'Tell her to "KNOCK IT OFF," but use the right words': New employee becomes unbearable busybody to coworkers, 100+ Redditors advise how to professionally say 'mind your own business'

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    u/VegetableComman d9427 17 hours ago Nosey coworker
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    My coworker is keeping track of my breaks and lunches. She came to me yesterday and guilted me for taking lunch at my desk, not with
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    my coworkers and questioned me on how long I'm taking for my lunches. The same day she also commented how I hadn't taken a
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    morning break. When I work I'm focused. I get up fairly frequently to use the bathroom (drink a lot of water) and am friendly with my
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    coworkers. This person is new at the company and I just don't get it and why she cares. How do I deal with a busybody?
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    the_original_Retro 16 hr. ago. edited 16 hr. ago Tell them KNOCK IT OFF. But use the right words to do it.
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    Tell them it's not their responsibility to track your lunches and you are getting really uncomfortable with their invasion of your space by trying to "manage" you.
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    If they do not stop, you are going to have a discussion with management about them, as this is having a negative impact on your work experience, and you can either have that
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    talk with them and the manager together, or have that talk with just the manager and yourself there, their choice.
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    This is someone who's trying to become an office bully or trying to climb the ladder by making others at the office look bad. Shut them down.
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    Edit: You'll also want to cover your own here. Send your manager a quick note mentioning that you spoke with your coworker about some intrusiveness.
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    You hope that you handled it and it goes away, but you are letting your boss know just in case it doesn't.
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    This protects you if the new worker tries to go above you, and tries to change the story.
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    Dr_Beatdown. 51 min. ago Doesn't anybody simply tell people to mind their own ing business anymore?
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    Why does this have to be so complicated?
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    curious-by-moon 15 hr. ago Log every time she asks you or comments on what you are doing. Every single time. Then when you go to HR/management you have the evidence.
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    She is bullying you and elevating herself into a superior position.
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    Timeslip8888. 10 hr. ago Go old-school with a pen & notepad... grab it and start writing while she's saying this nonsense. Hopefully she'll put 2 and 2 together and knock it off.
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    loogabar00ga. 10 hr. ago Get a voice recorder or just an app and ask her to kindly repeat the question / comment for the record.
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    Maleficent_Chard2042. 15 hr. ago I have had that conversation. "Oh, really, I don't pay much attention to what other people are doing on the job, I'm more interested in getting my own work done, it's nice that you're
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    able to take the time to note what people around you are doing. You must not have enough work to do." I wouldn't even worry about it beyond that. She wasn't hired to be your supervisor.
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    randomkeystrike 14 hr. ago I like to ask people who are asking things that are none of their business "Why do you ask?" And in this case,
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    assuming you have a decent relationship with your boss, almost regardless of whatever prattle comes out of her mouth, my next statement would be "Feel free to take it up with [name of boss]. Do not engage with the answer, whatever it is.
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    About the only benign explanation is that she may be trying to understand precedent for how breaks are being taken, or something like that. I still wouldn't be the one to explain it to her; she can ask her boss or HR questions, or consult the manual.
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    Beyond that, it sounds like she may be concerned that you're not taking ENOUGH breaks, and making the others look bad somehow. None of which is your concern.
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    That's why I like the "why do you ask?" question for busy bodies. It tends to make them squirm if they have any self awareness, and it tends to tip their hand if they don't.

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