HR People, I need advice

[Little Angel '77]

I didn't want to turn the thread into a complaints department but I need help!!!

I love my job, but my co workers are driving me bananas... and just not their presense, their work ethic.

I suddenly have to do all this work for someone of the same level as me becuase she is to "busy" to do it. Honestly, its because she is completely ineffiecient at what she does, I can do her work in half the time.

Last week, she gave me something to do, and then checked back every half hour to find out "is it done yet"....

She is micormanaging me. The problem is, she is the same level as me, and my manager is to busy climbing the ladder to notice how she treats me.

On Friday... I was about to leave and I had to do a task. I had to photocopy these documents, and give them to this women.

I stand there making 5 copies, and this women WATCHES me do it. I hand them to her, and she says "ohhh, ya, normally Ibut them on three hole punch paper and staple them? WTF!!!! You watched me do it!!!

Ok, so I give the document back to the project manager, and tell her about the photocopying story.....

she says "you know what, you guys really need to work this out together..." I wasn't complaining, I just find it EXTREMELY ammusing that this women likes to watch me scramble for her....its like she is on this big power trip.

The only time she walks in my cube, is to say "I need this by" " I have to have this soon.... This is due by...

She demands things of me. My manager just thinks I am complianining, but I am not. I can't work like that, having someone check up on me every 4 minutes, none the less someone who is not even a manager.

She will put a pile of papers on my desk, and then come back and hour later asking if they are done, or telling me "this is so important."


OH, the other thing is, she told me that this cd needed to be uploaded by FRiday of last week, I was having issues uploading it, and told he, I can't get it to upload and I know you needed it today. She says "oh.. well its not that big a deal... its "really" not do for another week....

WTF!???!!!!! I spent the entire day neglecting all my other work to do HER work, and her work isn't even due for another week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a meeting with my manager today, and I need some things to go in to say. I can't just go complain and I am TERRIBLE at getting my point across. I never know the "right thing" to say...

Did I mention my manager of this huge company is 25 years old, and has NEVER managered before?! What do I do?!!! help!!! I can't work like this, and this women is making me HATE coming in here everyday. They are going to lose me.

[thedoorchick]

Let me get this straight. This person is at your same level, you don't report to her, and yet she is assigning you work and acting as your manager?

I would simply say, when she tries to tell you to do something, "sorry, I don't have the time to attend to that right now. I am swamped with my own work." If you really want to appear helpful you might offer to help her out later on when you are caught up, but that could backfire as well and it might be better to nip it in the bud.

If she thinks she is too busy/too overworked to do these things herself, she needs to take it up with her boss, not a co-worker.

Asking for help in a jam is one thing and we've all done it, but "taking charge" is another matter altogether.

I have to say, if she is watching you copy documents, she is not too busy to do it herself!

[dionysia]

If her behavior bugs you, talk to your manager.

Di

[boilermaker]

I agree that you need to talk with your manager, but I also think some of your problems could be fixed by laying down some ground rules. I'd come up with the rules, then get your manager's approval on them.

This is assuming that you will need to continue to work on projects with/for her.

Some examples:
Each task should be given with a specific time/date deadline (ie Wed at 2:00)
If the deadline changes, you will be notified ASAP and you can reevaluate whether you can finish in that timeframe or not.
You have final say as to whether it will fit into your schedule or not
Tasks will be limited to....(I don't know enough about your job, but I'm guessing that you don't need to be doing her photocopying)

I'd actually put the reasonable list into writing and then, get your manager's approval seperately, then have a quick 5 min meeting with her & the manager to show that he agrees with you. This will show that you are willing to make the situation work and that you are taking the initiative to make it run smoothly. Much better than complaining.

Finally, if you are going to be taking on her work on a regular basis, you need to have your manager recognize it and simply make it part of your job vs part of her job. That would remove her from a micromanaging role and give you recognition for what you are actually doing. Also, it may highlight the fact that she isn't doing as much as what that position calls for.

[Little Angel '77]

Oh my gosh, these are some great ideas. I sometimes wonder where the "line" is between what your "allowed" to say/do and what you are "not" allowed to say and do at work.

The problem is- honestly, my manager has never managed before and she is young and plays into the drama of it, and doesn't see whats going on. its very frustrating. I am trying to find a new job asap! The only thing is, someone pointed out to me, all jobs are the same, just a different shade and variation of the job before...........

I can't wait to go full time with my photography. Freaking 9-5 sucks!
I am going to take some of these suggestions into play.

Thanks guys!

[Annette]

Unless your manager told you that you had to do work for your coworker, next time your coworker asks you to do something, tell her no. It seems to me like since you said yes to her a couple of times, she's now walking all over you. Plus you wouldn't want to get in trouble for not getting your own work done.

[Little Angel '77]

well, see, this co worker is "so busy" that they reallocated the work to me, and now she thinks I am her personal assistant, and she comes to me for everything, but my manager doesn't get it, and thinks I am just complaining. I am NOT her assistant. I have a job of my own, and only ended up having to help her because she is inefficient!