Condescending coworker insults “uneducated” colleagues, says they deserve less pay despite needing constant help with basic tasks: ‘She’s very loud and vocal about her opinions, and can be very abrasive in her treatment of others’

Author image for Etai Eshet
Etai Eshet • Editor
Feb 19, 2025 10:00 AM EST

The modern workplace is a fascinating laboratory of human behavior, where self-awareness goes to perish and delusions of importance flourish like mold in a forgotten break room sandwich. Nothing showcases this better than valedictorian coworkers holding a bachelor of darts degree who mistake their education for actual competence, and everyone in their surroundings as walking dartboards ready to be pierced. Know wha I mean, mate?

These scholarly aristocrats float through offices, spreading their special brand of condescension like pints at a pub. They've mastered the art of saying "no offense" right before saying something explicitly offensive, believing that this verbal get-out-of-jail-free card somehow masks their thinly veiled contempt for the degree-less peasants around them.

Consider our latest specimen: a master's degree candidate who's taken it upon herself to conduct an unofficial payroll audit, complete with helpful commentary about her colleagues' educational status. She's perfected the art of diploma-tic insults, telling coworkers they're "uneducated" while struggling to compose basic workplace documents herself. The irony is thick enough to spread on toast.

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  • "Co-worker calling other co-workers 'uneducated'"

    "Her only past work experience is a retail chain store, so it's possible that she doesn't know how to behave in an office setting"
    via AaronAmat

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • This prodigy alumni retail background and office-inappropriate oversharing suggest she might benefit more from a crash course in workplace etiquette than another academic credential. But hey, at least she has that precious piece of paper to comfort her while her coworkers quietly correct her work.

  • My (23F) co-worker (22F) has been having conversations with multiple co-workers about pay, ever since she found out that she was hired at a lower rate than new people that got hired after her.
    via ProperRoad5752
  • For context, I was hired and am currently making the same rate as her. Recently she's found out that others were hired at a rate $1-$2 higher, and has since then been asking what everybody makes. That in of itself seems fine, whatever, pay visibility, etc.,
    via ProperRoad5752
  • However, she has implied to multiple people without degrees that, while it makes sense that they're making less money, it doesn't make sense in her case, since she has a degree.
    via ProperRoad5752
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    via elenavagengeim

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • In talking to me - A degree-less idiot - about the pay, she said, "No offense, but other co-worker told me you don't have a Bachelor's, but I do..."
    via ProperRoad5752
  • The insult was implied and I likely would have just let it lie, but I just found out she told another co- worker, "I don't want to say you're uneducated, but you are.”
    via ProperRoad5752
  • She's getting her Master's in criminal justice (I believe), but the whole thing is very ironic because she's considered one of the worst case writers in the company - I've routinely had to correct her
    via ProperRoad5752
  • writing. She's very loud and vocal about her opinions, and can be very abrasive in her treatment of others. She also has shared details of her life that are not appropriate for work.
    via ProperRoad5752
  • Her only past work experience is a retail chain store, so it's possible that she doesn't know how to behave in an office setting. I do think this is a case of ignorance / ignorant bias versus maliciousness, but it doesn't feel right to just let this pass.
    via ProperRoad5752
  • I was going to talk to my supervisor about the incident today, but I wanted to know if this is worthy of going to HR, or if anyone who has experienced
    via ProperRoad5752
  • something similar could offer advice on how to handle the situation. Or, should I just let the whole thing lie. Any advice is appreciated!
    via ProperRoad5752
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    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • oldcreaker I'd cut off any future discussion like this and tell her she needs to take it to management if she has an issue with it.
    via oldcreaker
  • Connect_Read6782 Education does not mean smarter and more capable. I don't have a four year degree, yet I manage some that do.
    via Connect_Read6782
  • PeaceOutFace You'll continue to find that some of the least able to function/perform/behave effectively in the corporate world are those with Masters and PhDs.
    via PeaceOutFace
  • Constant-Ad-8871 This isnt an HR issue at this time. Manager can handle this type of conversation with the employee. She isn't doing anything illegal, she's
    via Constant-Ad-8871
  • just super annoying, r de, and condescending and creating uncomfortable conversations. All things a manager is there to address.
    via Constant-Ad-8871
  • You can address it, too. Next time she talks to you about it, shut her down. “Jane, you've told me multiple times you don't like your pay rate. I can't change it for you, so talk to manager
    via Constant-Ad-8871
  • about it. I don't want to listen to this anymore". Or "Jane, you keep telling me you are better educated and deserve higher pay, but I keep finding mistakes you made. Can you be more careful with your work product?"
    via Constant-Ad-8871
  • Make a list of the conversations she has had with you—include dates, times, who else was there, and how it affected getting work done. If the list looks worthwhile to provide to
    via Constant-Ad-8871
  • your manager, give it to him/her. Otherwise just tell manager that coworker keeps complaining to everyone (boss, she's
    via Constant-Ad-8871
  • complained to me about this at least three times and I know she does it other people too) about her pay and it's causing disruption.
    via Constant-Ad-8871
  • Remember that it IS legal for people to ask about and discuss their pay, so you will want to focus on her complaining and saying she should get more, and that is the problem you and others. are having with her.
    via Constant-Ad-8871
  • rando439 Ignoring the fact that educated people without any degree exist, there's educated, there is relevantly educated, and there is being educated and able to correctly apply whatever
    via rando439
  • education they may have to the task at hand. Only the last is useful once hired at a job if a degree is the only education being considered. I've also had the experience that those without degrees,
    via rando439
  • and many without obviously relevant degrees, are better able to learn once at the job and will be more successful than those who have a degee but their education stopped the second it was awarded.
    via rando439
  • However, there is no way to convince someone with a degree that they feel is relevant that they are not automatically better than someone without a degree. I get it. Getting a degree is
    via rando439
  • expensive, may be difficult, probably requires some sacrifice, and almost always requires life to go right for just long enough so you don't have to drop out.
    via rando439
  • Unfortunately, that experience doesn't translate well into deciding who is better than someone else in the workplace.
    via rando439
  • Disengage regarding this topic and start talking about motorcycles, knitting, or dogs whenever it comes up. Continue to do your job. If her errors are taking up an inordinate amount of your time, bring it up to your own supervisor for resolution.
    via rando439

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management boss workplace-stories hr toxic-workplace manager bosses work PTO managers supervisor workplace Horrible Bosses work-life balance
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