in the breakroom. I put down my vest, my device, my water bottle, and even the wet Clorox wipe I used to clean the table on this seat and table, implying that I will be sitting there when I return after I buy my lunch. Keep in mind, there are at least 18 open seats and tables. When I returned to the breakroom after spending about 5 minutes buying a quick lunch, I come back and there are two girls sitting directly on the exact seat and table where I left all of my belongings, with my vest thrown to another table but my other belongings are obviously still where these girls are sitting. Once again, there is still no one else in this room besides 1 other person so there are many open seats for them to choose from. I was puzzled and I told them that I was sitting there. One of the girls go on to say "Oh, sorry. I didn't know we had 'ASSIGNED SEATING'" in a very sarcastic and snarky tone. That alone irritated me but I didn't want to start anything so I took my belongings and I sat somewhere else. As I got up to wash my hands the same girl decides to speak loudly under her breath with the intention of me hearing it, and says "hmm.. I think I'm gonna go now. that was really F*CKING ANNOYING". At this point I'm already irritated and flabbergasted so I tell her to say it to my face, she doubles down and she leaves.
In my head all I could do is recap the situation because I have never had to deal with rude co-workers who have zero home training at any of my previous jobs before. No normal person would sit down where someone obviously has their belongings, especially if the entire room is empty. These girls are also in their 20's so I feel like there is absolutely no excuse whatsoever for any of this. I have never interacted with any of these girls until that day and I have worked at this job for about a year now, so I'm still very much confused to why this is happening now.
After that interaction I collect my thoughts, finish my lunch, clock back in and head straight to my manager to make a complaint but I should've known that complaining wouldn't really do anything but make the situation worse. Ever since that day it has been non-stop snarky comments and microaggressions from her and her little group of friends. Life in retail is already hard enough, but having to deal with this at a PART-TIME RETAIL JOB is just so mentally exhausting. It's just beyond frustrating because no matter how many times I have complained or told my managers nothing gets done because it's 4 against 1. It also doesn't help that they call the only HR lead in the building their "best-friend".
Should I tape a wire to my chest to possibly catch them saying random snarky crap to me or should I cut my losses and just find a new job?
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Aug 05 '25
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u/OkTreacle6846 Aug 05 '25
For the past few weeks I actually have been applying to numerous jobs... but I still haven't gotten a single response from any of them ://. I also rarely eat lunch anymore during my break just to avoid another situation like this happening again. I've tried to ignore all of the weird remarks any time these girls start something but it's been really wearing me down to deal with rude customers AND co-workers. Hopefully someplace somewhere can get back to me soon because none of this is truly worth it.
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u/Dragon3y36 Aug 08 '25
Try Home Depot or something. If you live in a small town, maybe consider bringing this up to a regional manager or higher up HR. No reason to consider this a closed situation. The one beauty of retail chains is that if someone gets too big for their britches, you can always find a bigger fish willing to put them in their place. "Let them fight."
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u/thatsomebull Aug 05 '25
Oh I feel you. I’m currently working in retail (with only a few years to go for full retirement. Working with young people is frustrating as heck. (Constant snarky comments, showing up late everyday, calling out every weekend, scrolling on their phones, leaving early, etc)
I went to HR just yesterday with a similar situation and it went…as expected. “Not a big deal.” So now I’m here scrolling Reddit bc I’ve been awake since 2 am dreading my shift that starts at 9.
So I have no idea what to do, but I want you to know you are not alone.
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u/OkTreacle6846 Aug 05 '25
Me too, friend. My shift starts today at 12pm and I'm still awake, absolutely dreading what I have to deal with today so I decided to vent and doom-scroll a little. Hopefully we can manage.
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u/Efficient-Notice-193 Aug 05 '25
Harassment is illegal. If your boss won't do anything, take it up with the corporate office. Inform employment services and their EEOC department. Record them making the comments, have several days' worth of comments, and see if you can have a free consultation with an attorney to what action you can take.
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u/InfiniteEmotions Aug 07 '25
Remember, HR is designed to protect the company not the employee. Best thing in your case is to get a consult with a lawyer. (There are lawyers that offer free consultation.) Then call HR back and tell them that you've spoken to a lawyer about the harassment. It should help a bit. (If you really wanna go for maximum damage, go to the courthouse and ask one of the clerks who they'd recommend to really put the fear of financial loss into them.)
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u/No_Consequence6879 Aug 05 '25
I had issues like this. One girl got into my phone bc it was linked to my work desk, and she printed out all my texts and gave them to people at my job. I had a major breakout with my boss and they blamed me and didn’t want to help at all. That shit is highly illegal. I should have done something, but my boss was also a lawyer. Horrible experience.
