‘I’ve complained about him, but nothing can be done as he is the head of his area’: Senior staffer exhausts new employee with late-night texts and power plays, pushing him to ignore the senior and avoid the office

Author image for Etai Eshet
Etai Eshet • Editor
Nov 1, 2025 7:00 PM EDT

There's always one guy in the office who thinks courtesy is optional. This one rolls through the department acting like every group deadline is his personal playground, texting at 10pm to ask about "capacity" like that's just a normal thing people do after dinner. Meetings? He'll show up late, then expects everyone to be thrilled about his presence. When the group decides how something's supposed to work, he still pops up to challenge it, just to keep things interesting.  

Most people would rather dodge him than deal with the endless drama. Suddenly checking email feels like opening a haunted box, and blocking his number becomes the easiest part of the week. Hanging around the office loses all appeal, especially when every encounter with him drains a bit more patience than what's strictly necessary for employment.

Advertisement

  • He makes my work life horrible

    Cheezburger Image 10569657600
    via MDV Edwards

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Even basic stuff like wrapping up on Fridays gets derailed because he wants to play expert in roles that aren’t his. Small talk dries up fast, and being polite gets traded in for blessed silence. If anyone asks why working from home suddenly sounds great, just point to the way his name makes people want to schedule fake calls all afternoon.

  • Hi all. So I have a strong dislike to someone in my department who is at the most senior position in his area.
    via Ok_Host_2218
  • We started off fine (I'm fairly new to the company) but then there have been a few things that have happened that has made me really dislike him.
    via Ok_Host_2218
  • So much so, I had to complain to my top manager about it because it was really making me miserable.
    via Ok_Host_2218
  • Most recently, he texted me at 10pm on my personal number asking me if I had the capacity to do something
    via Ok_Host_2218
  • Cheezburger Image 10569658112
    via MDV Edwards

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • I already had this conversation (during work hours) with someone else involved and they gave me the green light with what I said I could deliver and when, so I confirmed with him but he said that I had the wrong information blah blah blah.
    via Ok_Host_2218
  • Funny thing though, the other person I spoke to had no idea but was happy with the deadline we agreed with.
    via Ok_Host_2218
  • But the guy who messaged me started to be so condescending to me that night. I didn't reply to his message and I also don't think I needed to tell him the whole conversation I had with the other person.
    via Ok_Host_2218
  • A week later I told him to save my work number and then proceeded to block him on my personal number.
    via Ok_Host_2218
  • I wouldn't answer any texts after 5pm but I thought I'd be nice to him as I thought I was quite hostile towards him in a meeting earlier in the week (I didn't entertain his small talk - he was 10 minutes late to the meeting that he set because he forgot about it).
    via Ok_Host_2218
  • Cheezburger Image 10569657856
    via MDV Edwards

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • That is just one instance. There was another instance where he wasted my Friday evening as he did something that is not his role (it's my role) that impacted what I had planned.
    via Ok_Host_2218
  • I've been avoiding him like the plague because I despise him now. I know I'm being childish but I can't be bothered to put up with fake politeness.
    via Ok_Host_2218
  • He emailed me 30 minutes ago and when I saw his name pop up, I instantly felt sick.
    via Ok_Host_2218

  • No one’s looking for life lessons in professional misery. Sometimes dealing with the department’s resident ego just means finding new ways to mute, dodge, and get on with the job. Character-building? Maybe. Or maybe it’s just survival until someone finally puts the “Do Not Disturb” sign on permanent display.

  • The email content was fine but I've decided I'm not going to reply to it - (I know I'm being childish).
    via Ok_Host_2218
  • He challenged something even though another colleague and I told him a million times why we're not doing this one specific thing.
    via Ok_Host_2218
  • It's just getting a bit exhausting. I realise now why I don't go into the office much which has probably had a knock on effect on my relationships with the team.
    via Ok_Host_2218
  • Every time I see him I feel SO miserable and get so frustrated because he does not make my work life comfortable.
    via Ok_Host_2218
  • I almost broke down to my top manager a couple months ago because of him. I have two line managers that I've complained to about him but nothing can be done as he is the head of his area.
    via Ok_Host_2218
  • I don't want to leave the company because I like the people I work with (not him) but there are also no other open roles that I can move up into.
    via Ok_Host_2218
  • I know I shouldn't act like a child. I have been professional but it's at the point where it could impact my work quality (as well as my mental wellbeing) just being around him.
    via Ok_Host_2218
  • Any advice is welcome, but I just wanted to vent.
    via Ok_Host_2218
  • mprieur Keep avoiding. Hes renting space in your brain. Just dont care. Do your job and go home. No harm no foul
    via Ok_Host_2218
  • OP OK_Host_2218 I try to not care but it's kind of hard when it impacts my work in a way :)
    via Ok_Host_2218

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

management terrible coworkers workplace discussion employment issues boss workplace-stories hr manager bosses work coworkers colleague PTO managers supervisor workplace Horrible Bosses work-life balance
Scroll Down For The Next Article