Workplace interactions can quickly turn uncomfortable.

The following story involves a woman whose deskmate at work constantly responded with aggression and negativity over simple conversations.

Instead of engaging further, she decided to change her approach and distance herself emotionally.

Read the full story below for all the details.

Starting to grey rock my deskmate

Although we joke around and bully one another, her aggression and negativity toward me are bothering me.

She is combative over anything I say.

I will tell her something.

She would get unnecessarily aggressive and negative over it.

This employee’s deskmate would always pick on her.

I have told her about craving certain foods. She would chime in.

She would say that I am eating this and that and that I am so fake.

She says I pretend to eat healthy at work.

Then, I go home and eat fried food.

She volunteered to work early on Monday, and yet again, her coworker aggressively snapped at her.

Last Friday, the team leader asked if anyone wanted to work early on Monday.

I said I would if other people did not want to. My deskmate got aggressive over it.

She ranted about how I do not even come in on time.

She said I struggle with working my normal hours and I think I could start early.

It was so unnecessarily aggressive.

If she joked about it in a humorous way, then it would have been fine.

But she was so aggressive over it.

So she decided to grey rock her coworker.

Today, although I came in a few minutes late, it was earlier than when I usually come in.

She said snarkily that I came in bright and early today.

I started grey rocking her. She feels awkward.

She did not try to say anything.

A toxic workmate can truly destroy someone’s mood at work.

In this case, grey rocking may be the best response because every small comment turned into an aggressive criticism.

Sometimes, silence becomes the safest response. Do you agree?

Let’s find out what others have to say about this.

This person makes a valid point.

This user did the same thing.

Here is some useful advice.

Here’s another idea…

Finally, this one shares their honest opinion.

The best comeback is no comeback at all.

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about an employee who was facing serious accusations before retirement, but luckily had security footage that proved his innocence.