The best Christian response if there’s a colleague you don’t like at work

Rachel Pearce shares her key dos and don’ts for anyone who’s struggling with a tricky workmate.

I’ve had some pretty fruity colleagues over the years. There was Janet, the Queen of Overshare, who told me, in detail, about her sexual exploits with her husband… who also happened to work with us. Then there was Donald the Trump, who would pass wind loudly and proudly in mid-conversation, without any attempt at an apology. Lynne the Mean Cleaner had a vendetta against any personal items she found lying around the office. Cups left on the desk frequently disappeared, and I once found my favourite novel tidied away into the recycling bin.

But I’m currently facing my biggest workplace challenge to-date, with a colleague who has me (and another workmate) constantly treading on eggshells. She is both insensitive and oversensitive at the same time. She demands our undivided attention but yawns loudly whenever anyone else talks. One time she completely lost it over something that wasn’t my fault, and screamed at me via video call for a good ten minutes, using language every colour of the naughty rainbow. I’m usually pretty thick-skinned, but I was physically shaking by the end of the call.