Her Mother-in-Law Tried to Sabotage Her at Work, But When She Crossed the Line, It Was All Caught on Tape.
The Original Poster (OP) grapples with workplace tensions as her manipulative mother-in-law (MIL) spins a web of deceit, jeopardizing her professional reputation. Amidst this intricate drama, OP utilizes technology to gather evidence against her MIL’s antics, culminating in a suspenseful confrontation with the whole office on edge.
Unwelcome Intrusion
OP’s MIL barges into her house uninvited, demanding to know about OP’s personal life. OP’s husband becomes aware of his family’s encroachment issues, supporting OP’s decision to go no contact with her MIL.
The Husband’s Stance
There were no boundaries between people within his family growing up, so as an adult, OP’s husband chooses limited contact with his mother. He remains vigilant to keep personal matters private.
Playing the Victim
OP’s MIL refuses to acknowledge her mistakes. Instead, she believes OP is pulling her son away from the family. When confronted, the MIL shifts from pretending nothing happened to playing the victim.
Working Tensions
OP, her husband, and MIL work at the same place, and due to a scheduling change, OP and her MIL share a workday. Seizing the opportunity, the MIL confronts OP at work, attempting to force a discussion. OP manages to remain composed, avoiding confrontation.
Gossip and Manipulation
OP’s MIL begins to manipulate coworkers, spreading false information to gain sympathy and attention. Rumors start to spread, painting OP as the villain and putting her workplace relationships at risk.
The Watchful Eye
As the office manager, OP can access the store’s recorded camera feed. She captures her MIL’s exaggerated reactions and manipulative behaviors on video, disproving the rumors. She carefully saves the footage on a USB stick for later.
Taking Precautions
After MIL’s continuous attempts to smear OP’s reputation, she takes preventive measures. She adjusts her computer to display live footage and uses an audio recorder to capture conversations, countering potential false claims.
Silent Observations
OP’s MIL tries to spread more lies, hinting she had an interaction with OP. However, the camera footage shows her sneaking glances at the management office but never entering, indicating her deceit.
Staying Neutral
OP avoids discussing her MIL’s tactics with coworkers. When confronted, she feigns ignorance to prevent a conflict, knowing her sneaky MIL aims to use others to tarnish her reputation further.
Master Manipulator
MIL’s strategy revolves around portraying OP as a villain while appearing innocent. She attempts to manipulate coworkers into confronting the boss on her behalf, hoping to get OP fired indirectly.
Keeping the Boss Out
Despite the ongoing drama, OP refrains from involving her boss in her family affair. She understands the implications of dragging personal issues into the workplace and opts to handle them discreetly.
The Secret Arsenal
OP has accumulated ample evidence against her MIL, including photos, screenshots, and emails. While she could easily expose her MIL’s true nature, she chooses discretion for the sake of workplace harmony and out of respect for her husband.
Concealed Truths
OP doesn’t inform her husband about all the office incidents, only sharing details about the initial confrontation. She wants to shield him from added stress and handle the issue independently to keep things simple.
Past Mistakes
Recalling an earlier incident, OP regrets losing her temper when her MIL invaded their home. Understanding her intention to provoke a similar reaction at work, OP remains vigilant. She continuously monitors her interactions to counteract any potential false claims.
Was The Woman’s Behavior Appropriate?
OP posts her story online for feedback and advice about handling her troublesome MIL. The readers in the forum had a lot of mixed views on the matter.
Forum Responds
One reader said, “You need to rope your boss into this. You do realize what she’s doing, right? She’s getting everyone on her side so she can go to HR or whoever is above you and say all those lies.”
Another Commenter Thinks
Another responder wrote, “Please tell your boss what’s happening. You both don’t need this drama at work. He should make sure your schedules don’t line up.”
A Third View on The Story
A different person stated, “If you respected your boss, you would fill him in on what is going on so he’s not blindsided when your MIL causes rifts between his employees, and it starts affecting his business.”
A Final Perspective on the Matter
Another reader commented, “MIL has decided to take your private business to work. She is the one who is now making it a work issue. You must tell your boss she is harassing you at work because you aren’t letting her harass you at home.”
What Do You Think?
What are your thoughts on their actions?
What would you have done in this situation?
This story is inspired by a thread from an online forum.
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