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Coworker Is Obsessed With Married Man, Tries To Get Close To His Wife, She’s Horrified
Coworker Is Obsessed With Married Man, Tries To Get Close To His Wife, She’s Horrified

Coworker Is Obsessed With Married Man, Tries To Get Close To His Wife, She’s Horrified

Interview With Expert

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It’s natural to be attracted to other people, but knowing when it’s just an attraction and not an obsession is important. When you are obsessed with someone, you tend to lose control over your actions and might even make others uncomfortable.

Just like Reddit user EagelsEyeGirl, who is utterly creeped out by her husband’s coworker who likes him and pulls off some crazy things. However, the original poster (OP) simply can’t figure out why the woman is showering her with gifts, but folks pointed out that she is doing it all to get closer to her husband!

More info: Reddit

RELATED:

    Being attracted to someone is fine, but you have to ensure that you don’t cross the line of obsession, especially at work

    Doctor discussing results with two patients in a hospital hallway.

    Image credits: RDNE Stock project / Pexels (not the actual photo)

    The poster’s husband is a doctor and she noticed that there is something wrong with his coworker, Peggy, who constantly keeps talking about him

    Text about wife feeling creeped out by husband's coworker who gives odd gifts.

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    Text about a husband’s coworker leading to wife feeling creeped out.

    Text message reveals wife's unease about husband's coworker's gifts and excessive interest in their relationship.

    Image credits: EagelsEyeGirl

    Group dining in a garden restaurant, with a woman laughing, creating an ambiance of friendly conversation and lightheartedness.

    Image credits: Los Muertos Crew / Pexels (not the actual photo)

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    The poster also gives Peggy lessons and the woman keeps showering her with gifts and keeps acting obsessive when it comes to her husband

    Text describing a husband's coworker showering his wife with gifts to gain attention.

    Text about a husband's coworker giving gifts and showing excessive attention, causing his wife to feel uneasy.

    Text discussing a husband's coworker showing obsessive behavior, making the wife feel creeped out.

    Image credits: EagelsEyeGirl

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    Doctor converses with nurse in hospital corridor, highlighting coworker dynamics.

    Image credits: RDNE Stock project / Pexels (not the actual photo)

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    Peggy also acts jealous when he talks to other female coworkers or makes plans with his own wife, but she keeps tagging along with the couple

    Text describing a husband's coworker being overly attentive, causing the wife discomfort.

    Text describing wife's discomfort with husband's coworker's behavior towards him.

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    Text reads about a wife's concern as husband's coworker gives unwanted gifts.

    Image credits: EagelsEyeGirl

    The poster is so creeped out by it all that she stopped giving Peggy lessons and wonders why she showered her with gifts when she likes her husband

    In today’s story, we explore the life of this couple who are stuck in a dilemma as the husband’s coworker, Peggy, is obsessed with him and doesn’t even hide it in front of the wife. The poster noticed this when she was invited by his other coworker for a girls-only dinner and Peggy couldn’t stop complimenting him.

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    The couple didn’t think much of it then, but later Peggy wanted the poster to give her lessons, and when she came she showered OP with gifts. Peggy even paid for their movie tickets once and kept sneaking glances at him, which really creeped out the poster.

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    That’s not all; she also gets touchy with the man, laughs when he talks, and says inappropriate things while they are working. She even shares her personal information with him and unabashedly gets jealous when he interacts with any other female coworkers or makes plans with his wife!

    On top of everything, she makes plans with the couple but when the poster insists on just the girls hanging out, she leaves her on “seen.” Her bizarre behavior has put the poster off and she just can’t figure out why the lady keeps giving her gifts if she likes her husband.

    The poster was so creeped out by her behavior that she even stopped giving her lessons. However, probably feeling all weird about the whole situation, she vented online. Redditors told her that she was doing it all just to get closer to her husband and he should report her inappropriate behavior to HR.

    To understand more about workplace dynamics, Bored Panda reached out to Apoorva Kale, an industrial and organizational psychology practitioner. She explained that when professional boundaries are overstepped, it can undermine the foundation of a positive work environment, affecting the trust between teams, warranting disrespect, and disrupting clarity needed for cohesion.

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    Woman feeling uneasy at home, related to husband's coworker crushing on him.

    Image credits: Kaboompics.com / Pexels (not the actual photo)

    She stressed that romantic obsessions at the workplace may begin subtly but need prompt intervention to safeguard the professional atmosphere at work. According to her, an individual invading another person’s personal space, giving unwanted attention, unsolicited compliments, and having inappropriate conversations are clearly red flags at the workplace.

    “In such situations, emotions of jealousy may lead to controlling behavior, who they interact with, being possessive, and in terms of managerial level, even maintaining their schedule or activities. It would be a serious concern when it leads to harassment, affecting the individual’s job performance and creating an uncomfortable environment for the team,” she added.

