61-year-old coworker spreads rumors on new hire, enlists her husband to fuel a false office narrative that she’s angry and unstable: ‘He asked me if I ate today because “we don’t want you going off on nobody cus you starving”’

Author image for Etai Eshet
Etai Eshet • Editor
Apr 20, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

Who among us doesn't appreciate a good old-fashioned phone prank? The classics never get old: "Is Mr. Wall there? No? How about Ms. Wall? No Walls there? Then how does the roof stay up?"

cue giggles and dial tone. That's the nostalgia of harmless mischief.

Then there's whatever this coworker is doing, which makes prank calls look downright wholesome. Forget Bart Simpson, this is out-of-this-world mean, truly a Picasso of petty, a Beethoven of badmouthing, composing entire symphonies of slander and painting you as the workplace villain in a surrealist canvas of lies. She's not just doodling mustaches on your character, she's hired a pit orchestra, featuring her husband, who now calls the front desk to ask if you've eaten, all to prop up her narrative that you're one skipped meal away from going all-out.

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  • Gone are the days of funny little pranks. Now, we have a fully orchestrated campaign of psychological warfare, waged one passive-aggressive phone call at a time. She’s spent thirty years mastering the art of making coworkers miserable, leveraging her spouse’s unlimited audacity to ensure the legend of your supposed hangriness spreads far and wide.

    Forget Mr. and Ms. Wall, The roof in this office stays up thanks to a masterpiece of manipulation and just a touch of mean-spirited musical genius.

  • "Coworkers husband called front desk asking if I ate today"

    "Her husband called front desk asking if I ate today"
    via Iqbal Nuril Anwar

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

  • My coworker has been spreading a false narrative that I'm reactive and mean. I started this job about 6 months ago and she turned
    via Working-Teaching7404
  • on me for talking to my supervisor about her weird behavior. Calling me on weekends, treating me like
    via Working-Teaching7404
  • her servant, bad mouthing me to anyone who will listen and making sure they isolate me.
    via Working-Teaching7404
  • Cheezburger Image 10494072320
    via Jacob Lund

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

  • Today, I was at the front desk and her husband called, (he always calls when he knows shes on break or lunch, she's been at this company 30 years) he asked
    via Working-Teaching7404
  • me if I ate today or if I planned or eating today, because "we don't want you going off on nobody cus you starving".
    via Working-Teaching7404

  • Original Prankster

    Cheezburger Image 10494072576
    via Brothers91

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

  • This adds up to the narrative she's creating with our coworkers too. So she's literally going around telling everyone I have anger
    via Working-Teaching7404
  • issues and I'm explosive when I've never been that way. I'll cry before I get mad. And that's because |
    via Working-Teaching7404
  • use to be a severe people pleaser in order to survive. I let this old lady walk over me and then put a stop to it, now this.
    via Working-Teaching7404
  • Any advice? I just knew by the look on her ugly twisted face she was gonna try to put a damper in my day today.
    via Working-Teaching7404
  • mint-parfait just always be your nice self, if she gossips about you being mean, but you're mean to no one, everyone will assume she has issues
    via mint-parfait
  • Aggressive-Willow-54 This sounds like harassment!
    via Aggressive-Willow-54
  • VFTM Be overly sweet and nice to her. They HATE that sh. Be just in the best mood, beaming, all the time.
    via VFTM
  • And document everything. What does your boss say?
    via VFTM
  • Muted Piccolo278 The next time she says something to you give her your best pitiful look and simply say 'it's so nice to know I'm living rent free in your
    via Muted_Piccolo278
  • head. It must be exhausting to think about me all day.' Then shake your head sadly as you walk away.
    via Muted_Piccolo278
  • Puzzleheaded Tie8113 Document all of this. Every little thing. She is Making you out to be the bad guy and creating a hostile work environment. This could eventually lead to an issue for you.
    via Puzzleheaded_Tie8113
  • nowsmytime Tell coworker it's always a joy to talk with her husband. And it's funny, he always seems to call when she's out of the office!
    via nowsmytime
  • Aware-Recipe6621 If you have to answer the husband's calls, you could start treating the calls like calls from customers. "Hello, how maybe help you today? Did I eat lunch today? I'm sorry that's private information. Is there anything else I can help you with?"
    via Aware-Recipe6621
  • If he doubles down play dumb. "I'm not sure what you're talking about, if you have any questions related to (business) I would be happy to assist you."
    via Aware-Recipe6621
  • Report to your manager about unproductive/harassing calls like that. Textbook time wasting. If your boss has a weak management response, look elsewhere for work...not a bad idea to polish off your resume anyways though.
    via Aware-Recipe6621
  • Pew Pewthashrew This is massively creepy. It sounds like the husband is weirdly hitting on you too. I'd be so disgusted
    via PewPewthashrew

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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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