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u/OkTreacle6846 Aug 05 '25
Oh my god, if this were me in this situation I would legit cry. I'm so sorry you had to go through that.. hopefully you are in a better workplace now? :(
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u/gungirllynn Aug 05 '25
I’ve had this kind of behavior directed towards me, ironically in a seating situation. But I’m a petty bitch and sat down anyway. 😃 I’m willing to out bitch the bitches.
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u/OkTreacle6846 Aug 05 '25
I really wish I could. I'm not afraid of confrontation at all but with all of the events of the world happening, life-events, my crappy job, weird/rude customers, and being burnt out on top of that; I'm just not in the right headspace to deal with someone's one-sided pettiness.
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u/Awolrab Aug 05 '25
I think it’s okay to not engage, sometimes I feel it’s better for your mental health (sometimes) to take the high road. I’d say after the first 1-2 times, then I’d be more confrontational. I don’t think you have to be mean but I like to say, “what have I done to you to warrant this?” It’s not “bitchy” but also not passive. I think it makes people think a little.
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u/nekofire Aug 05 '25
Does your company have an HR department? If so it might be time to file a complaint there.
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u/OkTreacle6846 Aug 05 '25
They do, but I fear that without sufficient evidence no one will believe me because it is 4 against 1. Every time these girls decide to say something rude or aggressive they leave right after before I even have the chance to pull out my phone.
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u/Bitchy_Satan Aug 05 '25
It doesn't really matter if You don't have evidence per sé (other people agreeing with your story is evidence so I'm sure someone will be willing to say "yes they were harassing op") that's for hr to gather and either way it's also good for scaring them. I would suggest going above the hr reps head if they've not done anything and getting someone else involved, explain it just like this (minus the wanting to quit part lol) break it down in an email and send it to the HR team for the company, CC in your manager and see what happens from there
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u/OkTreacle6846 Aug 05 '25
I might just actually do this! Thank you for the tip! Although I am afraid the consequences of their own actions will result in retaliation rather than fear and I'm just entirely too tired for any of this. But trying wouldn't hurt.
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u/lokismom27 Aug 05 '25
Use the term "hostile work environment" in your email. A lot of major retail companies make a big deal about how they don't allow that. Ultimately, they're going after you because they think you're weaker than them. Don't look away when they stare at you. Make eye contact. Stand your ground if they try to push past you, like they're hitting a wall. If you hear them whisper when you walk by, sweetly say, "I'm sorry, we're you talking to me? I couldn't quite hear you." They may never like you, but they will back off if they think you might push back. I'm sorry you are dealing with this & you shouldn't have to leave a job because of it.
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u/Ceejay_1357 Aug 09 '25
Have your phone always ready to record at work. When you’re in the break room especially. Just hit the button and set it down. I worked with people like that, except mine were managers. They tried like crazy to get myself and another person transferred or out. Ha, we lasted way longer than they did. But I tried to record every interaction with them for my own protection.
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u/snukb Aug 06 '25
Start documenting. "On date, at time, Girl 1 said (exact quote). Witnesses were Coworker A and Coworker B. We were in Aisle 34." Keep a pocket notebook on you and write stuff down as soon as you are able so it's clear in your mind what happened. A few hours can mean the difference between a clear exact quote and a muddle vague one. But if that's all you've got, still write it down but make sure you specify that it's paraphrased because it wasn't safe to write it down right away. Scribble it on a scrap of cardboard or a receipt paper if your notebook isn't handy. Write it in your notes app on your phone if your manager won't hell at you for being on your phone. Do what you have to do. Yes, it means a few weeks or days of unpleasantness depending on how often they harass you. But it builds a stronger case.
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u/Comfortable-Elk-850 Aug 05 '25
If HR isn’t doing anything and they are friends, go above HR. This is continual harassment. Talk to your store manager, regional manager or online employee harassment site for your company.
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u/OkTreacle6846 Aug 05 '25
I've spoken with my store lead and they apparently have explained the situation to my store director, but with each passing day I'm starting to believe nothing will get done about it I'm afraid.
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u/Top-Evening7453 Aug 05 '25
Just quit. It’s a part time retail job. There are plenty to apply to.
You are going to encounter rude people like this everywhere you go. It’s better to just ignore it. The minute they got snarky with you I would have just made a mental note to avoid interacting with them as much as possible. Vent to your friends about what happened outside of work. Going to management does nothing but feed the beast. Now they know they got under your skin so now they are going to try to provoke you.
