Work situation (co-worker trashing me) (1 Viewer)

[Sammy3469]

One simple thing is to eat your lunch at your desk.   

 

[Punxsutawney Phil]

Is she gunning for your position?  How many women in senior roles at your company / office?  It sounds like she may be setting up a lawsuits, and has already made several former complaints.  

 

[TLEF316]

One simple thing is to eat your lunch at your desk.   

I hate doing this, but yeah it's gonna have to start happening

 

[TLEF316]

Is she gunning for your position?  How many women in senior roles at your company / office?  It sounds like she may be setting up a lawsuits, and has already made several former complaints.  

Nope we have the same title

 

[Epic Problem]

Nope we have the same title

You're a ##### too? 

 

[Epic Problem]

oh! sorry, you meant job title. carry on 

 

[Scoresman]

One simple thing is to eat your lunch at your desk.   

I do this too and nobody notices this because they all go out to lunch.  

 

[Punxsutawney Phil]

-Maybe modify your schedule to have a "work from home day" and then go into work per usual.  Then it makes it look like you are going above and beyond.

-leave early on Wednesday's, as she won't be there to snitch, unless she is seeing you on Skype or something.

-Don't ever cover for her or help her out again

-strengthen relationships with allies in the office that provided you the Intel.

-if you guys have the same title maybe she is trying to elevate herself above you incase there is opportunity to move up when the bosses boss leaves

 

[comfortably numb]

My advice will not be popular on this one but i would still help her and offer to help her.

It helps the organization and is the right thing to do as a person....again, not popular but as someone who is responsible for a crap load of people i notice the ones that still help the Valeries even when Valerie doesnt deserve it. That is something i don't forget.

 

[Worm]

FWIW, I've been Valerie in this situation, probably 10+ years ago in my first job. Not exactly. I never complained to my boss about the person. But I've been the person watching someone at my level leave for long lunches, come in after me and leave before me, etc. It's annoying. Really annoying. And I know that you say you get all your work done, and can handle more. I get efficiency (now more than I did when I was younger) and the value of it.

However, when *I* am the person that has to handle the 6 pm client emergencies that my boss has because that ####### (as younger me would grumble) already clocked out on their 7 hour day, it pissed me off.

As real as your efficiency and willing to take on more work are, there is still something to the availability of a full 8+ hour day at the office.

Now, I don't think you're an #######, and I wouldn't be a ##### like Valerie, but it's just another perspective to think about.

 

[JuniorGong]

I switched divisions in my company a little over 4 years and went from their being an expectation that I kept regular hours (mostly because I had direct reports in the same office) when I wasn't traveling. All my direct reports now are scattered across the country and I go into our office whenever I feel like it and leave whenever I feel like it. I do work from home a lot and still travel a good amount but the amount of freedom I have to do my work when I want is extensive. This morning, I got up and started working at 6am. Took a break to cook breakfast for my kids, went back to work and leaving shortly to play 9 holes of golf. I will work again this afternoon. I'm in sales and as long as I hit my #'s nobody is keeping track of what I'm doing or where I'm at ever. At this point, I don't think I could go back to a role where I was expected to be in an office for a set amount of time.

 

[In The Zone]

Maybe one day she'll just blow away.

Or melt 

 

[jwb]

FWIW, I've been Valerie in this situation, probably 10+ years ago in my first job. Not exactly. I never complained to my boss about the person. But I've been the person watching someone at my level leave for long lunches, come in after me and leave before me, etc. It's annoying. Really annoying. And I know that you say you get all your work done, and can handle more. I get efficiency (now more than I did when I was younger) and the value of it.

However, when *I* am the person that has to handle the 6 pm client emergencies that my boss has because that ####### (as younger me would grumble) already clocked out on their 7 hour day, it pissed me off.

As real as your efficiency and willing to take on more work are, there is still something to the availability of a full 8+ hour day at the office.

Now, I don't think you're an #######, and I wouldn't be a ##### like Valerie, but it's just another perspective to think about.

