Title: Snipey co-worker?
Post by: debgephart on September 12, 2002, 05:28:21 pm
Thursday is not off to the best start - coworker just sent an email to me and cc'd her bossie on it. Seems she found some unsigned contracts on her desk and ASSUMED that I'd put them there. So she sent an email telling me to not put them on her desk (she is doing the work of the contract specialist while they are out on medical leave) because she's at the other person's desk and not her own. Instead of asking me about it, she sends an email and states it in such a way that the only way I perceive it is that she's trying to make it look as though I'm sabotaging her work. I send back an email and of course cc her bossie stating "what contracts? I haven't received any contracts all week, and have not left any on your desk." Turns out it was someone else doing it. I am still bothered by this subtle accusation and attempt to make me look bad. In the meantime I receive complaints all around from other co-workers that she is not doing a good job of handling both her own job and the job of the contract specialist. They are not getting their paperwork on time, not getting contract drafts back in time for the effective date, and she leaves signed contracts and other legal documents lying around and forgets where she has put them. I work hard, and continue to do the best I can each day. My bossie gives great guidance and I know if there was a problem I would know about it. How can I deal with this person and their back-stabbing ways? PS - you should know that this is the same person that's caused me grief in previous posts - coming in late, leaving early, taking late lunches, disappearing throughout the day and no one knows where she is, and for a while was stacking all her filing on my desk. Until I went to bossie and explained that from a task standpoint I was being abused. I was not this person's file clerk, and I was not their personal assistant. She is an admin, and can do her own work, not load it up on someone else's desk for them to do. That solved the filing problem - and I have never been behind in my filing since because I don't have HERS mysteriously appearing on my desk.
What do you think I should do about this? I love where I work, and I love working for my bossie. I just can't imagine continuing here with a person who is trying to make me look bad and destroy my credibility...that really makes me sad, and makes me angry because I work hard and want to build a good career with this company.
What do you think I should do about this? I love where I work, and I love working for my bossie. I just can't imagine continuing here with a person who is trying to make me look bad and destroy my credibility...that really makes me sad, and makes me angry because I work hard and want to build a good career with this company.
Title: Re: Snipey co-worker?
Post by: chris68 on September 12, 2002, 06:27:34 pm
Best thing that happened was the bossies were cc'd on this one. At least they are in the loop. I would have a chat with your bossie and let him know what you have told us here and after that just keep documenting everything that happens and keep it out of the office for future reference when needed (if/when she tries this again).
Sorry to hear of your bad day, but believe me I've had similar situations so can relate to your feelings very well. I wouldn't worry about it but would keep track in case things explode again. Then not only can you go back to bossie with your concerns again if needed; you also have stuff documented to prove you aren't just talking from the rumor mill.
Let me know how this goes; and hopefully the rest of your day will be a better one.
Chris68
Deskdemon Forum Board Staff
Sorry to hear of your bad day, but believe me I've had similar situations so can relate to your feelings very well. I wouldn't worry about it but would keep track in case things explode again. Then not only can you go back to bossie with your concerns again if needed; you also have stuff documented to prove you aren't just talking from the rumor mill.
Let me know how this goes; and hopefully the rest of your day will be a better one.
Chris68
Deskdemon Forum Board Staff
Title: Re: Snipey co-worker?
Post by: debgephart on September 12, 2002, 07:11:47 pm
Thanks - it is getting a little better, I just try to stay away from interaction with this person unless it's absolutely necessary. We have to work together, we're admins in the same department, so we have to coordinate schedules, meetings, lunches, etc..so that everyone has administrative support. It just seems like a lot of the time I'm trapped at my desk because she's gone, many times no one knows where/when she left, or when she will return. This is stressful for me, because I'm then trapped at my desk covering phones and can't get my work done. I just have a strong dislike of slackers - they look busy, but in the meantime everyone else is doing the work.
Title: Re: Snipey co-worker?
Post by: fireproof on September 12, 2002, 07:46:06 pm
Ah - petty people. Couldn't you just strangle them?
You handled the situation just right; now move on. You can't change it, you can't prevent it, all you can do is put out the fire whenever she tries to spark one. You can expect more of the same in the future, so what is best for YOU is to learn to treat it as a routine matter. Just don't fret about it - handle each of the inconveniences calmly and professionally as they arise the same way you would handle ANY problem.