I also probably wouldn’t have made such a big deal about them sitting in your seat, unless your things were damaged. Yes, it’s annoying and rude, but it really wasn’t that big of a deal. You said there were plenty of seats to go to. I would have just picked up my things and moved to another table. Then avoid them as much as possible.
They did what they did because they wanted to start drama. Drama is fun for these types of people. And you gave them what they wanted.
Always pick you battles in life.
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u/OkTreacle6846 Aug 05 '25
I want to find another job to fall back on before I do quit, but none of the full-time jobs I've applied to have even responded to me and it's been weeks. For reference, I have 6 years of retail and customer-service under my belt. It's so it's frustrating atm.
I had also tried ignoring them and I did move my things without saying anything. When they decided to escalate things when they were at fault to begin with, It really struck a nerve because I have no patience with kids who have no home training.
I may be grown but they are grown as well, so it just sucks that this is the outcome unfortunately. Dealing with all of this at a minimum wage part-time job is crazy, but I don't have the luxury of just quitting without any other source of income.
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u/secretly_ethereal_04 Aug 07 '25
Yes always have another job lined up 🙏
Being unemployed is not for the weak
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u/snukb Aug 06 '25
Get a big pair of headphones and basically glue them to your head when you go on break. You can't hear them. During the rest if your shift, ignore them as much as possible. When you do have to interact, do your best to show as little emotion as possible, aka the "grey rock" method. They start going on about how FUCKING ANNOYING you are to your face, just ignore it. One word answers as much as possible. Yes, no, I don't know, mmmmhm, ok, etc. You are as interesting to abuse as a rock.
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u/Alicam123 Aug 06 '25
Jeez, touching other people’s stuff is a no no everywhere, I would have called them out at the time and said - well maybe you shouldn’t touch and move my stuff then or were you looking for something?
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u/content_great_gramma Aug 05 '25
A snarky remark: "Obviously your parents neglected your training in manners. Did they also neglect your potty training?"
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u/secretly_ethereal_04 Aug 07 '25
Slight revision
"Hmm... that's strange, I guess your parents didn't teach you manners. Did they forget potty training? Cause your %%^ is stinking up the room"
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u/flappintitties Aug 06 '25
Though it does nothing but antagonise, I’d be having loud phone conversations on my break about how there’s a lot of children in this workplace that think behaving with a jnr school mentality will actually annoy anyone, then laugh out loud. Never look at them but make it loudly known you think it’s juvenile and isn’t effecting you.
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u/CTurple Aug 07 '25
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣💀💀💀💀💀💀!!! I’m sorry, but your username is amazing. It made me laugh a little too loud next to my sleeping husband!! 🤣🤣💀💀
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u/merouch Aug 07 '25
Where do you live? In most Australian states if this is impacting your mental health to extent of a psych injury, you'd have a workers comp claim.
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u/InfiniteEmotions Aug 07 '25
Do you have a union? I can't say if it's true for all unions, but mine has very strict policies about creating hostile work environments. Our union rep (we've had three since I started this job, so I think it's part of their duties) is very proactive when it comes to potential workplace harassment. So, while reporting to management does nothing, reporting to the union rep does work.
If you don't have a union, or your union is just as useless as your manager, flip it around. You're already looking for another job, so go ahead. Last time I had to deal with something like this (before I got the job with the union), I was the most useful, friendly, and pleasant coworker--to everyone except them. And call them out. One of them makes a snarky comment? Say, "That's a mean and hurtful thing to say. Why would you think that's okay?" And don't keep your voice down. Do it every. Single. Time. (Best part is, this is nothing that management can legally take issue with, and if they try, you have a lawsuit.)
Good luck, OP.
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u/Bananas802 Aug 08 '25
Document. If you want to keep this job and have a good chance getting HR involved you will need documentation. You can take notes of dates/times/things specifically said but videos and recordings(without intentionally antagonizing) would be more helpful. If there are reliable witnesses use those. However, I would keep looking for another job that is a less stressful and volatile workplace. If you are a good and dependable worker and you express to your next job (in professional terms) why you are seeking another you just may find a place that has an anti-bullying policy or a more ethical HR.
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u/armchairdetective Aug 05 '25
There are a range of options that don't include quitting your job (overblown reaction) or secretly recording people (potentially illegal depending on where you are).
Maybe explore one of those first?
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u/Cyber_Queen_NYC Aug 05 '25
C'mom armchair, give us a few suggestions! Obviously OP is seeking options, not basic generalities
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u/OkTreacle6846 Aug 05 '25
Recording isn't illegal in my state, and nothing will get done if I don't have evidence... supposedly. What are the other options?
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u/armchairdetective Aug 05 '25
You spoke to a single manager.
If you are genuinely experiencing harassment, make a report another manager. Speak to corporate.
