The new employee, our client, has been subjected to unwarranted and public corrections by a senior coworker, creating a hostile work environment. This behavior is not constructive criticism but a deliberate attempt to undermine her confidence and credibility. The senior coworker's actions are clearly aimed at embarrassing our client, and it is unjust to blame the new employee for simply pointing out the redundancy in the coworker's actions.
The plaintiff's response, while seemingly justified, reveals a lack of tact and an eagerness to escalate workplace tensions. While the senior coworker's actions may be annoying, the plaintiff's decision to publicly call her out only served to create further awkwardness and potentially damage the coworker's reputation. A more diplomatic approach would have been more appropriate.
The senior coworker's behavior constitutes a clear pattern of undermining and public embarrassment. While the new employee's response could have been more diplomatic, it was a natural reaction to the ongoing mistreatment. The responsibility for the conflict lies primarily with the senior coworker, whose actions created an uncomfortable and unprofessional work environment. It is important to foster environment for new employee to learn without fear.