nasty people in new job

aah

hello everyone
just started a new job 4 weeks ago after being made redundant. I feel as though i am lucky to have one, especially as it is only 4k a year less than my old job and the major downside is that its a 12 month project contract.

but now there are many more problems appearing. firstly the office manager guy refused to do my health and safety induction as he didnt have time when i went to see him about it he belittled me in reception - swept me aside disparagingly cos he was too busy - in front of a reception full of clients... I felt really small and was upset and a senior manager was the next person to see me so, upset, I unloaded it to her - on day 2...

i was promised this would be dealt with but who knows whether it has been and now i can't get any stationery or post seen to by this person who belittled me and thinks i complained about him - i didnt.

next i am approached by a man on the same grade as me (fairly senior) who tells me that he is doing lots and lots of overseas negotiations at the desk near me and due to extra bodies (me) he cannot hear himself think and his work is impossible to pursue. I apologise citing the accoustics in the building but instead he says it is my voice that is the problem - colleagues tell me thats not true but dont stand up to him. so now i am feeling clumsy, noisy, a nuisance, and again a problem.

there are other problems as well but i feel as though my head has been unwittingly put above the parapet and i dont want to raise anyh more issues

Omigod I dont think I have done anything wrong yet I am feeling like I am such a pest and and losing sleep. cant tell OH as he will go off it - this new organisation took over 3 months to confirm my appointment due to bureaucracy so hubby has revised his opinion downwards - v rapidly. If I had the time I could live with it but I dont. I want to make a success of my job but I only have 12 months which is rapidly diminishing while I sort out the administration.

help help help

I cant go to anyone at work cos that will make me seem even more of a troublemaker. I feel like walking out but i cant afford to.

GonzoAston

Ah, poor you

It does sound as though some people have some issues there, but as they're all new people and a new job, they probably are just used to things being done a certain way etc. You know the old saying, dont upset the applecart

Im sure once you settle in a bit more, things will improve. Congrats on the new job btw Give it time, im sure you'll start settling in. I used to feel like that when I was temping, new people, new place etc. Dont worry

If you do get annoyed, just come and vent on here im sure more people let off steam from work here, lol

aah

i'm not upsetting any applecarts. i am trying to tiptoe round them. people are throwing their contents in my path! and i hate laying blame elsewhere and try to look at my actions first. but hey

GonzoAston

I know, what im saying is, you're probably a bit unsettled and things seem alot worse (like first day in school). Hopefully once you settle in, you'll find it a much nicer place to work.

Or, it could just be one of those weeks in work, when everyones stressed and taking it out on the easiest target (the newbie ) Hope things improve for you

U've_been_framed

They sound like a pair of selfish bullies.

Try to talk to them; say that you appear to have got off on the wrong foot with them - you want to get on with them and work with them, but you are not prepared to be a doormat.

Good luck.

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

Or maybe they had a point.

Moaning because you didnt have your Health and Safety induction on day 1. maybe in MSE world people have time but in the real world its not always the case.

And maybe the OP is annoyingly loud.

Ninja_Seb

Here's my advice. When it comes to employment the most important thing is money going into the bank account.

If I were you I would just sit at my desk, do the job and keep quiet. Wait for them to eventually organise themselves and come to you, instead of going after them. The guy who snapped at you about being loud etc clearly has a problem and should not be speaking to people like that. If you keep quiet, he can't say anything. Anyone who seems irrational or rude..just blank them.

Why do you want to make a success of your job? Just do the 12 months, take the money and move on to something else.

Poppy9

What is a H&S induction?

-BA-

OK OP here is my advice:

1. Ignore any posts from Linaswhatshisname, his posts are often inflammatory or inaccurate. OP's complaint was not about not getting H&S (Health & Safety) induction on the first day, it was about how the refusal was issued and the derision that went with it.

2. Record the information down, including dates, times, who was present, etc. At this stage it is for no other reason than being able to accurately recount the issues that have arisen. You will only appear to be a trouble maker if you aren't able to back up your complaints that may arise in the near future.

3. Try to salvage your relationship with your manager, use email where possible. Perhaps something like, "My apologies if you were unable to conduct my H&S induction the other day. Whilst I was a little taken aback by your reaction, I can assure you that I wish to build and maintain a strong working relationship with you and look forward to an opportunity when you may be able to conduct said H&S induction. Kind regards.......". Cover your back, play his game and remain professional. There is absolutely nothing wrong with informing a colleague of when they have overstepped the mark and they will certainly thing twice about doing it again.

4. If your voice is loud or intrusive (not implying it is! ) perhaps ask friends or family for an honest opinion and take the feedback well. See point 5 below for more likely scenario....

5. If work colleague who complained about your voice continues down same route. Record the information as per point 2, use a diary or notebook or similar, especially if it said in earshot of others. Continue to do your job well and remain calm and professional. Idiots and workplace bullies will give themselves enough rope to hang. The key is to not let emotion take over or your recollection of events will become clouded. Be assertive with said bully. Say that whilst you find it regretful that his personal space has been invaded, you can put him in touch with an excellent audiologist if hearing is an issue or alternatively recommend that he request a headset from his manager in order to continue his role.

6. Feel reasonably safe in the fact that they are unlikely to risk moving you on for trivial reasons if the contract is only for 12 months. Be assertive at your first appraisal/review and state your issues if they are still occuring.

It could just be teething problems and perhaps may completely blow over but keeping a record of events is for covering your back. Another excellent way to record information is to email your home email address from work with a brief paragraph of the event. You then have a date and time of what went on.

Pee

Part of this is settling into a new job, it is hard but it does get better.

I don't know how you felt about the redundancy, but there may have been an element of shock or disappointment with that that may have knocked your self esteem. You are feeling vulnerable. Give yourself a pat on the back, you have done brilliantly getting the new job.

Do keep a diary in case it escalates. That email idea is good, but remember someone may read your work emails. (It happens.)

Concentrate on your work, try to be nice and friendly but otherwise keep your head down. It takes a while to settle in. If there are any people you do like, can you go for lunch with them now and again? Just remember to be discreet, save your venting for on here or to your OH. (I think he could be more supportive about this, you have to deal with it unless and until you can get another job, yes they are being difficult but what can you do if you need the money? My boyfriend's idea of being supportive about work is to offer to punch my boss on the nose, which he would do but which obviously wouldn't resolve whatever issue I have, however it does make me feel better to think that this might be an option!)

I had a colleague who had a very loud and annoying voice and I dreaded the days she came in to work. She was a very false person and not my type at all. God, she annoyed me. After a while, I became able to deal with her, I just got used to her, and she stopped annoying me. I realised that she was pretending to be something she wasn't, but that underneath she was actually likeable. I decided to find those personal calls amusing. When she left, I was actually quite sad.

My boss didn't like me, but gradually he has learned that I know more about him on certain topics and that if he needs my help, I will drop everything to help him and will not worry about who gets the glory.

Keep an eye out for other jobs, as you may decide this job is better than them, but then you will know why you are choosing to stay with this job when you are feeling low.

Mr_Falling_Star

Poppy9 wrote: »

What is a H&S induction?

Its whats keeps your employers ar*e out of court