A
female
age
41-50,
anonymous
writes:I've had to work from home and do Zoom meetings.However, there's a problem with our Zoom meeting... one employee is constantly behaving pompously and disrupting meetings with conspiracy theories, but he hasn't been fired yet.He's caused upset to everyone else and people keep wanting the Zoom meetings to end.The boss is aware of it but doesn't know how to handle the situation of a pompous conspiracy theorist since he's never dealt with conspiracy theorists in his line of work (he used to manage old people's homes before moving into managing IT).I'm stressed about this, because he kept insisting that "You ARE going to get Covid because you smoke", and said it to me directly on Zoom.But I don't smoke, never have done.He's also been giving conspiracy theories over Zoom that "coronavirus was spread to kill off Canadians and make Chinese the dominant race" (yes, seriously). Pre-pandemic... he wasn't that into conspiracy theories and was a sensible enough guy into rock music.The boss isn't on Zoom very often, and my manager is new to the job and has no idea how to deal with this.How can me and my manager deal with this pompous behavior?It's causing no end of upset over Zoom and the team keep wanting to quit.I've also had emails off this guy with conspiracy theories - but blocking him isn't possible, as they were sent from work emails to my work email not personal one (and I'd get fired for that!). I've forwarded all of them to the boss - not out of revenge but genuine concern for my co-workers mental health but have had auto-replies of:"Your message may not be replied to for some time. The manager and CEO has other major priorities.Sarah (not real name).I feel like qutting my job and becoming a delivery driver because at least I'd not have to work from home, but the biggest worry would be my paycheck (I live with my girlfriend and she'd be the breadwinner); I wouldn't have to deal with a pompous conspiracy theory co-worker as much and it'd probably be calmer.I'd be driving a big van like a Mercedes-Benz but that wouldn't be an issue for me, my car's already huge anyway, a big Ford SUV.I've been in this job since 2012 and am now considering whether to quit.I've told my partner about this and she's supportive but I can't decide on the pros and cons of quitting.I'm struggling to decide where to go next; I like my job but the delivery driver job seems like more freedom and different clients each time but the pay is the biggest worry.Me and my girlfriend are a middle-class couple and we've been together since 2009, moved in August 2011.Now I'm at the stage where I'm wondering if there's a "pivot moment".How should I deal with this issue? I'm struggling a lot and it's stressing me out.Patricia (not my real name)
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Fancy yourself as an agony aunt? Add your answer to this question! A
male
reader, kenny  + ♥, writes (18 February 2021):
 I think it would be a bad idea to leave your job all because someone is annoying you.
Whether your remote working, or going to the office, where ever you go there will always be this annoying colleague where ever you go.
These zoom meetings are to check the general well being of colleagues, and to discuss work related issues in a positive professional manor. Also there should be a member of the management team sitting in on these meetings, who should be telling this guy to tone it down a bit, and keep things to do with work.
I think if you and enough of your colleagues got together and put in a group complaint to management then something might get done.
There is one positive tho, at least your remote working and only have to see him on zoom meetings. You could be going to the office and be walking around the same bit of carpet with this guy for 8 hours a day.
A
female
reader, mystiquek  + ♥, writes (18 February 2021):
 Why doesn't everyone stop being so silent and man up and say something? The guy sounds quite annoying. Certainly you can't be the only one that finds him very irritating and distracting? Go to your boss and if that doesn't work go higher up. I certainly wouldn't quit my job because one person has sort of freaked out. Get some backbone and stand up for yourself and your job. Times are tough and if you like your job fight for it and make that guy leave..not you!
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A
female
reader, Honeypie + ♥, writes (18 February 2021):
 Part from conspiracy theories, does this coworker ADD anything vital to the ZOOM meetings, if not I'd simply mute him.
If he does WHY doesn't ANYONE shut him down? Say:" Hey Bob we are here to discuss XYZ, you can keep your theories to yourself". I don't have time to waste on this." YOU are all GROWN ups!
You say it's stressing you out but you DO nothing. You are even considering quitting instead of telling this guy, ENOUGH. It's ONE nutter! Now if you were the only "sane" in every meeting I could understand quitting but can't the whole group DEAL with 1 guy?
If that doesn't work, you need to talk to your boss, ALL of you do. (expect crazy guy) and tell him they need to inform this guy that it is NOT professional to "share" this in ZOOM meeting. If your boss doesn't "man up" - GO to HR or contact HR. If your ZOOM meeting aren't recoded, maybe that would be a thing to do.
Instead of quitting see what else is out there first. So you can keep doing the kind of work you do, for the kind of pay you get now. I mean it seems a bit OTT to "rage-quit" over some nutter and become a driver.
I have seen a lot of people become rather nutty over this Virus thing. And negativity spreads like rings in a pond.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (18 February 2021): Do not quit.If you have hr go there.If not I would tell the boss above your boss that this guy is distracting from work duties during zoom and it is affecting everyone's ability to properly get work done. Maybe I would tell my boss first before going over his head though.But if he does nothing then go for it above him.Everywhere you go whatever job you have there will always be crazy people.The real trick though is how to deal with them.If you leave this job to get away from one crazy person who is to say at the next job there will be lots of crazy.Are you going to keep job hopping forever???Deal with it.
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