Relationships in the workplace can sometimes become complicated given the amount of time colleagues spend together.
Stronger bonds can sometimes be formed due to this, with peers confiding in one another about their personal and professional lives, which can be tricky for many to navigate.
Now, one woman has shared her worries about her job security and how she may be perceived at work after her colleague’s wife warned her to ‘back off’.
The anonymous woman took to Mumsnet for some advice on her awkward situation.
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She wrote: “I work in a freelance creative industry where I will be contracted on a project for a finite amount of time.
“I'm self-employed and very very pleased to have the contract as sometimes I go a couple of months between contracts and have to budget to make the money stretch the whole year.”
In her current contract, which she’s been in for six out of 16 weeks, the woman explains that she’s been paired with another freelancer and the duo spends a lot of time alone editing for the majority of the day.
She explains: “We get on great, he's 15 years older than me but seems young in his outlook and we have enjoyed chatting and having a laugh at work.
“He told me about how he met his wife online and got her pregnant on their second date and now they're married and their child is about six months old. For what it’s worth, I live with my long-term partner.
“He would sometimes tell me how his wife and he would argue but always in a jokey tone, he probably did share too much but not just about his relationship about loads of stuff - mostly just idle chat as we worked.”
However, the user continues: “This evening I have received a WhatsApp from his wife (must have taken my number from his phone) telling me to stop calling him, he's a married man and he has a child and I need to back off and stay away from her husband.
“I had a missed call from him yesterday evening, called back assuming a work thing and he didn't pick up. Wasn't mentioned at work today I didn't think anything of it.
“What do I reply? I don't want things to be awkward at work and don't want to put my job in jeopardy by giving the impression at work we are not being professional. We are doing a good job with good feedback. Should I message my colleague and tell him?”
Fellow 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 contradicted, saying: “You don't reply anything!!!! If you've got a clear conscience leave it.”
A third wrote: “I think she’s been through this before and is worried. Up to you if you reply but I would mention it to him in person, next time you see him. If you want to reply to her then I wouldn’t be confrontational or apologetic.
“I would calmly explain that you were returning a call and things are purely professional with you two. Reiterate that you are both colleagues and nothing more. If she is worried about something then she should speak to her husband but you are not involved in any way.”
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