LW1: No, Annie, "Terribly Frustrated" should absolutely not have to "tolerate as much as she can" because management keeps putting her in the middle between an insolent backup person and co-workers or customers, not to mention being subject to constant unprofessionalism and rudeness. Turning the other cheek just gets one smacked across the other cheek as well as the one that's already bleeding. Maxine is poisonous, and I think you would have done better to suggest that the LW document fully all contact between herself and Maxine, all feedback she receives about Maxine, and how it hurts productivity and output, and take it to management. Maybe when they see how Maxine's insolence, unprofessionalism, and rudeness affect the bottom line, they'll stop thinking of this as "not a major problem." if they continue to think of it that way, everyone, including the LW, should stop working for or patronizing the business to get the message across. But being expected to "tolerate as much as one can" from a Maxine just leaves one constantly frustrated and unable to do one's job. That was horrible advice on your part.