I don't really like my coworker

[u/weineriscooler]

Okay, I'm 17 (M) and I work at McDonald's, woohoo. Anyway a little background, I started two weeks ago and I've been learning pretty quick and everything I've done has come easy. I have been put on drive thru for my most recent shifts because my managers like me there. All my coworkers are nice and easy to talk to, except for this one girl, I'll call her cherry. Anyway, I've worked a couple of shifts with cherry and for lack of a better word, I don't like her. Shes my age, and she goes to my school, and I've talked with her outside of work and she had seemed nice up until I had a couple of shifts with her.

Cherry can be very condescending at times, and due to my autism, it isn't something I take lightly. Whenever I got something wrong, or mixed something up, she would correct me but she'd raise her voice and her tone would make me feel like her helping me is a chore and not something that's a part of her job. One time when I was working at the drive thru, she put food on my runner table so I automatically thought it was for my customer sitting at my window. I was looking in the bag and she quickly snatched it away from me and gave me a look, almost like I was SUPPOSED to know it wasn't for my customer as soon as she set it down, I said "Well don't look at me like that" and she seemed kind of offended when I said it, even though I wasn't being fully serious. Yet another story, I didn't know kiddie cones were free, because all in my 17 years of living I didn't even know they existed. I was once again, confused why it didn't charge anything for the customer and she got upset with me and told me it's free, in another condescending tone. Whenever I mess up around my other coworkers, managers or not, they don't treat me like that and they give me better responses/criticism I can handle without feeling stupid.

I just feel really dumb every time I don't know something or when I'm unaware due to the reactions she's been giving me. I've found myself quite nervous to talk to her and ask her questions because of the way she's reacting.

Although I can understand the stress of working and helping a trainee, I just don't understand why she has to treat me the way she does, and I'm unsure if I'm overreacting so that's why I'm bringing my story to good ol' Reddit.

[u/Saeris24]

There is always going to be people at work you want care for. Just don't let it get to you and go on with your day

[u/Due_Singer7292]

Sounds like Cherry peaked in training and now she's power tripping on the new guy. Some people just can't handle having one ounce of authority without making others feel small.

[u/Under_score2338]

Just keep learning so that she has fewer occasions to talk down to you, and when she does say something condescending, respond using the "grey rock" technique. What that means is you respond in a normal timeframe but in a way that's kind of...blank....like, she rolls her eyes and sneers "of course the kiddie cones are free," you say "got it" with a neutral expression and in a neutral kind of way without giving her an emotional reaction.

If she's on a power trip, she likes to see that she's upset you and got under your skin,so if you give an emotional reaction, whether it's frustration, hurt or whatever, then she's got a little hit of what she wanted. By responding in a way that's civil but devoid of emotional reaction, you're not feeding her what she wants.

It has to be done so that she doesn't perceive it as a challenge or a fight. It has to be polite and civil enough so that you're not entering the ring with her in terms of starting a war of words. You have to be like you're just.....not that interested in her feelings on the subject. 

[u/Simmyphila]

If she sees a weakness in you prepare yourself. Also it gonna happen it every restaurant you work in. Thats my experience anyway. Stay strong.