No,the “cow-orker” was a typo. And I would never call anybody “Big-Nose” in real life, at work or anywhere.
As for having a “high moral ground”, you mean that trying to disguise the situation and simplify identities as best I could come up off the top of my head imparts me with low morals?!? Sheesh, tough crowd.
Regardless, anybody who doesn’t appear to be impressed by red-bottomed shoes is a potential target.
But I’m finished here. Head is down. Nose to the grindstone. Don’t see anything; don’t hear anything. Just gonna do my job.
When I said “moral high ground,” I was thinking more along the lines of, if you’re annoyed that someone else is really gossipy at work, if you’re also starting gossip in the rank and file, it’s hard to remain blameless. In other words, you’d be doing the same thing as the person you’re mocking.
That said, it sounds like you’re not going out of your way at work to make fun of this person and if it’s something you’re only doing on a message board… Well, you’re only human. I can certainly recall instances where I’ve mocked a co-worker here (I think my very first post was in the pit about a female co-worker who stuck her boobs out every time a male would pass within 50 feet of her, making her look like the prow of a ship, so I certainly can’t claim to be lily-white here.)
And about the cow-orker thing… There are several people who refer to their co-workers as cow-orkers - emphasis on the “cow” part - as some sort of cutesy, back-handed jab at the people they work with. I shouldn’t care (especially since I’ve been wont to make fun of co-workers as well), but it’s a weird. pet peeve. Sorry I assumed the worst.
Casually mention to Big Nose and Gossip Monger that they should quit spreading shit about people and if they don’t, you’ll report them to HR. I have little patience for these kinds of people and ignoring them only means that other people continue to be hurt. They have to quit acting like children and knock that shit off or HR will do something about it
IANAL, and I urge a professional to correct me if I’m wrong, but laws related to “hostile work environments,” do not pertain to meanies and gossips, they relate to protected classes and sex, race, or other discrimination.
It’s not my profession either, but you’re correct. I see people complaining about “hostile work environment” because their boss is a dick–not the right term for it.
You’ve seen the kind of person they’re willing to promote and give power over others–that’s not going to change. Keep your head down, start looking for other opportunities outside the company, and get the hell out of there as soon as something good comes along.
Am I the only person who read “Big Nose” as possibly meaning someone who kept shoving her big nose into other people’s business? Is it so hard to give the OP the benefit of the doubt? Or is it more fun to throw around accusations of 7th grade behavior?
