Despite the stereotypes disputed below, most corporate mgrs. are indeed money-grubbin', Republican-votin', less-than-useless fucks! In fact, the term "manager" isn't even appropriate...a REAL manager would have nipped this in the bud months ago by documenting such egregious office behavior.

Documentation is critical, so you should think about keeping the pressure up so that HR and others concerned will start taking notes abouy this situation...even in unionized states, or states where there is no "at-will" termination protection (like here in TX), so long as you document and write-up the employee, they can be fired without any legal concerns. You might even ask if they are documenting this stuff, because the one thing that scares HR and an employer more than a problem employee is a group of employees bitchin' about the same problem employee...over time, they will figure out a way to get them out of the company.

I wonder if the LW knows whether or not this person is someone related to someone higher up in the company...if so, then that fact TRUMPS everything else...corp. executives (and their lackey-offspring) will let their company collapse like Enron before they back down...in that case, you have no choice but to quit and move on. There are rare cases where nepotism actually works (I'm at a company like that, the company owner is probably harder on family than the rest of us...imagine that!). But with big Fortune 500 companies, nepotism = corruption = get another job for you.

That's all of the advice I can give on this...there are probably 100's of people that would KILL to have this lady's job, so odds are she will be gone...you just have either fight the situation 1 day at time or bug-out and find a new job. If you do leave, make it absolutely clear why you are leaving (better pay, better opportunity, SUPPORTIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT, etc.). Go ahead, point the figure at her...so long as you don't specifically call mgmt. to the mat, your constructive criticism will be welcome.

I, too, work for a Fortune 500 company and have been here for more than seven years despite one particularly unpleasant Olga. Inevitably, when Olga would slack off on her job, management expected me to pick up her slack, all the while giving her credit for my work. When I made it clear to management that I would no longer cover for her, I became "the problem" in their eyes and was officially reprimanded.

Fortunately in my case, I was surrounded by other coworkers who felt the same way I did. Within less than a year, three of us left that staff (I transferred, while the other two quit outright). That led to Olga being denied a significant promotion that she and her well-placed management pals had bragged that she was about to get--corporate had finally decided to respond to the dozens of complaints about Olga, apparently. And I can tell you, I have seldom felt as much satisfaction as I did the day Olga got the news, and I found her sobbing in the ladies' room.

Yes, I definitely now have a reputation in the company as a troublemaker, which has made corporate life difficult for me in many ways. But I had the truth on my side, and lots of people backing me up through official channels. It was ugly, but ultimately, speaking up was worth it (at least for me).

The hard lesson to learn: management will tell you over and over again that they want to hear about your concerns, but they don't really mean it. Once you've presented your initial grievance, watch to see how they respond. If they don't respond well, your best option is to find another job.

Best of luck.

thanks tom, for contributing so much to the conversation. i hope your attitudes continue to help you "get by".

yes, I'm kidding, merely poking the internet wolverine. It has not bearing on what was only one of several professions. I will not venture a guess of what the "c" stands for. what's most interesting is the vitriol with which you respond to something not even directed to you, and in a setting where people role play and bluster constantly. here's hoping your midol supply is bottomless, and that you wobble toward the other pole of what passes for a personality. Sic transit gloria munde morning is nigh.

"My, what rare insight, what incisive wit, what broad-brush bullshit. Let's all play the stereotype game: managers are all republikan micromanaging thugs, rank and file employees are all malingering fuckups looking for a comp case to file, and shop stewards are bloodsucking tics. Which are you, Rob? Or are you a captain of industry, a self-made man, or floor monitor in your dorm? Here's an old-school human resources dildogram for you, Sir Anderson. Stick it in your personnel file. It's directly between your flabby buttcheeks. Have a lovely Easter.

-- tom payne"

GOOD GOD! Tell us ALL who the hell you work for so we can AVOID that company! What a nasty, soul-sucking ass you are -and in HUMAN RESOURCES????? Are you kidding me????!!!! Is this indicative of how you treat your fellow coworkers???? I bet you're just SO well-loved at your job. They're all probably waiting for the day YOU retire to throw one of the biggest parties ever for your company. Do them all a favor, please - quit now and save present and future employees of your hapless company from ever having to deal with such a malevolent person in charge of hiring and firing and promotions. And then get help, because you obviously have hated your job for 22 years - and people, too.

After reading these letters about awful work situations, I can see why people can't wait to kiss the workplace good-bye. Even if one has no desire to go to Florida, golf or do any of the other stereotypical retirement activities, the thought of leaving an Olga behind is priceless. This explains why I brought up the possibility of Olga being near retirement age in my last letter.

It will be at least 10 years before I can retire, but this is a subject I hear about non-stop at work every day. I work with one other lady in a small office, and am grateful that she is the polar opposite of Olga. However, my co-worker does talk about retirement way more than she should at this time. It will be 4 more years before she is even eligible. All she talks about is how grateful her husband was to have retired at least 5 years before his friends, and how rough they had it when he was working. It's great to look ahead to the future, but I think that we all have to do the best we can where we are at in our lives right now.

All this griping about the workplace makes me wish that I had started my own business when I was younger. I suppose I could start one right now, but it would be really tough, and I'm not sure that I want to make that sacrifice. However, I may change my tune about work before long. Last week, I found out that we are getting a new boss, starting tomorrow. I know absolutely nothing about the new guy, and I'm concerned. Hopefully, I'll like him and find out that I worried for nothing.