'My coworker has an obsession with my job position': Retail worker refuses to leave baby department, repeatedly asks coworker, "When are you leaving?"

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Mar 23, 2024 5:00 PM EDT

One person's odd fixation is making this retail worker uncomfortable. 

Retail work can be stressful, but it should never be because of your coworkers. The customers are known to be irritating, and some bosses have quotas that they pressure employees to hit. But your coworkers shouldn't ever be the most stressful part of a retail job, or any job for that matter. If they are, it's time to head to the human resources department, and let them handle the fallout. 

This person, u/asimplenobody27, has been working at the same retail store for a long time. They've become the head of the baby clothing department, and they enjoy it. As someone who did work in retail, I can confirm: the baby clothing is the cutest (and easiest) to fold. There are little shoes, bows on socks, and teeny tiny outfits, it's all adorable. This worker's coworker, who they refer to as Aileen, apparently loves the baby section. She loves it. She will not leave this section. It's getting weird for the original poster! They took to Reddit to share their story, and commenters gave them a ton of helpful advice. 

Next up, this person was infuriated after an online vendor requested "support" money to ship their product, demanding an additional $8! 

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    "
    via Baby Natur on Unsplash
  • 02
    My Coworker Has an Obsession with My Job Position
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • 03
    This may be ridiculous, but I really need some advice. I started working at this very familiar retail store in December of 2022. I am in the clothing department, and I started off in different sections until they gave me a permanent position in the baby department starting in March 2023. Since then till now, I have been the head employee for the baby department.
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • 04
    In that same month, new hires came in, and I am specifically talking about one of them. I'll just call her Aileen. So Aileen is also part of the clothing department but she is secondary or backup to my department. I am in my department for five days, while she is in there for two which are my days off. In June, I lost my younger sister to cancer, so I took two weeks off. When
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • 05
    I came back, Aileen's attitude had pretty much changed a lot about the baby department. When I was gone for those two weeks, she had to take over my department, and she really loved it. Until I came back, she started asking me, "When are you leaving?" and "Are you going to leave too?". It made sense two coworkers
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • 06
    were leaving at the time, but it made me very uncomfortable that she would ask me a series of questions about my leaving. She also told me, "If I don't get into babies, I'll quit.". All in the same day. After that, she would constantly ask how I was doing in the department and would watch me as I would bring go-backs or
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • 07
    stock the sales floor. She then would leave her department, help me fold clothes, and go on to make comments about how much she loved being in the baby department and why they didn't choose her. At that point, I was thinking if she was actually talking to me on purpose about how better she would be. So I reported to a lead, and they said they would talk to her,
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • 08
    but nothing happened. The very next day, she asked about the Babies t department and what I planned on doing. This made me furious that she asked about my plans for the day. I had enough and reported again to a higher position manager, and it was like something did happen. The next few weeks were quiet and she stayed in her own
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • 09
    department. It didn't last long though. About two weeks ago, our schedules mixed up. I was set in the men's department' and she was set in the babies' department. Our times were switched as well. I didn't mind really, I was annoyed, but I was just gonna do what I was scheduled to do. I came in,
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • 10
    and my lead told me she wanted me to stay in the baby department, while she stayed in men's. Later that night, she left her department to help me with racks that she told me all day about she wanted to work on ever since she got in. As she is helping she tells me something like, "I came in with a game plan today. I got ready for all of it and then they tell me she
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • 11
    switched us. Why would they even do that?". I just responded, "Well, our lead told me she wanted me to stay here." That's it. This time I got brave and asked another coworker if she noticed Aileen's weird obsession with the baby department. She nods her head and tells me how upset Aileen was that our lead switched us and how
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • 12
