Frustrated Woman Snaps At New Coworker For Prying Into Her Husband's Earnings

“What a personal question! I’m sure it’s none of your business.”

Chelsi

• Published in Interesting
• August 16, 2023

A 33-year-old could be called into a meeting with her company's HR after she accused a new colleague of being a "nosy b*tch." OP's name-calling wasn't entirely uncalled for.

OP's coworker was persistently asking about her husband's salary, prompting OP's cutting remark. She and her husband have been together since college.

She watched him make leaps and bounds in finance as a quantitative portfolio manager. His hard work finally paid off.

OP's incredible salary pales in comparison to her husband's income. As their wealth grew, the couple became more discerning about salary discussions.

Past experiences taught them not to discuss money, even with friends and relatives. They just evade questions or avoid talking entirely until the subject is dropped.

OP's usual evasive tactics didn't work on her 25-year-old colleague during a recent happy hour at work. OP knows her colleague by reputation.

She's chatty and seems to crave wealth and the status that comes with it. It isn't rare to see her wear flashy designer brands, nor does she shy away from asking which of their male coworkers are single.

Her conversation with OP started innocently enough. She asked OP about her recent European trip with her husband — a question OP happily answered.

She asked OP about her husband's career. OP vaguely answered that her husband works in finance, but it just piqued her colleague's curiosity.

She commented about how much he must make to afford such lavish vacations. As expected, she asked OP if he makes millions annually.

OP refused to give her a figure, but her colleague couldn't take the hint

She remarked that the wealthier one should be the stuck-up person instead of someone who doesn't have the money

OP snapped and told her coworker to learn how to take no for an answer

Or when to quit being a "nosy b*tch," then walked away with a smile

Another colleague reached out to OP and asked her to apologize as their new coworker went home crying. Her mom thinks OP was too harsh. Her husband advised her to offer an apology, albeit an insincere one, for the sake of their office dynamics.

Some Redditors think OP's coworker has an ulterior motive for asking such a pointed questions

OP, obviously, doesn't have a high opinion of her coworker after what happened

OP should be on the lookout if she reports her to HR for using hostile language at work

OP should apologize anyway because it's simply unprofessional to use such language at work

In the future, OP should learn better ways to evade intrusive questions that make her uncomfortable

She should risk her professional standing no matter how satisfying it must have been to shut down a person who overstepped

What OP did was risky, especially if she is in a position of power and her coworker is a subordinate

OP's career could definitely be at risk

OP should tread lightly. Maybe it's safer if their resolution can be mediated by an HR personnel.

OP can go for this cute answer in the future, though I doubt anyone at work is willing to risk being called a nosy b*tch after what happened

OP was definitely wrong for insulting a coworker at their workplace. She could have walked away instead and avoided this complex professional dilemma.

Her coworker will definitely learn something from that exchange with OP. A colleague calling you a b*tch is not something one easily forgets.

Chelsi