I switched divisions in my company a little over 4 years and went from their being an expectation that I kept regular hours (mostly because I had direct reports in the same office) when I wasn't traveling. All my direct reports now are scattered across the country and I go into our office whenever I feel like it and leave whenever I feel like it. I do work from home a lot and still travel a good amount but the amount of freedom I have to do my work when I want is extensive. This morning, I got up and started working at 6am. Took a break to cook breakfast for my kids, went back to work and leaving shortly to play 9 holes of golf. I will work again this afternoon. I'm in sales and as long as I hit my #'s nobody is keeping track of what I'm doing or where I'm at ever. At this point, I don't think I could go back to a role where I was expected to be in an office for a set amount of time.

These two right here.

If you have an office job and are visible (need to be onsite most of the time), you can't be seen as "slacking". Even if your work is done, and even if you are a superstar, when you are there fewer hours than "the norm", it gets noticed, and, fair or not, it will annoy most people. Don Draper would not last in today's office environment. 

That stated, if you are in sales, or otherwise not really interacting with direct reports / peers face to face, sure, come and go as you please. 

 

[Thomas The Skank Engine]

you could be a totally normal and great guy (and i can't recall anything to the contrary )

*cough*dukefan*cough*

 

[Nick Vermeil]

I hate the American office space. I’ve had a Valerie at both of my last jobs and at my current. Every time they come to my office I want to jump out my window because I know they are just going to whine. 

Just sit at your desk through lunch and watch Twitch and tweak your PUBG character.  

 

[encaitar]

You say it's not a big deal and that your boss loves you, but you've now been formally written up.  That email is on record forever.  Even though it's a ##### move, you now need to inundate your boss and your boss's boss with emails asking for more work.  Let their be no doubt(on record) that you can do the job everyone else takes 45 hours a week to do in 35 and that you're more than capable of doing more than your compatriots in the same amount of time.  

Once a complaint is on record it's no longer "not a big deal".  You need to get ahead of this.  

 

[(HULK)]

Devil's Advocate.  If you are taking 1 hour lunches you should he working 8-5 or 9-6 etc

I have 18 direct reports and I have zero cares about the hours my employees spend in the office.  It is 100% about completing their tasks.  I get that I'm not every boss, but for the life of me I can't understand why I would care about anything else.

 

[Pipes]

Number one, I hope you're looking for a new gig.  Good pay can only offset an unfullfillng job for so long.  If possible, work should be something that's challenging and makes you feel successful or it will become a huge mental drain on you.

Secondly, you're typically putting in 8 hours with a 7 hour lunch?  Of course people who work regular hours are going to talk about you.  Nobody likes a "slacker", particularly one who gets paid more than they do.

The solution is simple, come in a 1/2 hour earlier, stay a 1/2 later, cut down on the lunch break, but whatever you do, find a new job.   

Why were he is going to find another gig like this getting paid well for a 35 hour work week though I get the unfulfilling part? I suppose that would get old after a while.

Really this is on Valerie's supervisor.  He/She needs to nip it in the bud.  Expectations for each position need to be set and commuted by the manager and since Valerie has a different job there are different expectations.  Some positions, no matter the company, require a 40 hour work week minimum so don't.   It's just the nature of the beast.  Expecting people who don't do the same job to work the same number of hours is ludicrous.   If you were doing the exact same job Valerie would have a gripe but since you don't she needs to mind her own business and her supervisor needs to tell her that.

 

[(HULK)]

If Valerie came to me with something like that I'd tell her to stay in her lane.  If she came a second time I'd suggest she become more efficient with her work and let her know I don't care about people's hours in the office, I only care about their performance.  I would add that I also care about how employees treat each other and I consider this a negative mark on her ability to be a part of the team and follow that up in writing and CC HR.  If she came to me a third time I'd fire her.

 

[Thomas The Skank Engine]

Why were he is going to find another gig like this getting paid well for a 35 hour work week?

Really this is on Valerie's supervisor.  He/She needs to nip it in the bud.  Expections for each position need to be set and commuted by the manager and since Valerie has a different job there are different expectations.  Some positions, no matter the company, require a 40 hour work week.  Some positions require 50 or 60 it's just the nature of the beast.  If you were doing the exact same job Valerie would have a gripe but since you don't she needs to mind her own business and her supervisor needs to tell her that.

has it been established that OP's boss is Valerie's boss?  If so he needs to put the kibosh on her going over his head.