Who knows why this behaviour is tolerated, but it is. Continue to protect your turf as best you can (you seem to be pretty good at it), but you are going to have to leave the solving of the actual problem to someone else.
This 2-cents brought to you by
FIREPROOF
You handled the situation just right; now move on. You can't change it, you can't prevent it, all you can do is put out the fire whenever she tries to spark one. You can expect more of the same in the future, so what is best for YOU is to learn to treat it as a routine matter. Just don't fret about it - handle each of the inconveniences calmly and professionally as they arise the same way you would handle ANY problem.
Who knows why this behaviour is tolerated, but it is. Continue to protect your turf as best you can (you seem to be pretty good at it), but you are going to have to leave the solving of the actual problem to someone else.
This 2-cents brought to you by
FIREPROOF
Title: Re: Snipey co-worker?
Post by: chris68 on September 12, 2002, 07:54:17 pm
I can so relate, we have similar issues here in the office as well. The best thing to do is what you said to you still have to work together and get the job done at hand. I've taken the same perspective with a person here, that unfortunately, I have to work with this person like her or not. It has helped greatly in getting thru the everyday stuff, but sometimes the tension in the room is so thick you can't stand it. Fortunatley I don't have to sit in that office and work, I can take it back to my office so I don' t have to deal with that person so much. As I have said time and time again, you don't have to like everyone you work with (tho it helps) but you do have to work with them and be civil to each other. Sometimes tho that can be hard if someone is having a bad day to begin with.
Just document everything that you feel needs documentation that affects your workload. That's the best thing that you can do right now and keep the conversations simple and as general as possible.
Hang in there, it can only get better.
Chris68
Deskdemon Forum Board Staff
Just document everything that you feel needs documentation that affects your workload. That's the best thing that you can do right now and keep the conversations simple and as general as possible.
Hang in there, it can only get better.
Chris68
Deskdemon Forum Board Staff
Title: Re: Snipey co-worker?
Post by: raindance on September 12, 2002, 10:12:09 pm
Dear Deb,
I agree with the others - document everything. Even just a little private note signed and dated. Such a "diary" is rather one-sided, but it is the only evidence you will have, should you ever need it.
And what is this we read about you being "trapped" at your desk? Never mind about Miss Idle-Ness - please do take the breaks you are allowed, particularly lunch. Perhaps a phone with voicemail might be helpful to you. Miss Idle-Ness is responsible for her own behaviour - as is her manager.
Best of luck to you.
Raindance
I agree with the others - document everything. Even just a little private note signed and dated. Such a "diary" is rather one-sided, but it is the only evidence you will have, should you ever need it.
And what is this we read about you being "trapped" at your desk? Never mind about Miss Idle-Ness - please do take the breaks you are allowed, particularly lunch. Perhaps a phone with voicemail might be helpful to you. Miss Idle-Ness is responsible for her own behaviour - as is her manager.
Best of luck to you.
Raindance
Title: Re: Snipey co-worker?
Post by: superninjaadmin on September 13, 2002, 03:40:45 am
I agree with all the others who have posted - good advice.
I'd like to add one more piece of advice: Avoid using e-mail to respond back to her - don't stoop to her level or fight your battles in this way... it is very unprofessional that she is taking these accusations to e-mail!! The next time she sends an email and copies your boss, print out the email and immediately go to your boss on how to handle the problems. I don't think you will win if you try to fight these battles with her yourself. Take the high road. It will be difficult to bite your tongue and swallow your pride, but try to be objective in her motives (try not to take these as a personal attack) - take these as an opportunity to show how professional you are in solutions in correcting the problem on a whole - like you are acting on behalf of the company to make things better. She will look like a loser and you look like a winner. GIve it a try. Good luck!
SNA
I'd like to add one more piece of advice: Avoid using e-mail to respond back to her - don't stoop to her level or fight your battles in this way... it is very unprofessional that she is taking these accusations to e-mail!! The next time she sends an email and copies your boss, print out the email and immediately go to your boss on how to handle the problems. I don't think you will win if you try to fight these battles with her yourself. Take the high road. It will be difficult to bite your tongue and swallow your pride, but try to be objective in her motives (try not to take these as a personal attack) - take these as an opportunity to show how professional you are in solutions in correcting the problem on a whole - like you are acting on behalf of the company to make things better. She will look like a loser and you look like a winner. GIve it a try. Good luck!
SNA