Irritating Co-Workers
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I have been in my job for nearly 5 years now and have got on well with management. I’m happy plodding along and not interested in any promotions etc. It’s just an ordinary minimum wage job. Recently there has been lack of staff through vacancies and sickness so I’m covering a bit more than usual. I am contracted one morning a week and every thing else is casual basis. Another contracted worker is off sick. I have been working with another casual one. Most of the time we get on through the shift but I’ve noticed every time I try to help or just do my job they are telling me to not do that and do something else or I’m not doing it properly to their standards or I ‘should know’ something I asked them about in order to help. I’ve not had management in all my 5 years tell me I’m not doing things properly and if they did they would help me put it right. This person is really getting on my nerves. I don’t love the job and may change later in the year but don’t know why someone would want to push me out. They are absolutely equal status so I just don’t understand it. What do you think and have you experienced similar? My immediate manager is sick at the moment too so can’t even mention it at the moment. How should I deal with this? Thank you.h
If there's a house rule book check in there for guidance and then you'll have a point of reference for later as well. Hold fort until your house manager returns and then discuss matters in confidence . If you are planning on leaving you may just sit it out and not allow it to upset you.In short you can choose to Act or React. Personally I would speak firstly and always kindly to my colleague and let him/her know that I was feeling a little aggrieved and undermined by their recent behaviours towards me and that I would rather sort it out with them personally than refer to a higher party.Hope all goes well whatever you decide.Life's too short to hold grudges.
MelissaLee1 Yes thank you. I don’t really want it to escalate and going to my manager will be last resort. I have definitely noticed it though, there is a pattern here. I don’t think telling my colleague will change anything though. I’d rather sit it out but it’s in the meantime it’s going to be really awkward while I still have to work on shift with them. Thank you for listening/commenting.
JLouM Makes life unpleasant I know.I've endured similar in the past.I used to just work to rule with that person and treat them as nicely as my mood would afford on that day.Kindness and endurance always win out in the end but don't ever let them treat you disrespectfully.We never know what other people are enduring in their home life either.It's not an excuse for bad behaviour but it makes better sense of it at times.
Try your best to ignore your new colleague. Hopefully your boss will return to work soon and put that person back on their old job.
Seems to me this person wants you to dance to their tune & why should you..In your 5 years your Manager has NEVER pulled you up about your work yet this "Casual " colleague is pulling you up!!
Ignore them & continue as you are is my advice!
Where I work everything ran smoothly between my two colleagues/ friends & I then we got another colleague come & work with us who was quite picky..
My Assistant Manager rang me once & he picked up something wasn't right with my tone,he's very supportive so I told him this new colleague made me feel inadequate, he asked why & I told him,he told me that I could speak to him any time in confidence if I needed to..
A few days later my Assistant Manager called me back having spoken to the other people in my team about their experiences with that colleague & he told me he had every confidence in me & my ability to support my service users..
Over time I have got more confident with the new colleague & will tell her if I feel I need to.
Probably because you've been there longer and they are uncomfortable with the fact you can do the job well. Some people feel uncomfortable with these just happy to plod along. I've had this where I've been bullied by someone intimidated by the fact I could do my job with my eyes closed and not fussed about a promotion even though i could do their job as well
Jerseydrew Yes it’s exactly like this I think just can’t put my finger on why as I’m no threat.
If you don't want to escalate now, record every incident so that when you do decide to, you have a specific set of examples to give as well as the dates/times.
Know exactly the type of colleague you’re talking about and it does get annoying. In my experience they are usually pretty young or people trying to get a promotion.
I usually just be polite but also do things my own way if i know the job. When they realise you’re not really listening to their advice they usually stop doing it.
Unfortunately some people just like to think they know better than others and are more important than others. Doesn't make for an easy working relationship thou, all you can really do is do you best to ignore them, but it's not easy .
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