Gotta vent

[#1]

Thanks to one of my new co-managers who's a go-by-the-book type, I have to work in two areas of the store I work at instead of being able to work in the Accounting Office all the time as of last week. I chose to work in the backroom. I don't mind this at all. Makes my work week less monotonous plus since I'm new to working in the backroom, it's having me learn something new, which I love.

The problem is with one of the women I work in the backroom with. I can tell she doesn't like working with me. I start to help with one of the first tasks everyone is suppose to do, which is bin audits (basically inventorying what is in one particular bin). After about a minute she orders me to do picks (taking items from the bins that need to go on the store shelves, which sometimes requires heavy lifting). I have no problems doing picks since I've found it to be a good workout (and my jeans have been fitting better). I just hate that she barks orders at me like that (and no, she's not over the backroom). She treats me like I'm an idiot if I ask her a question.

Things really peaked today. Me and her were the only ones in the backroom today. She did bin audits while I did picks (voluntarily). Whenever a department manager would ask something having to do with finalizing something, she'd tell them that she was in the backroom by herself today. Even saying it right in front of me! I put on a calm face but did my best to avoid her the rest of my shift. I was so ticked.

I have no problems with the other two I work in the backroom with. One I even enjoy working with and she appreciates that I'm working with her.

I know this is long-winded but I had to tell someone or I would burst. Thanks for reading my rant.

[#2]

Hey shyvicki - just wondered how you're doing...Hope all is going well, Hang in there and feel free to vent anytime.

[#3]

On vacation this week so not having to worry about it. The last few times i worked with her I just did my best to stay out of her way.

[#4]

Sorry to her you're going thru that. I know from personal experience, that this is tough. I mean, think about it...to turn your cheek and avoid someone for about 8-10 hours a day?! TOUGH, i know!!

I call these people, "MY SANDPAPER" people...they just rub you the wrong way, at least that's how it feels at that present time, but really, if you can learn to let all of that roll off your back, like a lil duck, you'll realize they're actually rubbing you the RIGHT way. They are helping to form your character. That's the purpose of these difficult people, in our lives. How can we learn who we TRULY are, with nothing but friendly and pleasant people working around us all the time. I truly believe if you can conquer this, you will learn, and GROW from it, making it easier every time. Before you know it, even when you find yourself in a room full of OBNOXIOUS, you won't even know it's there. If you think talking with her is best, don't do it, at the end of the way, when she's probably pushed all of your buttons, cuz then you're really just gonna SNAP! LOL...Do it, at the beginning of the day, or ask her out to lunch, disussing something over food, is usually pretty chill. Be true about what u feel, and if doesn't get thru to her then just....Be like the moon. The wolves from all over, howl at it, but it remains still, and bright.

Strength and Honor,

VW888

[#5]

Hi shyvicki - aarrrggghhh!! That stinks. If she's older than you are, even if she's not your supervisor, she may have issues with that. I think you need to try to find a calm-ish moment and say something like "I feel like there's a little tension between us, did I do something wrong or do/say something to upset you? Because if I did,  I totally did not mean to. Maybe it's just one of those weird things that you don't even realize you've done something...maybe that's what happened here. It would be helpful to me if you let me know what it was so I can avoid doing it again. I just really want  this to be a great environment. blah, blah, blah.."

I think you get the point. It's sort of like when you break up with someone and say "No, it's not you, it's me"

I think we all know what THAT really means

If she doesn't respond well to that then she is a witch and you have a real problem. Does she treat the other people in your dept like this? Have others had problems with her in the past? It would be great to get input from co-workers but I don't think you can take the chance - if anything gets back to her or gets spread around the office, it won't look good for you. Is there anyone that you are very, very close with and trust completely? If so, maybe you can discuss it with that person, you have to be so sure though.

I'm sorry you have to deal with this, I hope you'll come back and let us know how things work out. Hang in there.