    ridiculous they were for doing that. My coworker told Aileen, "But that is her area." Alieen snaps back, "It's mine too!" That was another last straw for me. I messaged my lead and asked her if I could come in early to speak with her. Both my lead and manager came to speak to me and I told them everything. My manager
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • 13
    was upset about how uncomfortable I was and the possibility of other coworkers being uncomfortable, so she talked to everyone. My manager also reminded me that I was the DBO (designated business owner) of that department. She is secondary or backup to the baby and men's department. In the breakroom, she sat next to
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • 14
    me and complained about how she was just a backup. As you probably know it, it did not stop. The same things happened like leaving her department, hiding from the leads to sneak into the baby's department with me, and leaving her tasks. I noticed that she would work slowly on the main things, but as soon as the main leads
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • 15
    leave, she leaves her department and heads to me in babies. Just yesterday, I was sitting in the breakroom on lunch, and Aileen came in on her break and sat next to me. She asks me if our lead tells me what to do when I begin my shift. I just answer "Yes, or I ask her first." Aileen says, "When I come in for babies', she doesn't tell me
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • 16
    anything. They are always picking favorites here.". It really hurt my feelings with that nasty comment that I could not even respond to. I know I should stand up for myself, but I just could not do it at that moment.
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • 17
    So what I am asking is advice. I am not obsessed with the baby department, and the reason I want to stay is that I like the responsibility given to me of being the lead employee for the babies' department, they told me that I do my best there. I know it's dumb of me to make such a big deal at a minimum-wage
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • 18
    job, but I'm happy I can be in control of a department. Is this harassment? Going to work knowing she is there watching me, leaving her own department to start folding and fixing racks and telling me how much she loves the baby's department just makes me so uncomfortable. What should I do? If I report her to HR, is this considered harassment?
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • 19
    OppoObboObious ⚫ I would report her to HR and ignore her behavior. Don't think for a second that she wouldn't use some slip up of yours to try and get you fired.
    via u/OppoObboObious
  • 20
    snortybeagle. You politely, but firmly, say, "Aileen, I do not want to hear your comments or opinions about this matter anymore."
    via u/snortybeagle
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    PsychologicalBit542 2 Tell her to go back to her area. Tell her you don't need her. You are the boss of that area.
    via u/PsychologicalBit542
  • 22
    OkManufacturer767 Have you ever talked to her directly? You need to. "I appreciate the great job you did while I was out. Please stop talking about this already. I am the DBO of this
    via u/OkManufacturer767
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    department and have been for the better part of a year. You are still new. Do a good job in the area you are assigned." Document the facts, date and time, what you said, what she said, no opinions,
    via u/OkManufacturer767
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    only facts. Next time, "Stay in your own lane." Document. If it doesn't end, give HR the documentation.
    via u/OkManufacturer767
  • 25
    lrp347. Seriously, pick up a clipboard every time she comes over and write it down.
    via u/lrp347
  • 26
    Majestic_Valuable_7 0 It's not about the job, it's about her loving babies, and perhaps wanting to be a mom in the future. That's one guy's opinion, anyway.
    via u/Majestic_Valuable_7
  • 27
    GrisherGams5 · This a rather bizarre obsession that I think has its roots in personal issues somewhere outside of work. I hate it when people can't leave their personal stuff at home.
    via u/GrisherGams5
  • 28
    In any case, you're going to need to begin keeping a detailed factual record of all your interactions with her, because I feel like a firm but polite statement is not going to get anywhere.
    via u/GrisherGams5
  • 29
    Dates, times, exactly what was said by each of you, whether there was anyone else nearby that witnessed the exchange, etc. Your report to HR would be far more effective that way, because then they have something more
    via u/GrisherGams5
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    substantial to go off of. They're generally leery to act on she said- she said allegations.
    via u/GrisherGams5
  • 31
    Angusmom45325. You need to go to HR or your lead again. She is not going to stop until she gets her way. This is some sort of weird obsession or hang up?
    via u/Angusmom45325
  • 32
    Whatever it is, it is her problem and not yours. It is harassment. You deserve to go to work and have peace.
    via u/Angusmom45325

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