Love the job, not too keen on co-worker!

katie_saver

Rant alert!!

I started my new job in May and I like the job very much. It is a bit unconventional, small business so everyone pitches in, which is not a problem. The problem is that the girl I share the job with seems to have a massive chip on her shoulder about me. As we share the job, I often have to look at her emails when she is not there (which incidentally is a lot of the time - 6 days off sick in 7 weeks!)...HR lady has asked me a few times to look at her email to find things etc. However once or twice I have noticed emails about me between HR lady and her. They spy on me, so any time I leave my desk, go for lunch, make a phone call etc. Now however, they are discussing whether I should be allowed to take holiday - surely this should be between me and HR or even between me and my manager? I get the feeling other girl is threatened by me (even though she moans about how busy she is and I am essentially there to help out!) and that she is bullying me to leave...
I like the job but it is really stressing me out to cope with the b*tchiness, any coping mechanisms you could suggest? Voodoo dolls for example?! :mad::mad:

duchy

Why on earth are you looking through her emails?
It's one thing to look for a particular business mail - something else entirely to be going through all her mails.

If you are job sharing it sounds like HR are making sure she can cover your days when you are on holiday -I've job shared and my "other half" was always asked if she could cover with extra days when I wanted holiday and vice versa. They weren't asking her permission but they wanted to make sure the work could be covered before agreeing to it.

Spying on you - how ?
That sounds a bit paranoid tbh

Are you actually job sharing or do you just work together the same days ?

krustylouise

I would print them off and discuss with your line manager. HR discussing your leave with your colleagues is a breach of confidentiality and completely unprofessional.

I feel for you as I know how low this can make you feel when you have to drag yourself in to work and put up with this. Chin up x

redcard

Either it's an equal job-share or you're there to help her out. Your comments are a bit contradictory.

If she is essentially your superior then she probably should have a role in authorising your holiday.

katie_saver

I was told to look through her emails to find a particular email. Therefore I had to open emails to find the one I needed. Not snooping as we both have the same password for this very reason so that we can cover for each other.

To clarify, it is not a job share. We are both PAs to the company owner and both work the same days, we are both on the same level. Although she has been at this company for a lot longer than me.

I don't feel I have been unprofessional, is it professional for HR and her to be sending emails like:
Psst - she has just gone out to make tea - (in the title of the mail I might add).
And this morning - because I had a dentist appointment she was asking HR - 'is she going to be making up the time? She has been making personal phone calls a lot this week and has another dentist appointment etc...

I can see how it may seem weird to some but yes, the treatment I am getting is making me paranoid!

aileth

Get their tongues wagging at lightspeed.

Go to Ann Summers on your lunch break, buy some knickers but ask for two extra large bags, then weigh them down with a coat or something, and place them next to your desk in full view. Await flurry of emails. Giggle to self.

Confusedandneedhelp

Id be printing these emails off for when you get 'sacked' because of this. You have a line manager, HR speak to you or your line manager, not your colleague.

This is going to have constructive dismissal written all over it.

sorry just re-read 'psst she's just making tea' - oh my god, this person sounds like a right nightmare!

i'd print off all the emails, once i had about 30-40, id email HR with the title 'psst, i've just made a cup of tea, would you like one to go with the letter from my solicitor!'

notanewuser

Confusedandneedhelp wrote: »

Id be printing these emails off for when you get 'sacked' because of this. You have a line manager, HR speak to you or your line manager, not your colleague.

This is going to have constructive dismissal written all over it.

In the absence of any obvious unlawful discrimination, or will be another 22 months before any claim for constructive dismissal. That's without mentioning how few claims for CD succeed.......

tea_lover

Sorry if this is a stupid question but does she know you can read her emails? If so, she sounds stupid as well as mean.

notanewuser

What's the company policy on personal emails?

PasturesNew

In some cultures, the regime is to keep your nose to the grindstone. In most jobs it's always been "banned/frowned upon" to make or take any personal calls at all.

Do you go to make tea as often as she does? Do you make/take personal calls, texts, are you always checking your phone?

If I were you I'd keep my nose ultra clean because that might just be the culture there. I've never taken a phone into work, nor ever made a personal call from work - and have only taken about 5-6 personal phone calls at work in over 30 years of working ... simply because that's the way things were when I started work and I didn't change.

As for tea/loo breaks, I observe what the norm is .... before following their lead.