How do you deal with a coworker who thinks they know more about your job than you do without being rude to them?

[jongreat46]

So I just started at my company and I haven't been there for not even almost a month and recently I got a "promotion" and its a different position with a little more power than my current job duties but still the same pay. However, I never asked for the position and have never wanted it, the managers at my job just told me I would be training for a new job duty but won't affect my rate for my other position. So they just trained me and I started off this week in the new position but I have one coworker who loves to throw criticism my way and yes I know she has been there longer than me but I have worked long enough at other jobs to know that when managers make a decision, you don't question it, so today said coworker accused me of not being clean enough for her "standards" and presumed to tell me "I need to take off the pallets even when I am picking cases" and all I said was "I know" in the same tone and she got pissy and said "well I found two in other areas" and walked off with an attitude because I didn't take her crap and quit frankly don't care. If I don't ask for advice then don't give it and this is not the only time she has done this, she acts like this with all of the other coworkers but she thinks that just because she has been there at the company longer that it gives her the right to badmouth her other coworkers and be rude to them she gets mad when no one wants to help her. I am trying to be nice and civil with her but she keeps trying to egg me on and I am thinking about just going to management about it because not even my lead is criticizing my work and she tells me when I do something wrong. So if my lead and my managers are not saying anything about my performance she is just being judgmental in my opinion and is being petty when she doesn't know it was not my choice to get that position.

[ArrowheadSW]

I was in a similar situation when I was 23 and newly out of grad school. I just took the attitude of being as friendly as possible to those under me. Trying to hear them out as much as possible. There was a time when I had to go higher up to report the abuse, but I presented my case in a civil manner and thankfully the higher up saw my point. This is a tough situation though I agree.

[jshm2]

You switch it on them. Every job that needs done you tell them and get them in on it. But ensure the powers that be know his "expertise" is at the forefront.

Either the higher ups will push back and pin him down, or he will push back and avoid you,.

[Gummy_Cluster]

Wait until the boss walks by.

You: Hey, boss. I love my job, and I think you are awesome. But is there anyway you can move me to an area where I don't have to be abused all day by this idiot? I just want to come to work and do my best. Why do you allow people like this to abuse others?

Your boss will either fix it or not. But stand your ground.

[Mayo503]

Wow…. Ask her to come into the office and chat with them…. And explain to them if you know your job why ask on here and put over the net….😞
You shouldn’t be doing that….
Work confidential is it….
But two wrongs don’t make it right I’m guessing
Or you could help her out and see if she take it on board…. Or two her up with someone to show her how….
Hope that helps

[Adam1978]

Just ignore her, she is her own problem. Don't even attempt to make things better, just don't make it worse. You should be able to take criticism even when not asked for it. That is the only thing you could adjust towards assuming it makes sense.