‘Today she got burned': Busybody colleague nitpicks projects she's not even on, points out a mistake that was actually her own fault in front of entire office and CEO

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Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
Nov 20, 2025 9:00 PM EST

When it comes to getting along with your colleagues, it is important to know your job description. It turns out this employee grew to become the office busybody because she decided her job description unofficially said she needed to nitpick everyone else's work. Spoiler: It does not. Turns out karma has a way of getting these busybody coworkers as well, not just the obvious Karens. 

 

In the case of this busybody coworker, it took her reaching epic levels of getting into other employee's business for karma to catch up. It all started when she decided to call out a coworker on a thread that included the entire office and the CEO. She pointed out this mistake in this huge thread as if she had a "GOTCHA" moment. However, after the coworker went through the project, she actually found that it was Ms. Busybody herself who actually created the mistake. 

 

However, when she was called out, she couldn't handle it and decided to throw her Karen tantrum. 

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  • "'helpful' colleague got 'called out' today"

    Cheezburger Image 10578387456
    via Unsplash+ (and Getty Images)

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

  • I started a new job over the summer. A colleague with the same job title as mine has been critiquing my work since Week One.
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • I'm sure she means well, but it's created issues like what happened today. I am required to use a group distribution email for certain tasks and the colleague is a recipient.
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • It's a flawed system as a few of us wind up sending and receiving emails that have nothing to do with each other's workload and most of us ignore the irrelevant emails, but not this colleague.
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • She will read them and if she finds an issue, she will point it out, sometimes just to the sender, sometimes to a wider group of people.
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • Today, I sent two emails that she had an issue with. She had been involved in the project an earlier step, but not in the final product, so she really didn't need to read the emails.
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • I handled and completed the tasks, there was nothing for her to do at that point when I sent the emails.
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • However, she read them and due to her earlier involvement, she noticed an issue with the final product and let everyone involved know, and including our manager as well.
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • I reviewed her email, checked my information and noticed that something she said was inaccurate - she had not in fact done something she said she had done, which led to this issue she had with my final product.
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • LOL Her error led to mine. I pointed this out to everyone, complete with a screenshot.
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • She said I was "calling her out" and said how she was human and makes mistakes.
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • Um, what wasn't she calling me out first? LOL I wound up having to redo some work and do something she said she had done, but hadn't actually done.
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • I told the group that I handled everything. The way that escalated today was so freakin' awkward.
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • I've made our manager aware of some of my colleague's actions over the past months and she was on this email chain today.
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • As far as I know, "reviewing and critiquing colleague's work" is not part of our job description, so she's crossed the line over and over again.
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • The thing is, I appreciate the help when I ask for it, but I've not been asking her for it.
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • I saw what she did during Week One and decided to keep my distance as best as possible.
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • Today she got burned. I know she felt it but I'm not sure if the others on the email grasp the situation and how it's just the latest in a series of events.
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • esc D • & 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 fob Q W E R T Y U о P cops lock A S D G H K L P 0000 shift O Z X V B N M ' chri In ch 6
    via Unsplash+ (and Vardan Papikyan)

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

  • You can't be both an annoying busybody AND the victim, ya know? That is manipulation at it's finest and yes, this can most definitely happen in the workplace with even the “most helpful” coworkers…

  • TheLawLord No. She will cause problems for herself, and the coworkers don't need an explanation from you. They've probably seen her behavior before themselves.
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • OP kangaroolionwhale I've been told they have seen her behavior before themselves live (in a meeting) before I started at this job. Her victim mentality is a running joke between me and another colleague it's come out in other ways (emails) that were less obnoxious than yesterday's.
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • Brain_Hawk No definitely don't push this. Just move on. She hopefully learned not to spend her time looking over others shoulders and instead focusing on her work. If she says something just say "I was only following up on your comments" and "everything I reported was accurate".
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • OP kangaroolionwhale Fingers crossed, but her victim mentality is a running joke between me and another colleague it's come out in other ways (emails) that were less obnoxious than yesterday's.
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • Soundy 106 If she's pissing you off with this behaviour, she's certainly pissing others off as well. Some of whom will just let it slide, some of whom will complain to higher-ups. If they aren't aware already, they will be eventually, and measures will be taken.
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • OP kangaroolionwhale I've been told they have seen her behavior before themselves live (in a meeting) before I started at this job. Her victim mentality is a running joke between me and another colleague it's come out in other ways (emails) that were less obnoxious than yesterday's.
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • Imaginary-Friend-228 Is this weird email process just being done because it's always been done or is someone insisting on it?
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • Practical_Wind_1917 I am sure you are not the only one she does that too. Specially if the sends it back to your own email You did the right thing and called her out properly. If she is making the big deal over it. She will end up getting herself in hot water more
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • OP kangaroolionwhale Thank you. Her victim mentality is a running joke between me and another colleague - it's come out in other ways (emails) that were less obnoxious than yesterday's.
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • tikisummer Let her dig her own hole, just don't trust her on anything, she will want payback, those people always do.
    via kangaroolionwhale
  • mercurygreen She's senior to you, even if she has the same title. That said, it sounds like she's out of line. Escalate it to your boss and let them know you don't want it to affect your own work product if she gives you incorrect direction.
    via kangaroolionwhale

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