I am a 27 year old female with autism (aspergers). I am the youngest member of our team. I guess my job title would be "account manager"
Our receptionist is a couple of years older than me and has been working for the company for 3 months.
February is my biggest month at my work. Our receptionist is very chatty and can flip between very happy to very angry very quickly. Knowing my month was going to be busy I pulled back with socialising with everyone to focus on my tasks and try to keep to my schedule.
The receptionist took offence and came to me crying and asked if I was angry. I took her through my work and gave her a run down of everything I had to do. I said any percieved shortness or seriousness was because I was busy and focusing can be a struggle for me.
The following week (last week) she called my desk and I asked if she could take a message for me for the client that had called. She very loudly (I heard it from my desk) told the client I did not want to talk to them and could they call back. Then she hung up. I tried to discreetly tell her that was rude. She then started shouting at me.
Prior to this she already came across as threatening. Her way of speaking is full of curse words and very aggressive. Which I know I have trouble interpreting as anything but aggressive. But I tried to get on with her regardless.
My boss went to talk to her about her behaviour as the whole office heard it. She then lodged a complaint about me bullying her and using inappropriate language in the workplace.
Most of what she had accused me of was fabricated and my inappropriate language was the only true part, which was I had said the word "dumbass" in reference to an email I had recieved from someone who works in another office. I conceded my phrasing in that instance was not professional. However, the receptionist complaining about my use of "dumbass" regularly swears at people, telling them to "get f****d". She speaks in detail about her sister's drug dealing, bodily functions, her partner's anatomy, and her fetish of allowing her dog to lick jam off of her feet. I pointed out this was not very professional either.
I was told to just keep things purely professional and absolutely no outside of work chat. So this week I only said "hello" "bye" "fine thanks" and "yep I'll take it" in response to her. I am terrified of offending her and getting in more trouble. I was cautioned and she was not.
Today it was just the two of us in the office. After an hour she got up and walked out. I assumed she was going to the corner shop. After 10 minutes I called my boss to ask if she had an appointment somewhere. She said no, and asked if I had unplugged her computer. I was immediately puzzled and said no. That she had been using her computer all morning prior to leaving. She said I had unplugged it and she felt attacked. I suggested maybe she had knocked it with her foot, something I have frequently done. The only way I could have accessed her computer would have been to crawl between her legs, under her chair.
She said she didn't know what was going on, but it was very serious what she was accusing me of and it would be best if we close the office for the day. Apparently I will have a phone meeting with HR on Monday. I am terrified and to be honest feeling harrassed. I have only been polite and I know I come across as short at times, but I thought I had patiently explained why that is. I told my boss I had explained it too after it happened, as I was concerned for my co-worker's mental health, given she'd had a breakdown at my desk.
I don't know what she has accused me of in addition to the computer unplugging, but should I be talking to someone? I am definitely being falsley accused and am at a loss of what to do. This is her second bullying complaint against a staff member in her 3 months of being employed with us. I'm starting to question every conversation we have had.
Any advice/opinions appreciated. Thank you.
Our receptionist is a couple of years older than me and has been working for the company for 3 months.
February is my biggest month at my work. Our receptionist is very chatty and can flip between very happy to very angry very quickly. Knowing my month was going to be busy I pulled back with socialising with everyone to focus on my tasks and try to keep to my schedule.
The receptionist took offence and came to me crying and asked if I was angry. I took her through my work and gave her a run down of everything I had to do. I said any percieved shortness or seriousness was because I was busy and focusing can be a struggle for me.
The following week (last week) she called my desk and I asked if she could take a message for me for the client that had called. She very loudly (I heard it from my desk) told the client I did not want to talk to them and could they call back. Then she hung up. I tried to discreetly tell her that was rude. She then started shouting at me.
Prior to this she already came across as threatening. Her way of speaking is full of curse words and very aggressive. Which I know I have trouble interpreting as anything but aggressive. But I tried to get on with her regardless.
My boss went to talk to her about her behaviour as the whole office heard it. She then lodged a complaint about me bullying her and using inappropriate language in the workplace.
Most of what she had accused me of was fabricated and my inappropriate language was the only true part, which was I had said the word "dumbass" in reference to an email I had recieved from someone who works in another office. I conceded my phrasing in that instance was not professional. However, the receptionist complaining about my use of "dumbass" regularly swears at people, telling them to "get f****d". She speaks in detail about her sister's drug dealing, bodily functions, her partner's anatomy, and her fetish of allowing her dog to lick jam off of her feet. I pointed out this was not very professional either.
I was told to just keep things purely professional and absolutely no outside of work chat. So this week I only said "hello" "bye" "fine thanks" and "yep I'll take it" in response to her. I am terrified of offending her and getting in more trouble. I was cautioned and she was not.
Today it was just the two of us in the office. After an hour she got up and walked out. I assumed she was going to the corner shop. After 10 minutes I called my boss to ask if she had an appointment somewhere. She said no, and asked if I had unplugged her computer. I was immediately puzzled and said no. That she had been using her computer all morning prior to leaving. She said I had unplugged it and she felt attacked. I suggested maybe she had knocked it with her foot, something I have frequently done. The only way I could have accessed her computer would have been to crawl between her legs, under her chair.
She said she didn't know what was going on, but it was very serious what she was accusing me of and it would be best if we close the office for the day. Apparently I will have a phone meeting with HR on Monday. I am terrified and to be honest feeling harrassed. I have only been polite and I know I come across as short at times, but I thought I had patiently explained why that is. I told my boss I had explained it too after it happened, as I was concerned for my co-worker's mental health, given she'd had a breakdown at my desk.
I don't know what she has accused me of in addition to the computer unplugging, but should I be talking to someone? I am definitely being falsley accused and am at a loss of what to do. This is her second bullying complaint against a staff member in her 3 months of being employed with us. I'm starting to question every conversation we have had.
Any advice/opinions appreciated. Thank you.
