Colleague reported harmless conversations excerpts to supervisor

mogrady14

I realised today a colleague told our supervisor harmless things (even jokes) I told her. This made me look silly and I got told off. I made several harmless comments while chatting over a number of months to this woman who told our supervisor. The supervisor never mentioned this woman's name but it was obvious it was her.
I mentioned to my work colleague why did we have so many work emails as on some of them we never receive emails. The only email on one account I ever received was about the unveiling of a coffee machine in a company branch on the other side of the world. I couldn't figure why my supervisor asked me about my usage of that email account until I remembered my conversation with my work colleague. I then realised that everything I got asked by my supervisor were all harmless comments my colleague had noted I said in conversation to her. I pointed out that my reports were without errors but still got told off. I feel this woman probably has done this to other people. What do you think is the best way to deal with this co-worker?

Tombi!

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1052

There, try that.

If you prefer, you could murder her.
Since this is AH, I'd suggest the latter.

Maximus Alexander

I'd love to offer some advice but I don't really understand most of what you wrote.

Moved from After Hours. Work & Jobs charter now applies.

SV

Don't say anything with them around? Kinda simple

Tombi!

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

I'd love to offer some advice but I don't really understand most of what you wrote.

Basically: OP said stuff to a co-worker.
Co-worker says things to a supe.
Said supervisor relays certain things to the OP and OP works it out that the stuff they got pulled up on, were things they only said to their co-worker.

mogrady14

My plan is not to chat to this person but to keep my conversation with her to a minimum.

Tombi!

Well if that's the case then just do that?
I guess just be more careful what you say.

Mrs OBumble

You've found out some valuable information: this colleague is a person who the supervisor listens to.

So if there's ever a message that you want to give to the supervisor, but don't want to deliver yourself, now you know how to do it.

There is one of these people in every office, and it's always good to know who they are so that you can choose what you do/don't say to them.



And in future, hold your tongue instead of making "harmless comments": if you got told off for them, then clearly they weren't harmless.

ArrahShure

If we were still in after hours, I might suggest you use this to your advantage, be a little less than totally honest with stories you tell her, Meh, use your imagination. See what happens...

the_syco

ArrahShure wrote: »

If we were still in after hours, I might suggest you use this to your advantage, be a little less than totally honest with stories you tell her, Meh, use your imagination. See what happens...

Was about to say this myself. Be careful what you say (eg; don't say you'll be calling in sick tomorrow so that you can go tot he cinema, in case something pops up such as sickness, and you don't come in tomorrow).

The end game is that the supervisor stops listening to the snitch, but as I said, it can be a dangerous game.

cabledude

mogrady14 wrote: »

I realised today a colleague told our supervisor harmless things (even jokes) I told her. This made me look silly and I got told off. I made several harmless comments while chatting over a number of months to this woman who told our supervisor. The supervisor never mentioned this woman's name but it was obvious it was her.
I mentioned to my work colleague why did we have so many work emails as on some of them we never receive emails. The only email on one account I ever received was about the unveiling of a coffee machine in a company branch on the other side of the world. I couldn't figure why my supervisor asked me about my usage of that email account until I remembered my conversation with my work colleague. I then realised that everything I got asked by my supervisor were all harmless comments my colleague had noted I said in conversation to her. I pointed out that my reports were without errors but still got told off. I feel this woman probably has done this to other people. What do you think is the best way to deal with this co-worker?

The way to deal with a 'talker' is to fill them full of bullsh1t. Obviously, I cannot give you examples as you will need to make it specific to your own workplace.

A simple rule to remember when talking to this person :

Only tell him/her stuff that you want to make it back to the Supervisor.