Monday, April 11, 2011

Best laid plans interrupted by office nightmares

I am back in one piece from my weekend away and had the best laid plans of slogging through a brutal day at work and getting home tonight to hopefully do a quick post about the trip (with some photos for a change!) before packing up and heading out on a way too early flight to SanFran tomorrow morning. Before you go getting too jealous of my jet-setting lifestyle, it is a quick trip for all work and no play. And little sleep...seriously I will be there for about 20 hours total.

But then something happened at work. Something that has shaken me. Literally, my hands are still trembling as I type this, I have actually been physically shaking from the upset and anger. I have a colleague that I have to work with from time to time because I paths intersect. She has never been nice to me and at times has gotten quite mean. My boss got involved....that angered her more and she took it out on me. I was supposed to be moved to another floor to at least get away from her, but those plans fell through.

So I have tried to make due...avoid interaction altogether save for the occasional "Good Morning" that I may be forced into in the kitchen.

But today...TODAY...she was just flat out rude, condescending and mean. No need to get into specifics about the project or anything like that. But this woman usually tries to be my boss. Which, of course, she isn't. And if we want to get super-technical, my title is higher than hers. ANYway, she was again trying to micromanage something to death. To the point that it was insulting. Previously, the director of our office had a conversation with her about this tendency of hers and that she needed to get it in check. Asking her point blank if I had ever dropped the ball on a project she had no choice to reply "No." Because I haven't. Things get in on time, no matter what sacrifices are made on my part to do so.

Didn't matter. She was off and micromanaging again -- to the point that it was getting absurd. So I kindly stopped into her office next door and clarified for her that YES it was getting done and OF COURSE I would provide her (and others) a copy of that project when it was done. To which she asked me for the THOUSANDTH time if I remembered that it was due today. I mean, does she want to go double check my outlook calendar to make sure it is there? "Yes," I said, "I am well aware and it will be submitted today. I have been dealing with a number of firedrills so far today, but will be getting to it before the end of the day."

Then she decides to just be a flat out b*tch. Starts mocking me in a fake over the top voice with painfully feigned dramatic enthusiasm "Oh wonderful. I am just SOOOOOO glad to hear that." She even f@cking clapped her hands. I am pretty sure my jaw dropped to the floor and as I turned and left could hear her grumbling some terribly unflattering things about me under her breath. Loud enough that it was clear it was for my own personal benefit.

And I came into my office, shut the door and just lost it. Racked my brain for how I could make ends meet if I just packed up, walked out the door and never came back to this place. I can deal with stressful situations and absurd deadlines. I have dealt with working late nights and sleeping with my blackberry so I can respond to messages at all hours. I have gotten used to working while on vacation and never leaving my desk or ever eating lunch. Is it awesome? no, but I can handle it for now and hope that things will either get better or I will find a new job.

But this? Being talked to like I was a worthless piece of trash? Yeah, I am not so sure this is worth a paycheck at this point.

10 comments:

  1. I would say walk. This happened to me a ton of times in TV news. The worst was in my last 2 weeks at my first station. Even though I needed the money I just up and left before my 2weeks were up.
    I don't understand why people have to be so mean and rude. Just remember.........'what goes around comes around'

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm so sorry honey...no one deserves to be treated like that. Just know that she is miserable inside and wants everyone else to be miserable too. The best revenge is to not let it get to you and smile and pray for her...sorry again..hope it gets better. Kori xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  3. Give me a name. I'll take care of it. But for the reals, see what you can save, perhaps brew some coffee, but get out of there.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'd be even angrier at my boss for not putting a stop to that ho. Seriously. She clearly sucks, but people will only go as far as they are allowed to, and obviously, your employer has let her act this way, unchecked. That is NOT cool. Have you talked to HR about it? Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  5. How old is she? Because it clearly sounds like she's 5 and needs to grow up. I would get out of there - fast. Nobody deserves to be treated like that and it's not worth the stress and ridiculousness of dealing with someone like that. If you can afford to just peace out, I say go for it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ugh, I hate coworkers like that, and am sorry that you're having to deal with one. I think HR would be a great option as well. It seems as though no one else in a management role is taking initiative to correct her actions, and things are pretty much already out in the open if anything circles back around to her. Sometimes it doesn't hurt to give karma a little push - go ahead and show off your fierce; sounds like the last thing she'd expect! Luck to you!

    ReplyDelete
  7. there is nothing worse than being unhappy at work... i feel you! i hated my last job, it sucked the life out of me - nasty coworkers and all that jazz. luckily, three years ago, i found a great new gig, and it's been fantastic ever since. i know you will too! good luck.

    ReplyDelete
  8. oh wow that is so beyond sucky. Is there an HR person you can talk to? It sounds like your boss is aware but isn't being as helpful as he/she could be. Regardless of the crazy b*tch co workers, it sounds like the job has taken over your life.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh I am sooo sorry! I had a co-worker who used to snap her fingers at me and do all sorts of belittling stuff. In the end, I had to leave. The big bosses knew of her behavior but she was there much longer and they felt some sort of strange loyalty towards her. To this day I regret not filing complaints. I for the most part just sort of grined and hoped it would improve. But she was just the office bully who totally won in the end.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am so sorry you have to deal with such a horrible person. No one should have to deal with the belittling. I have someone trying to do that to me recently the funny thing is she knows I rank as she reported to me at one point. This woman must not be happy inside and jealous of what you can handle.

    ReplyDelete