 

[Phil Elliott]

Have you thought about bringing some brownies to work?

 

[Gally]

I have 18 direct reports and I have zero cares about the hours my employees spend in the office.  It is 100% about completing their tasks.  I get that I'm not every boss, but for the life of me I can't understand why I would care about anything else.

If Valerie came to me with something like that I'd tell her to stay in her lane.  If she came a second time I'd suggest she become more efficient with her work and let her know I don't care about people's hours in the office, I only care about their performance.  I would add that I also care about how employees treat each other and I consider this a negative mark on her ability to be a part of the team and follow that up in writing and CC HR.  If she came to me a third time I'd fire her.

Mr Hulk has it right as a boss.  This is the same way I treat my employees.  I make it clear I don't care what hours they work (assuming they aren't customer facing and need to be available for specific times) as long as they get their work done.  I expect my salaried employees to be available and get their work done as the job requires.  Some weeks that may mean 55 hours other weeks in might mean 25 hours.  The bottom line is that as long as the work gets done and the employee is doing their job and are happy then my job as a manager is going to go well. 

I have also had to explain to some hourly folks that by law there are different rules they have to follow and that the nature of their job may not afford the freedom of flexible hours but that is what is expected for that position.  As long as communication is clear and expectations are conveyed then things should go well. 

The other key is hiring good people that won't be the "Valeries" of the world. 

 

[Kanil]

I hear ya on this line of thinking. But its not like I'm walking out at 4:30, walking around socializing all day, etc.   And its not like its 9-5 like clockwork every single day. Most days I'm in somewhere around 8:45 with the occasional 8:30 arrival. I spend tons of time working with/training/answering questions for the assistants and they've re-arranged the assignments so that I'm working with all the newer ones (because my experience and attitude can help them ramp up without as much pressure). I sit on on late night/early morning conference calls (I work with Asia a decent amount) on a fairly regular basis and any time my boss is hung up on something or overwhelmed, I'm the one he calls in to help. I had my full territory 2 weeks after I started. The 2 people who started after me had to train for 6 months (and still have like 1/2 my workload even though we have the same "senior" title)

While my hours might be close to the minimum, my contribution is above and beyond. I guess I just dont quite understand why that is getting sort of ignored just to placate some whiner who cant hold up her end.  I wont get into the details, but part of why she's busy is because she specifically requested a specific territory that comes with some additional challenges. That territory could easily be split among multiple people (it is made up of 3 separate offices) but she either wanted to be the star (failing) or just wanted to avoid the different types of issues (essentially, dealing with people that dont know what they're doing) that comes with my territory.

This is the conversation I'd have with the big boss.

 

[TLEF316]

Why were he is going to find another gig like this getting paid well for a 35 hour work week though I get the unfulfilling part? I suppose that would get old after a while.

Really this is on Valerie's supervisor.  He/She needs to nip it in the bud.  Expectations for each position need to be set and commuted by the manager and since Valerie has a different job there are different expectations.  Some positions, no matter the company, require a 40 hour work week minimum so don't.   It's just the nature of the beast.  Expecting people who don't do the same job to work the same number of hours is ludicrous.   If you were doing the exact same job Valerie would have a gripe but since you don't she needs to mind her own business and her supervisor needs to tell her that.

We do the same job. (and have the same direct boss. She went over his head to HIS boss) I just do it much more efficiently while also being far more helpful to my colleagues.

This was ALWAYS going to be a short term gig. I took it get my foot back in the door at the company and get out of my previous situation. Had I waited like an extra month, I could have had my old gig back (the guy that replaced me gave his notice the day I accepted this job) but it is what it is.

While I'm not SUPER ambitious, having a boring job that I can coast through is not my goal. For a while, it has been a nice mental break (considering how miserable I was at the other company. Not workload or hours related. Their processes were just awful) but I'm definitely bored.  I miss the "fun" times when you write a new account that you've been chasing for a while. None of that here. Doing a good job here (helping the producing office close a deal) just means more work for you (with no benefit other than maybe a thank you)

 

[Mr. Ected]

I'm not sure if this was suggested, (didn't read every word of every post) but what about keeping a log for your time? If you want to get petty, log projects, especially those where you assist other workers. You don't have to go down to the minute, but doing 1/4 hours or so would be easy. That way if it comes up again, you can show if you are doing the proper amount of time, and you are finishing your projects and providing extra time to others.

