Geri is not ‘the best!’
Dear Annie: I work with a woman who, for some reason, is absolutely desperate to hoard ALL the work, all day, every day. “Geri” answers the phone on half a ring. If something comes out of the fax, then she will run to get it before anyone else can.
If you tell her that you’re handling something, then she will pretend not to hear you and walk all over you and the work you’ve already put into the project. If she does not get her way, then she will cry and tell the boss that you are mistreating her. She has one of the brownest noses I have ever seen. At this point, I believe she’s become a human suppository to my boss. She has no idea how to share and gets very upset when you treat her the same way she treats you.
Geri has been nasty to me since Day 1. When I’ve told her I don’t appreciate the way she treats me, she tells me that I’d better get used to it.
She will, on occasion, share work that comes out of the fax with everyone else in the room except myself (but only after she’s bitten off more than she can chew). She has told me the reason I don’t like her is that she has “a work ethic.” I would beg to differ. It seems more along the lines of a personality disorder and/or extreme arrogance.
She also doesn’t believe she can ever make a mistake. If she does and you catch it, she will instantly blame someone else or say, “What’s the big deal?”
She even has made flyers saying that “Geri is the best!” and “Geri is a NICE PERSON!” I can’t wait till she passes them out!
I am at the end of my rope. Please offer me some guidance. Enough Is Enough
Dear Enough: In my years writing this column I’ve heard of all sorts of behaviour, but someone making “I’m great!” flyers — that’s a first. Clearly, Geri has some issues that didn’t begin with you, and they won’t end with you. Acknowledging that might help you find some measure of peace. That’s not to say you should put up with workplace bullying. The first step toward addressing that is talking to Geri again. Ask what you could do that might make your working relationship smoother. Let her know how her behaviour impacts you. Don’t rattle off a laundry list of all her transgressions. Focus instead on the overarching pattern of her taking on so much of the workload.
If this peace talk doesn’t bear out results, it’s time to go up the chain of command. Request to meet with human resources (and if there is no HR, then your supervisor). Go into the meeting seeking solutions, not pointing fingers. And again, leave out all the animosity you may feel toward Geri. Present only the ways in which her behaviour has concretely impacted your work.
Whatever happens, try to disengage from her antics.
Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. To find out more about Annie Lane and read features by other Creators Syndicate columnists and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at creators.com.