    Apoorva claims that dealing with such situations can be tricky at times, but it is important to address them with professionalism and integrity. However, she said that if the behavior persists, one should document and keep records and address the matter with HR and the management team.

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    She advised setting boundaries, bringing to the individual’s attention that their behavior is making you uncomfortable, reminding them that you are in a committed marriage and would not appreciate the disrespect towards it, refraining from having any personal conversations, keeping it short and related to work, and maintaining physical distance where your personal space doesn’t feel invaded. 

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    While concluding the interview, Apoorva also shared some valuable advice for the poster. 

    She mentioned, “Supporting a partner with workplace boundaries comes with a lot of patience and needs to be dealt with using a sensitive approach. The spouse should be an active listener, remind them to protect their mental health at the workplace, encourage them to address their concerns with HR, and let them navigate the situation on their own terms while being a constant support.”

    Well, we hope the poster and her husband are able to get through the situation and put the obsessive woman in the past. If you were in her shoes, how would you handle the situation? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

    Folks online pointed out that Peggy sounded obsessively unstable and said that the poster’s husband should speak to HR about her inappropriate behavior

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    Reddit comments discussing a coworker's inappropriate gifts causing a wife to feel uncomfortable.

    Text conversation discussing boundaries with husband's coworker and gifts, with one agreeing to stop interactions.

    Reddit comment suggesting a book to understand signs of coworker crush behavior.

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    Comments discussing a husband's coworker showering him with gifts, raising red flags in the relationship.

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    Text exchange discussing feelings about a husband's coworker.

    Text exchange discussing coworker crushing on husband, advises wife to open eyes quickly.

    Discussion about coworker crush, gifts, and documenting events for protection.

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    Text conversation about coworker's advances on a married man and the need for HR action.

    Reddit thread discussing a husband's coworker's inappropriate behavior and potential solutions.

    Comment thread discussing a husband's coworker oddly giving gifts, causing discomfort for the wife.

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    Poll Question

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    Rutuja Dumbre

    Rutuja Dumbre

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    Hey, am Rutuja! A storyteller at heart and a writer at Bored Panda. I have a strange love for words, and I mostly survive on coffee which is the driving force behind my writing. I enjoy working on articles that purely entertain our readers. When am not writing or trekking, you can find me staying up late and watching all the matches of Football Club Barcelona!

    Read less »
    Rutuja Dumbre

    Rutuja Dumbre

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Hey, am Rutuja! A storyteller at heart and a writer at Bored Panda. I have a strange love for words, and I mostly survive on coffee which is the driving force behind my writing. I enjoy working on articles that purely entertain our readers. When am not writing or trekking, you can find me staying up late and watching all the matches of Football Club Barcelona!

    Rūta Zumbrickaitė

    Rūta Zumbrickaitė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    Hi! Here at Panda's I'm responsible for Photo Editing and all of the things surrounding it. I love finding great, moody or even dramatic photos to fit the story. Besides that, I'm a proud owner of 3 cats with the silliest names and a bazillion plants<3You can find me at a makeup counter with headphones swatching all of the sparkly eyeshadows

    Read less »

    Rūta Zumbrickaitė

    Rūta Zumbrickaitė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Hi! Here at Panda's I'm responsible for Photo Editing and all of the things surrounding it. I love finding great, moody or even dramatic photos to fit the story. Besides that, I'm a proud owner of 3 cats with the silliest names and a bazillion plants<3You can find me at a makeup counter with headphones swatching all of the sparkly eyeshadows

    What do you think ?
    Janelle Collard
    Community Member
    Premium
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    OP + hubs should've shut that woman down ages ago. She could become dangerous now if she's cut off.

    Pork Chop
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I just want to know what "lessons" is she giving her?

    Load More Replies...
    Joanne Earle
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Aaaand hubs is just eating it up too I bet. He hasn't shut it down because....?

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    Ruth Watry
    Community Member
    9 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Often times, HR expects you to tell that person something like stop touching me or respect my personal space - and if it keeps happening - you contact HR and they can discipline because the person cannot say that they did not know that they were doing anything wrong.

    Load More Comments
    Janelle Collard
    Community Member
    Premium
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    OP + hubs should've shut that woman down ages ago. She could become dangerous now if she's cut off.

    Pork Chop
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I just want to know what "lessons" is she giving her?

    Load More Replies...
    Joanne Earle
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Aaaand hubs is just eating it up too I bet. He hasn't shut it down because....?

    ADVERTISEMENT
    Ruth Watry
    Community Member
    9 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Often times, HR expects you to tell that person something like stop touching me or respect my personal space - and if it keeps happening - you contact HR and they can discipline because the person cannot say that they did not know that they were doing anything wrong.

    Load More Comments
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