I have a co-worker who is much older than me and has never had children. She is always commenting on what I am eating, how big my stomach is, and pretends to waddle whenever she sees me. I said something to her last week, that for someone who has always been very small like I have and now has a basketball for a belly, I have become very self-conscious. She has continued to make the comments and waddle, so I told her I would appreciate it if she stopped and that, no offense, but she has never been pregnant before so she doesn't know how it makes me feel. The worst part is I am one of her supervisors and she is still treating me like this. Today, she waddled past me and I ignored her thinking if I don't play into her she will stop, nope I was wrong. She comes past my desk while I am eating my lunch (crackers, chicken salad and 2 small slices of watermelon) and say I guess you are taking that eating for 2 thing seriously. Any suggestions or advice would be great!
Re: Co-Worker Vent/Need Advice
This. And aside from being insensitive, she sounds pretty dumb since you're her supervisor.
This!
Make a pregnancy ticker
I differ with the advice of telling her how you feel. She obviously doesn't care how you feel and the more you talk about it, the more power you are giving her.
Don't give her that power. Take it back by not giving her the satisfaction of knowing your feelings.
Plus, from a business perspective, it actually doesn't matter how you feel.. it only matters that her behavior is affecting her ability to do her job. If you go to HR, you might want to remove the personal from it and keep it matter of fact. As her supervisor, she is focusing more on your pregnancy then she is on her work and you are concerned that her constant focus and discussion on pregnancy is superceding conversations she ought to be having about the work getting done.
An employee who exhibits a wanton lack of focus is easier to fire than one who made you "feed bad," you know? Plus, when you start talking feelings, HR will start thinking "hormones." And I think it's best to just avoid that bc you don't want anyone saying that you're a hormonal supervisor.
This. Pull her aside and give her the written warning (to her face, not via email) and explain to her that if she doesn't stop, you'll have to go to HR. You've done enough by talking to her about it.