Unsure of what to make of this situation

teamcullen

Ok,

So I work in an office, it's a small one but part of a national company. There's eight members of staff. Now three of them are very busy people, they have lots of things to do and the three of them are constantly in competition about who is the busiest!

I do a well paid job, but my job is a lot more slower paced than everyone elses, so decisions take longer to come through, sales are different. I spend a lot of time looking at a computer screen rather than constantly on the phone. Everyone in the office, including my manager, seems to understand this. Other than our part time payroll/administrator girl.

There have been a couple of instances whereby this girl has gone out of her way to try and get me into trouble, I appreciate I maybe shouldn't have done what I did, but other people in the office do much much worse!

For example

-My manager was on holiday and I needed to leave ten minutes early to return my sisters car (I was waiting for my new one to be delivered). Nobody was available to ask, and my manager had me working 8.30am-5.30pm while everyone else works 8-5. So I left ten minutes early after working through my full lunch anyway, and the girl found out. She compiled a huge email and sent it to my manager for her return outlining me leaving ten minutes early

-All of the smokers in my office have four smoking breaks during the day, I don't take one due to not smoking. Anyway, today I tweeted the radio station we were listening to whilst they were on their break and the host read out my name. Straight away she shouted 'Shouldn't you be working instead of that?' And as soon as my manager walked back in she told her, and of course I was again in trouble.

-When my manager is on holiday, she comes and sits right next to me and another guy, and has told the other guy she does it to make sure I am doing my work!

This isn't some girl, she's a mother in her late 20's. I've no idea why she seems to report every single thing I do despite knowing much much worse goes on in our office. It's not her role, it's nothing to do with her yet my manager seems to think it's alright what she is doing. I feel actually a little bullied by her, and may say this tomorrow when I'm at work to my manager. I'm the top billing person in the region so know my manager is happy with my performance and if it was effecting my work I'd understand. But it isn't....so I've no idea where to go from here.

Takeaway_Addict

talk to her and ask her why?

gettingtheresometime

Why are you getting into trouble if you are doing what you say you are doing ?

what I'm saying is why, if your boss is happy with your performance etc (s)he isn't telling this woman either to wind her neck in or ignoring it?

dawyldthing

I bet he's just doing it for the quiet life, bug it's not on. Just be pleasant to her, will hurt her more and leave her to it. They will get bored eventually

getmore4less

Do what you have done here with your manager.

Cover each one.

flexibility when no one(them) to ask- get some guidelines on what is acceptable and aks if someone should be token "in charge" .

tweeting to the public, ask what they think, generaly I would say a no-no to all social media using a real name if in a forward facing role.

Sitting next to you, this is out of order and needs fixing,

she is obviously not busy herself and needs more work when the boss is away or less hours(that should fix the problem).

Discuss the situation and see what te boss wants done about it.

Ozzuk

As a manager the only one I'd have an issue with (from your perspective) is leaving early. You should at the least have emailed your manager to say you'd worked through lunch and needed to leave early and noone was around to ask. Easy with hindsight, but not difficult to see you should do it. Not doing it can foster trust issues with your manager - ie, how many other times are you doing it an not getting 'caught'.

Can't really say much more than Getmore4less, just be more professional than the girl, stick up for yourself in a non-emotional manner, be clear and concise and maybe they'll make you the stand in manager.

Missyhenry

Could your boss be less happy than you think and asked her to keep an eye on you?

Starlet

If I were in your situation, this is how I would tackle it:

I wouldnt talk to her alone, not only because she could twist anything you say, but the main reason being that it would feed her ego and make her feel even more important. By talking to her, you could -- in a way -- be implying that she is the one with power.

Instead, I would speak with your Line Manager only, because after all, he/she is the only one who you should answer to. If you really feel that you do need to speak with her, then it may be best done in the presence of your manager, and without prior notice to the girl herself, so that she doesnt have time to embellish any stories. (i.e. "Sarah, do you have a minute, please?")

On a sidenote, I would begin keeping a log of the things which she has done when overstepping boundaries.

Maybe my suggestions sound harsh, but I do think that they are fair and professional :A

gettingtheresometime

dawyldthing wrote: »

I bet he's just doing it for the quiet life, bug it's not on. Just be pleasant to her, will hurt her more and leave her to it. They will get bored eventually

What the boss wants a quiet life?

Sorry but I don't buy that if the OP's performance is as they say it is

dawyldthing

Yes I recogn the boss just ignores most of it for a quiet life, especially if it's an office of the same sex