Scott:
I am about at my wit’s end. I am in a work situation that started out a bit rough with some disgruntled co-workers, and they left and we got new people.
I trained and mentored the new people until they were overproducing maniacs, which of course made our department look very good. Along with some other things I was able to coordinate into implementation, we have done nothing but outstanding for over a year because of my help.
I was at one time the shining star in my supervisor’s eye, since I knew quite a bit about my industry and was able to advise her on certain particulars of the way we should do things. Mind you, I am in my late 20s, easy on the eyes and have gained the trust of other co-workers because I truly know what I am doing.
In walks a middle-aged overweight cow that has nothing ever nice to say to anyone, and really doesn’t know her job from the crack in the sidewalk. Yet she has been able to snow my supervisor and another person in upper management to think that she is heaven-sent.
I find that my supervisor now goes to her for issues and doesn’t consult me anymore, which I don’t really mind because it
does get kind of tiring on telling my boss how to run the show. I also find that she has become the unofficial babysitter and watches my time when I come in and when I leave.
I feel like I’m under the microscope.
I have spoken to my supervisor about her behavior and she actually acknowledged the fact that she has a bad attitude and has a hard time working with others. I suggested she be moved out of our department since her work has nothing to do with our department and the cow flat-out told my boss in a loud voice there was no way she was moving.
She hasn’t moved to this day, and it’s been over five months. I have even contacted our union representative, and was told that my supervisor was going to take care of it. She hasn’t.
The cow continues this childish behavior. Not only that, but she has recruited two other people to watch out for me. There are several other issues, but I know your column is only so long, so here’s my question:
After all that I have accomplished here, how can I maintain my employment without throwing in the towel. Or is it time to upgrade to terry cloth?
Thanks Scott,
– Cotton
SCOTT: Well, leave it to a nasty cow to come along and knock down everything you’ve built! Where’s the respect?
One might fantasize about 20 or so well-deserved public lashings. Or maybe that’s too harsh. Well, I do know you’re pissed-off, and I’m here to help.
First, try setting some boundaries with the bitch by apologizing to her.
Wait, hear me out! She’s getting the best of you in the most manipulative way she knows how. Then when you react, she acts like you’re nuts, making you look like a complete idiot.
Well no more! An apology goes a long way.
Tell her you don’t know where you two went wrong but (lie #1) you have nothing against her and (lie #2) you’d really like to get along with her (aren’t the public lashings starting to sound good?). You don’t have to love the people you work with, but you do need to try to get along find and find a common ground.
And, you have to behave professionally, like it or not.
If the boundary setting doesn’t work, submit a mediation request to your union representative. Bring documentation to support your claim and state your case so it goes on record. Prepare yourself though, because even that effort might be in vain.
If you work in an at-will state like Colorado, you stand the chance of losing your job at any time for any reason, (other than
age, race, sex and a couple other things which don’t apply).
Everyone at work knows you two despise each other, but don’t make a show out of it anymore; that’ll impact both of you negatively and neither of you will come out of top. Don’t lose focus. You’re there to do a job.
It’s probably a good idea to start looking at the job postings anyway. If you are being pushed out, it’s always a waste of time to go against your employer. You’d never win.
OK, fight a little and hold your ground. But if that doesn’t get you anywhere, scoop up your pride, find another job and depart professionally.
Cotton’s always the preferred choice, but terry cloth never sounded so good.