Just keep a spreadsheet open and you can make a note when you switch projects. I've had to do this in the past for jobs where the hours were paid for via projects (construction and not-for-profit). My wife does this also.

 

[Galileo]

I think putting in a little extra time at the office would be wise.  Use the time to organize a "Who's Hottest" pole with Valerie, your boss' boss, and a few of the gals down in HR.  Post it on the company website or maybe just something informal over by the water cooler.  Think of the praise you will receive for lifting office morale! 

 

[Kanil]

I think putting in a little extra time at the office would be wise.  Use the time to organize a "Who's Hottest" pole with Valerie, your boss' boss, and a few of the gals down in HR.  Post it on the company website or maybe just something informal over by the water cooler.  Think of the praise you will receive for lifting office morale! 

"Who's Hottest" is not kosher anymore but if you came up with some sort of "OFFice Dependability, Efficiency, and Effectiveness" scale to rate them by, it may serve the same purpose.

 

[Rirruto]

I would use the extra time to implement a series of elaborate pranks and then post about them in the FFA. 

 

[RUSF18]

I would use the extra time to implement a series of elaborate pranks and then post about them in the FFA. 

What's Valerie's salt intake like?

 

[Johnny Rock]

Yes, your bosses are handling this poorly. Should’ve nipped this in the bud as has been said.

We know insurance companies are bureaucratic but the arbitrary rules like you must wait 18 months at your current position before applying for your old job again is so stupid. Let the stars rise! 

 

[dhockster]

Well, part of the solution is clearly to play the game a bit through a combo of showing up earlier, staying a little later at times and cutting down on the lunch. I understand that that's a requirement at this point.

I guess this post was more about what else I should do about it. Should I go directly to the boss' boss (assuming my boss doesn't give me the feedback I'm looking for after he talks to her) how I should deal with the co-worker, etc.

At the end of the day, the longer hours is really just an inconvenience. Someone trash talking me on the floor and to my boss' boss is really my concern here. Whether its warranted or not, it makes me look bad on some level.

I also hear you are having problems with your TPS reports. Did you get the memo? Because I can re-send you the memo, if you need me to.

 

[Lehigh98]

Seems like you got along with her at some point, as you were answering her questions and helping her when she was busy.

I'd try to repair that relationship. Leave Valerie a note to call on you or come and see you, and that you're the same that you used to be.

Maybe one day she'll just blow away.

Or melt 

"Valerie" - Steve Winwood
 

So wild, standing there, with her hands in her hair
I can't help remember just where she touched me
There's still no face here in her place
So cool, she was like jazz on a summer's day
Music, high and sweet, then she just blew away
Now she can't be that warm with the wind in her arms

Valerie, call on me-call on me, Valerie
Come and see me-I'm the same boy I used to be

Love songs fill the night, but they don't tell it all
Not how lovers cry out just like they're dying
Her cries hang there in time somewhere
Someday, some good wind may blow her back to me
Some night I may hear her like she used to be
No it can't be that warm with the wind in her arms

So cool, she was like jazz on a summer's day
Music, high and sweet, then she just blew away
Don't tell me you're warm with the wind in your arms

 

[need2know]

Start taking 3 hour lunches and make a point to go by her desk everyday and tell her how great your lunch was

 

[belljr]

OP bang Valerie yet?

 

[DocHolliday]

OP has a great job and needs to work a few extra hours a week to make sure that his job is secure. 

As another poster pointed out, leave early on Wednesday's when Valerie is not around.  Work from home on Thursdays and stay until 530 on the other 3 days.  And, keep asking for more work.  We have all worked with plenty of people like Valerie and typically Valerie fails at her job and is out the door before too long. 

Do not get petty.  Always be professional no matter what Valerie comes up with next. 

 

[stbugs]

OP has a great job and needs to work a few extra hours a week to make sure that his job is secure. 

