“My colleague’s wife sent me a threatening text message about her husband – I did nothing”

A woman is concerned about her professional image and job security after her colleague’s wife sent her a threatening text message unsure of what to do

Relationships in the workplace can sometimes get complicated given the amount of time co-workers spend together.

Because of this, stronger bonds can sometimes form when peers confide in each other about their personal and professional lives, which can be difficult for many.

Now a woman has shared her concerns about her job security and how she might be perceived at work after her colleague’s wife warned her to “back off”.

The anonymous woman gained weight mom net for advice in their predicament.

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She wrote: “I work in a freelance creative industry where I’ve been assigned a project for a limited time.

“I’m self employed and very, very happy to have the contract as I sometimes have a couple of months between contracts and need to have a budget to stretch the money throughout the year.”

In her current contract, which she has been on for six weeks out of 16, the woman explains that she has been working with another freelancer and the duo spends most of the day editing alone.

She explains: “We get along great, he’s 15 years older than me but seems young in attitude and we enjoyed chatting and laughing as we worked.

“He told me how he met his wife online and got her pregnant on their second date and now they are married and their child is about six months old. For what it’s worth, I live with my longtime partner.

“He sometimes told me how he and his wife fought, but always in a joking tone. He probably shared too much, not just about his relationship, but a lot of stuff – mostly just idle chatter while we worked.”

However, the user continues: “Tonight I received a WhatsApp from his wife (must have taken my number from his phone) telling me to stop calling him, he is a married man and he has a child and I have to back off and keep you away from her husband.

“I had a missed call from him last night, called back assuming it was work related and he didn’t answer. Wasn’t mentioned at work today, didn’t think anything of it.

“What do I answer? I don’t want to be embarrassed at work and I don’t want to jeopardize my job by giving the impression that we are unprofessional at work. We do good work with good feedback. Should I text my colleague and tell him?”

Other Mumsnet users were quick to respond with their advice and thoughts.

One advised: “I would definitely tell him and ask him to speak to his wife. Maybe he’s done it before, maybe she’s going through a tough time, but she needs to understand that her suspicions are wrong this time.”

Another disagreed, saying: “You don’t answer anything!!! If you’re in good conscience, don’t.”

A third wrote: “I think she’s been through this before and is concerned. It’s up to you whether you answer, but I’d tell him personally the next time you see him. If you choose to reply to her, I would not be confrontational or apologetic.

“I would calmly explain that you are calling back and that things are purely professional with the two of you. Repeat that you are both colleagues and nothing more. If she’s worried about something, she should talk to her husband, but you’re not involved in any way.”

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