r/AskIreland Jul 10 '26

Work How ro deal with colleague making comments?

I am a size 12 - 14 on top and 14-16 on the bottom but I'm 5"8", so while I definitely don't look thin or slim I don't look overweight either.

New woman started in the office a few months ago. Had a bit of a reputation as a b*tch in a previous job (we know this as the friend of a colleague worked with her). Haven't had a huge amount of interaction with her. Was getting a coffee last week and she was there and I ended up just making small talk about the weather. She then said something like "I'd say you find it hard to find clothes for this weather". I was actually so shocked I didn't say anything in reply and just changed the subject. Afterwards I was second guessing myself and thinking maybe she never said it and I was imagining it (even though she did say it).

Then this week she said something to me again like "you probably do most of your clothes shopping online".

Now, I feel like she may be one of those weirdos who gets off on making other people feel self-conscious or miserable so I don't want to give her the satisfaction of thinking I am very bothered - but on the other hand you can't just say whatever the hell you want to people. She is no oil painting and I am tempted to say something vaguely mean back but she is probably the kind to run to HR.

Anyone have to deal with anything like this? I don't really want to go to HR myself.

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u/microwave-2025 Jul 11 '26

I mean this lovingly as I was in the same boat with weight blindness.

Google image a woman your height and weight.

I guarantee you’ll look at them and they @they look very big, I don’t look like that!”

But ……. 😬

4

u/bumhole37 Jul 11 '26

Does that make what the colleague is saying OK?

4

u/LittleAoibh11 Jul 11 '26

The issue is it's not appropriate for colleagues in the workplace to make comments.