Workplace Competition
by I just started a new job at this firm about 2 months ago. I was hired as a paralegal for one of the managing partners, Don Spry. It was understood when I was hired that Mr. Spry has another woman working for him, Barbara, who handles his day-to-day scheduling and his correspondence. I was hired to meet with clients, handle large projects, etc.; more involved stuff.
As is obvious from my last few journals, I'd had some down time here at work and asked anyone if they needed help - Barbara was the first person I asked, since she and I work for the same person and are essentially supposed to be working together. She's never asked for my help with anything except when someone told her to disignate something to me. When I asked her why she would overload herself when I clearly have little to do, she said it's because she's hyperactive and needs to always be doing something.
Barbara had a day off yesterday, so I did both her job and mine. I'm used to tons of work and a busy day, so honestly, it wasn't that challenging for me. When she asked me this morning if it was crazy yesterday, I casually told her that I didn't have any trouble getting everything out, and although it was busy, I didn't have any trouble handling it. She just rolled her eyes and walked away.
She never makes any kind of effort to talk to me, either. I'll ask her how her weekend was and she'll give me one word answers, but she'll talk to other people in the office for 15 minutes at a time. Don't think that I'm acting high-school and wondering why this woman doesn't like me - that doesn't really matter to me. I just don't want her bad vibes to affect the job we're supposed to be doing together, and more than that, I don't want her to have it in for me and tell our boss every time I make a small mistake.
So what are your thoughts? Am I being overly paranoid? Donovan seems to think that she's jealous of me because I'm a lot younger than she is and I'm so comfortable in the job; I rarely let it stress me out. She's always a little frazzled. I've never been in a position where I felt one of my co-workers really didn't want to work with me. How should I handle this?
AI Summary
23 Comments
You're certainly not being paranoid, these are all legitimate concerns. It sounds as though you're handling the sittuation with the utmost professionalism. On the other side of matters if
Donovan seems to think that she's jealous of me because I'm a lot younger than she is and I'm so comfortable in the job try to ignore the pettiness and just "kill her with kindness", it's old fashioned but it seems to work. Eventually she'll tire of exerting so much energy into such a petty endevor or she'll come to appreciate your work ethic.
:-P
she's probably worried about keeping her job.
That's also what Donovan thought, but when I was hired, it was with the understanding that we'd be working together.
along those lines she might be worried that if you are capable of doing BOTH jobs w/ ease and the boss knows, he might not feel the need to keep both of you.
i've been through what you are going through. you think its a team, but hun this is corporate america. there's no such thing as "team" its whomever you can climb over to get to the top.
She's obviosly jealous and threatened by your work ethics and age. Just keep on doing what your doing and just keep back up in case she tries to slam you and by your conduct in general as a christian, your higher up will recognize this and know who's the honest hard worker and who's not.
I've got some Ideas...I'll ez message you.
My office manager was like that at my job.... When i was in my car accident she spent two seconds asking me how my back was and then went off. When i told her i was quitting she didnt try to make it so i could stay. She just said i guess i cant change your mind. I hate working with people who ovbiously dont like you. That was one of the MANY reasons that I had to quit.
By the way, do you know of any other paralegals job?? Im desperately looking!
Where do you live? When I was looking in the NJ/PA area, there were and are tons of openings.
Northern New Jersey....
And you're having trouble finding ads? Check the classifieds at nj.com.
wow...... there was soo much! Thanks a lot!
ehh been there. When I told this guy at work i needed time off to visit cuz my gf's mom was killed he was like "go tell the boss." Some people just were not born with any sympathy or anything normal. Its like they are totally out to destroy. But that's the world. Don't expect anything but a person you cannot trust.
Hmm..is it normal for people to ask for time off? When I need a day off I just tell them I'm not coming in and walk away.
Hahaha! You're so tough! I do something similar. I just kinda don't give 'em a choice. "I won't be able to come in tuesday." or whatever, then I scoot. You have to be authorative. If you walk up like "um, please could I, uh, have off on that day, please?" They will almost definitely say no to that, if just for being a wuss about it!
Exactly! I mean, they could still say no to me I guess but doing it this way almost assures me having the day off. They're not my rulers just my boss. And I don't do it rudely either..just state the fact that I won't be coming in.
Precisely.
just call in sick if you need it. Say you have a throat ache.
There is I guess little you can do in this situation as far as solving it. If you talk to her about it, she'll probably get all puffed up like a hen and say "WHAT? you think IIII am threatened by YOUUUUU???" and make you feel like you're the crazy one. People are stupid.
I'm sure this is a wise statement, if i could just stop laughing about the hen part. mannnn, lol!
hahaha... glad you enjoyed it. When I was little in Poland I was attacked by an angry hen one time when i tried to pick up one of her little baby chicks. It jumped either on me or towards me, i'm not sure. All I know is that thing was PUFFED UP like a monsterous huge hen. I love little baby chicks they're so yellow and fuzzy, kind of like Thai, except Thai's not fuzzy
he wax?
I am trying to get my bossed fired