Controlling co-workers
Question: One of my co-workers (Co-Worker A) is a good employee and a hard worker. Another co-worker (Co-Worker B), who supports the department head, is very untrusting and controlling. She seems to undermine everything that Co-Worker A does and intentionally tries to make Co-Worker A look bad to their superiors. Co-Worker A is at the end of her rope! I’ve tried to offer support and advice to Co-Worker A, but I’m out of suggestions.
Talking to Co-Worker B does not yield any results. Any suggestions for Co-Worker A who does not want to leave her role but desperately needs help? — Anonymous
Comments
It sounds like your co-worker A needs to stand up for themselves with their manager in a constructive way. It also sounds like for yourself, you should stop getting involved in other peoples troubles. It may be adding to the problem, does co-worker B feel like it is 2 against 1? Also maybe it is you that is more angry and co-worker A is being polite but really wants you to stop getting involved.
Posted by: Jocelyn | July 08, 2005 at 02:42 PM
It’s really nice that you are trying to help Co-Worker A, but Co-Worker A should be having the serious discussion with Co-Worker B, sometime when a negative co-worker is confronted regarding their behavior they back off, I’m pretty sure she/he didn’t think anyone would tell Co-Worker A what was being said behind their back. I’m positive she/he will deny everything. If this doesn’t work she should talk to Co-Worker B’s boss.
Being silence is consent, and you should never let anyone have that much power over you and your job, so suggest to her/him to speak up and be heard.
Posted by: Margarette | July 14, 2005 at 04:30 PM
IF I were advising co worker A I would tell her to document the work she does and her interactions with coworker B, particularly the actions which result in making A look bad to superiors. I would then advise her to ask for a meeting with her boss to discuss the situation not as “he said, she said” but in terms of the issues and how they affect worker morale. Maybe co worker A’s boss could talk to coworker B’s boss, but you should stay out of it. You do not want to be caught in the middle of a pi**ing match between skunks.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 15, 2005 at 02:05 PM
Coworker A should stand up to Coworker B, or Coworker A will continue to go through this…wherever they may be employed. Rolling over or leaving is not the answer. Coworker A is not the problem, it’s Coworker B. The problem is not handled by running away, problems are handled by hitting them head on, and facing them tactfully, and confidently. Typical bully situation it sounds like.
Posted by: Andrew Pruett | July 29, 2005 at 02:28 PM