Letters to the Editor
Sandra M
Published Letters: 578 Editor's Choice: 139
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As a long-time Fortune 500 manager I can say with total assurance: the LW sounds like a bigger problem than "Olga", and it is likely *her* (and gee, how *do* I know it's a her?) job that is in danger
[Read the article: My co-worker is driving me insane!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]LW, listen - your case is weak, even with your one-sided, totally subjective and slanted presentation. To wit:
1). You say "The trouble started when I constantly overheard her personal phone conversations -- everything from real estate to personal finance to plastic surgery to travel plans -- and alerted the manager."
Gong: personal conversatoins are not against company policy. They can be annoying if they are constant and loud-- but the *content* of these conversations is irrelevant to your complaint. You seem to think that her talking about plastic surgery and travel plans somehow adds to your grievance. It does not.
2) "The manager advised me to write Olga an e-mail asking to keep the conversations to a minimum, which I did."
Gong: Always deal directly with personal issues. Email allows for misinterpretations and emotions to get out of control. And pray tell - why should she deal with YOU directly when you failed to do so?
3) She now makes a point of speaking very loudly during work-related conversations. It bugs me most because I sit next to her, and management refuses to take further action and tells me it's my problem.
Gong: Earlier you were angry b/c the conversations were non-work related. Now they are work-related but too loud (for you *more* than the other 11 cubesters). If I were management I'd be wondering: why do you have so much time to be dogigng/reporting on Olga?
4) It's not only that this woman takes advantage of every single benefit to the point of abuse.
Gong: benefits are just that - benefits. They are there to be taken advantage of. You show no moral superiority for failing to take equal advantage of these benefits. Your failure to do so is not interpreted by the company as loyalty - it's not even noticed. Use it or lose it, that's the rule. If you don't want to use it because you lack family, friends, interests, or just plain comon sense to spend time elsewhere , that is your problem-- not Olga's, not the managements. Of the two of you, Olga certainly seems to be more balanced than you. And is probably a lot more cheerful to be around at work. Remember, no one likes a sour puss.
5) Our work schedules are flexible so managers are not necessarily keeping track of hours on a daily basis.
Gong: The managers aren't keeping track - but YOU are? Is this a self-appointed duty? Are you keeping track of everyone's hours as assiduously as you are keeping track of Olga's?
6) Olga knows this so she comes in late almost every day and leaves early. She takes lunch breaks of over two hours when the allotted time is half an hour and most people don't even take that. She frequently goes shopping on work time and comes back loaded with shopping bags.
Gong: hyperbole will not strengthen your case
7) She is well off and frequently reminds people she "doesn't need this job."
Gong; so what
8) She gets more vacation days than anyone else, she takes sick days just as frequently (we have unlimited sick time -- you call in when you're sick).
Gong: you said she 'gets' (rather than 'takes) more vacation, which implies her seniority entitles her to what she is taking. So what? As for sick time - it's unlimited. Who cares how much she takes.
9) Her work is horrendous and full of errors but we have many proofreaders so she leaves it to them...she rarely makes corrections unless they are not absolutely crucial.
Gong: this sounds like an efficient use of Olga's time.
10) I have complained to the assistant manager, the manager, and the human resources representative. The only thing they say is that they are "aware" of the situation and I should just ignore it.
Gong: You are obviously not taking their advice. Why not? You already have your answer - you've complained, they've done nothing. That means that they, the ones in charge, the ones with the power to make changes, see no problem. Time to move on.
11) The management will not let me change my seat, saying, "We're not going to go around changing seats just for this," and now I get the feeling they are sick of me complaining.
Gong: Changing seats for ephemeral reasons (and to management, that's waht these are) is unnecessarily disruptive. How would this change be reasonably positoined to the other 11 cubesters: "LW doesn't want to sit next to Olga anymore, so Employee 9, please switch with her." It can't be done.
12) What bothers me the most is my end of it -- that I can't just ignore it, and that I'm thinking about it too much. It just seems so unfair, which is, I am aware, life.
This is the only thing you've said that makes sense - because it's the only thing you can control. Yes, it is unfair - but only in your perception. Not necessarily anyone else's. Time to realize this and *make a decision* to get over it. Here are two t hings you can do:
a) You have 11 other cube makes: for the next 11 weeks, pick ONE non-Olga cube mate to focus on - help him/her with assignments, have lunch with him/her, chat with him/her, share music, movie and office gossip. The way to stop focusing on Olga is to start focusing on someone else.
b) make Olga your friend. Stop talking about her. Stop the internal rant. Make a point of saying good morning and asking her what she's doing for the weekend, or how her weekend was. Invite her to lunch. Ask her to look at something you did for input/correction. Thank her. Make little bonding comments - "I see you went to Barnes and Noble and lunch - did you notice if they have the new Caitlin Flanagan book on display? I've been meaning to get that." She's not the devil - she's just a person, like you. The only way to make her less looming and important is to make her just another Joe Blow at the office. Which she is.
Trapped!