As another poster pointed out, leave early on Wednesday's when Valerie is not around.  Work from home on Thursdays and stay until 530 on the other 3 days.  And, keep asking for more work.  We have all worked with plenty of people like Valerie and typically Valerie fails at her job and is out the door before too long. 

Do not get petty.  Always be professional no matter what Valerie comes up with next. 

Seems to me that OP is being a bit of a whiner here. I haven’t seen it expressed that way but as you said, he’s got a high paying easy job and he can’t add a couple hours to feel more secure/not get hassled? He needs to get 9 holes in every day? I started on his side that the lady is being an ahole, which she is narcing on someone else for a bad reason, but the more he replied the more ridiculous it was that he couldn’t easily solve the issue.

Man, people get more self absorbed every day. Put in the extra hours needed for a few weeks and then work from home one day a week. Slack off at home a bit (always answer emails, IMs and calls) but don’t do the full 8 and do the slacked off hours while in the office. Couldn’t be easier to do your job well, keep the cushy job for now and get back to looking good to your bosses. 

 

[TLEF316]

Seems to me that OP is being a bit of a whiner here. I haven’t seen it expressed that way but as you said, he’s got a high paying easy job and he can’t add a couple hours to feel more secure/not get hassled? He needs to get 9 holes in every day? I started on his side that the lady is being an ahole, which she is narcing on someone else for a bad reason, but the more he replied the more ridiculous it was that he couldn’t easily solve the issue.

Man, people get more self absorbed every day. Put in the extra hours needed for a few weeks and then work from home one day a week. Slack off at home a bit (always answer emails, IMs and calls) but don’t do the full 8 and do the slacked off hours while in the office. Couldn’t be easier to do your job well, keep the cushy job for now and get back to looking good to your bosses. 

Again, I have no issue making the necessary adjustments to my hours. I've already done so. No problems.

This thread was more about how I should handle the aftermath of the co-worker making the complaint (when it's none of her business) 

 

[ChiefD]

Again, I have no issue making the necessary adjustments to my hours. I've already done so. No problems.

This thread was more about how I should handle the aftermath of the co-worker making the complaint (when it's none of her business) 

You do nothing. Because if she doesn't notice, it will be someone else. And then someone else.

Look, you make low six figures for a job that I'm sure the company thinks is a 40+ hour a week job. Even if you get the job done in 35 hours, you are still dealing with the perception that a work week is 40 hours.

If I am in your situation, I'm figuring out how to be there and accessible 40 hours a week. Seems pretty dang simple to me. 

 

[DocHolliday]

Again, I have no issue making the necessary adjustments to my hours. I've already done so. No problems.

This thread was more about how I should handle the aftermath of the co-worker making the complaint (when it's none of her business) 

Control what you can control and don't sweat the rest.   There will always be a Valerie in the workplace.  Handle the situation professionally and the bosses will probably see that too.  

And, I totally agree that your work schedule is none of her business but you aren't going to win with her.  

 

[stbugs]

Again, I have no issue making the necessary adjustments to my hours. I've already done so. No problems.

This thread was more about how I should handle the aftermath of the co-worker making the complaint (when it's none of her business) 

If you make the adjustments then who cares. All I know is that I’m not going to be helpful to her at all. I’m not a huge confrontational guy at work because #### it it’s work and I don’t want some idiot spilling into my personal life. It’s not worth it. If it comes up ever again then I’m starting a conversation with her and asking why she has a problem with me and is trying to undermine my career. At this point you’ve corrected and your bosses are good, so no need to turn it into a place you don’t want to be. Then no matter how many 9 holes you get in, you’ll be miserable.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

Again, I have no issue making the necessary adjustments to my hours. I've already done so. No problems.

This thread was more about how I should handle the aftermath of the co-worker making the complaint (when it's none of her business) 

You just can't.  Smile and move on. It's management's problem, and they may not do anything.  (Most managers don't)

 

[D-Day]

Tell your boss that you are willing to work extra hours, and in doing so, they can probably let someone else go... Valerie perhaps?

 

[DallasDMac]

What do you do?

Well-well look. I already told you: I deal with the ### #### customers so the engineers don’t have to. I have people skills; I am good at dealing with people. Can’t you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?