[#6]

I agree with Katie1724, you may want to take a stand before your coworker has it drilled into her head that she is somehow now the boss.  Some people are power hungry, even if they think they are not, and believe they somehow "own" the area they are in. 

I hope you find a way to work things out!

[#7]

shyvicki - Is that co-worker at a higher position than you, or are you the same level/same job title?  I was wondering, because you mentioned that she likes to order you to do certain tasks.  If you are supposed to be doing the same duties, was that her "territory" before you came along to help out?

If all of you in the backroom are supposed to do the same tasks and you are a team of equals, then it may help to speak with her privately about the situation.  You don't want to reach a boiling point, where her negative behavior starts to affect the quality of your work.  Just be honest and upfront with her.  Tell her that you enjoy having the opportunity to learn new tasks and that you are happy to lend a hand, but that it seems like she resents your presence. 

I'm just going out on a limb here, but was she like the Queen Bee of the backroom or something like that?  Do you think she feels threatened by the fact that you're being given the chance to learn other tasks?  Or does she also handle multiple tasks like you?

At least, it's nice to know that your other co-workers are fine to work with.  Continue to nurture those positive relationships.  It's not like you have to be best friends with your co-workers, but you shouldn't have to be subjected to hostility or to be belittled.  Work can be stressful enough on its own.  Good luck!

[#8]

@ myshadowinvain, Same level and same job title.

Since I started working in the backroom she's mainly been doing the bin audits, which is the easier job of the two. All that needs to be done to do that task is use a handheld scanner and scan the bin label and the UPC labels in that bin, sometimes counting to make sure of how many of a particular item there is. Like I said before, picks are more physically demanding.

[#9]

There have been people that I don't like at every almost every job I have had -- sometimes it's just a difference of personalities and work ethic, but some people are just truly unpleasant to work with. If this person is not in charge of you (?), it may be best to stand up for yourself now, because people like that tend to continue to order around who they feel they can, or try to intimidate. If she is lying to your managers about work that involves you (which seemed to be the case), it might be time to say something the next time it happens.

I'm not always confrontational, but you can ask her about it in a nice way. I agree with Diana's suggestion -- maybe the next time this happens, you can wait until you have a moment alone -- or ask her if you can speak privately. You can say, nicely, something along the lines of "I am kind of getting the impression that I did something to offend you, because I notice ___ or ____ (give examples) and I'm not sure why this happened -- could you help me understand?" etc. etc. Tell her that you are "happy to discuss ways we can communicate better." This way, if you really have done something to irritate her (whether it's justified or not), she has the oppotunity to tell you -- and if she is just being rude and ordering you around for no reason, you are subtly calling her out and letting her know that her behavior has not gone unnoticed.

I don't blame you for being annoyed -- if she is lying to your managers about your work (directly or indirectly), it's not fair to you, particularly if your they have no reason to believe otherwise (meaning no one wants to say anything about her). If she IS your supervisor, that makes things a bit more tricky, but not impossible.

[#10]

She's definitely not my supervisor. We have a zone manager who's directly over the backroom as well as an assistant manager who's our supervisor and the one who gives work evaluations and whatnot. I get along with both managers and have no problem talking to either of them if I need to.

I just feel like she thinks I'm "invading her territory" or something like that. I don't know if she's saying anything about me to any managers. Even if she was, it wouldn't be the first time someone has done that to me (one of the women I work in the office with, who tends to be a frienemy, did that a few times with our last supervisor. I went to a co-manager about that).

[#11]

Aw, sorry to hear that shyvicki!

It can be hard to work with people you may not get along with, I've had that instance before but thankfully not now! Have you tried offering your assistance to her just so she knows you are not trying to take over and make her do everything but maybe make her genuinely feel that you'd like to help HER out? If it truly bothers you you may even want to bring it up to her and ask her if you have done anything wrong just so you may have a vague idea of what's bugging her! I'm sorry about that and really hope you get that worked out soon! Problems like that can be hard to work with and distracting but I hope everything works out for you!