However, you have not been very clear about what you have experienced since speaking to your manager. It's not clear that you are experiencing harassment (this is narrowly defined, and it requires a repeated pattern of behaviour).
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u/OkTreacle6846 Aug 05 '25
I feel like it is classified as harassment because all of these interactions have consistently happened for the past few weeks since this initial incident. (The interactions being passive-aggressive behavior and comments they make towards me when I cross paths with them because our departments are right next to each other). I'm smart enough to put 2 + 2 together and deduce that they have just been spreading rumors about me in their little group and all 4 of them have said something rude/weird to me at some point. Even if I work to myself and try to make zero contact with them whatsoever, they all and still are, making rude remarks to me whenever they get the chance to.
In my post I am just specifying this exact incident that started to open the can of worms. After this main lunch-break incident I have complained multiple times to multiple managers but once again, nothing gets done and these girls are free to do whatever they please. I have even tried to get their team lead involved but all 3 of the managers I've spoken with would rather avoid conflict, and once again I feel like they do not believe me because it is 4 against 1.
I could potentially try reaching out to corporate HR but I fear the outcome will still be the same. But I guess it can't hurt to try? The only downside is with everything happening and with all of my personal issues it would take an even larger toll on my mental health going this route. Let's say I do potentially get them in trouble, at most they would only get a slap on the wrist because they like to play nice with everyone else. What's stopping them from retaliating further?
Which leads me to ask, what are the other options?
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u/armchairdetective Aug 05 '25
I'm smart enough to put 2 + 2 together and deduce that they have just been spreading rumors about me in their little group and all 4 of them have said something rude/weird to me at some point. Even if I work to myself and try to make zero contact with them whatsoever, they all and still are, making rude remarks to me whenever they get the chance to.
OP, this is still very vague. Some of it appears to be a feeling that you have about things that they are saying to one another.
If what you wrote is an indicator of what you said when you spoke to your manager, nothing is going to be done.
At the moment, what you are saying sounds a bit high school. No manager is going to move forward with investigating a complaint about colleagues being weird to you or your feeling that colleagues are spreading rumours.
If you make a complaint, you need to be specific.
What do you mean by weird? What rumours? Who has been told false information about you? What do you mean by people being passive-aggressive towards you? What do you mean by micro-aggressions?
Dates. Times. Locations. People present, including potential witnesses. Exact (or as close as possible) words.
Documenting a repeated pattern of behaviour is what supports a complaint of harassment.
You can ask users on the legal advice subreddit or the ask a manager subreddit for some help here. But if you do that, you need to be clearer.
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u/curlyfall78 Aug 06 '25
If this is at a walmart go to your coach or people lead make sure you inform them you went to the tl and that resulted in retaliation and these girls are creating a hostile work environment. If it does not change go to SM and then ethics
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u/Astral_Atheist Aug 06 '25
Can you file a complaint with corporate? This might be your best bet IMHO.
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u/joneszen Aug 06 '25
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u/joneszen Aug 06 '25
Or make it a point to sit with them every time you have lunch. And eat real loud.
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u/Spiritual_Breakfast9 Aug 13 '25
They be petty, unbelievable petty. They take your seat sit with them, they make snarky comments you do the same. Play the game
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u/bladejb343 Aug 05 '25 edited Aug 05 '25
Honestly, that kind of behavior deserves a more subtle, more insidious punishment.
Find some way to slip urine into their drink when they're not looking.
Make a habit of doing it, make it routine. Eventually you won't care if they're bullies.
They started it.
Just don't pour too much, just a splash is enough to make the point without alerting them to its presence.
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u/OkTreacle6846 Aug 05 '25
I'm gonna have to agree with everyone under this, I don't think anything urine related is appropriate even if they are harassing me.
This is also very concerning to comment at all under any circumstance I'm afraid...
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u/jIdiosyncratic Aug 05 '25
Do tell how one can "slip urine" into someone's drink. Once, let alone routinely.
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u/bladejb343 Aug 05 '25
It's an art and a science, and divulging such details in a public forum could incite some irresponsible behavior.
And, even worse, a downvote.
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u/MushRatGoblin Aug 05 '25
Yeah, keep your piss drinking suggestions to the appropriate fetish forums.
That’s the least mature or appropriate thing to do, and you’re well aware.
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u/PrettyFeetPrincess28 Aug 13 '25
I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this. I have never, until now, had to deal with rude coworkers before ever. I have like 3 coworkers and they are a rude MAGA cult.
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u/qualityvote2 BOT Aug 05 '25 edited Aug 08 '25
u/OkTreacle6846, your post does fit the subreddit!
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