 

[RUSF18]

Again, I have no issue making the necessary adjustments to my hours. I've already done so. No problems.

This thread was more about how I should handle the aftermath of the co-worker making the complaint (when it's none of her business) 

Sure would've been nice if you followed this "don't complain about things that are none of your business" advice when you were ranting and raving about both this group of co-workers, and people in general who you don't even know, who spend a day each week working from home. Both in this thread and that big one on the topic during the winter. 

 

[TLEF316]

Sure would've been nice if you followed this "don't complain about things that are none of your business" advice when you were ranting and raving about both this group of co-workers, and people in general who you don't even know, who spend a day each week working from home. Both in this thread and that big one on the topic during the winter. 

There's a pretty big difference between discussing it on a board (pretty sure neither my boss or your boss are reading this. I dont think your work from home day is in jeopardy) and going into an office and complaining about someone else's hours (when it has no impact at all in your workload)

 

[RUSF18]

There's a pretty big difference between discussing it on a board (pretty sure neither my boss or your boss are reading this. I dont think your work from home day is in jeopardy) and going into an office and complaining about someone else's hours (when it has no impact at all in your workload)

Yeah I'm sure you haven't made a single comment or given one eye roll about all of your co-workers' WFH status that offends you so much.

 

[TLEF316]

Yeah I'm sure you haven't made a single comment or given one eye roll about all of your co-workers' WFH status that offends you so much.

Offends me? Try again. 

I simply offered it up as a potential reason why someone else (who, in her mind, works 10 hours a week more than I do) can't get as much work done.  If it doesn't affect me, I dont care what people do. (and would certainly never go to our boss just out of spite/frustration at my own situation) My assistant (for lack of a better term. She doesn't report to me) works from home every Friday. She's always available, answers any IM's right away and I have no evidence that she isn't working the entire time. I've known other people that I'm pretty sure treat it as a semi-vacation day (or at best, a half day). Essentially, they make it a day where they're basically available for any urgent issues but dont really make progress on anything that isn't super pressing.

In my experience, people who have a scheduled WFH day tend to be VERY defensive when it gets brought up. To me, that means that they feel a little guilty about the effort that they're putting in but dont want to admit it.

I've taken voluntary WFH days before. Took one late last year after I hurt my back and couldn't come in. I logged in and did some stuff but in the end, it clearly wasn't a full day. Ended up putting in for a 1/2 PTO just to keep things on the up and up.

 

[Itchy Amos]

I'm kind of surprised how many people are suggesting that you should simply work more - even though your work is getting done.  Speaking as the owner of a growing company, I value efficiency above most other employee attributes.   Working smarter & at higher efficiency is much more important than putting in needless hours.   If we take you at your word that all of your work is getting finished quickly & you've offered to help wherever necessary, then I don't think the problem lies with you.  Seems like your problem is with your boss.    Either you & your coworkers relative work loads are appropriately split & you're simply performing at a higher level of efficiency OR its unfairly allocated & your coworker is justified in her complaints (not necessarily against you, but the delegation of workload).   If work load is evenly split, then your boss should be standing up for you and telling your coworker that she needs to improve her efficiency & stop complaining.  If the workload isn't evenly split, then your boss should be re-allocating to make it fair.

If I had to guess, I'd bet that your boss believes that your workload is equal to your coworkers but if he were to push the issue, he'd have to allocate more work to you to make the demands on your time equal to the the demands on your coworker.    Perhaps he thinks that'd be unfair.  If I were you, I'd talk with your boss again.  If they're protecting you from a likely unfair outcome, they'll probably tell you.   If they tell you that workload is evenly split & you're simply faster and they don't intend to increase your workload then I'd want to know why you're being asked to hang around the office just to placate the demands of a jealous coworker.   They should either give you more work to do or let you carry on as you have been.   Asking you to hang around for good reason seems like a waste of your time.

 

[Sabertooth]

Nobody fires the MVP.  - Frank Gallagher. 

 

[LAUNCH]

It seems pretty simple.  You have a formal policy that your boss has now had to repeat to you twice.  Either go in and negotiate the better hours,work the hour, or skip going out for lunch and eat at your desk for that hour, if that is allowed.