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Newbie at work, workplace politics for clueless me!

5 replies

User1053051066 · 26/09/2019 23:19

I went back to work this year after a 15 year break to be a SAHM. I went from retail management to education, the job I got was not where I was placed, due to departmental changes, I'm not where I expected to be, although, I do like this job. I also ended up in a full time position but had only been expecting 3 or 4 days. It's been a massive change!
Among other things I am finding hard, is a few attitudes. I loved my job pre-children, worked with some lovely people. Most of the people in my new place are lovely. There are a couple, and one in particular, who I just don't know how to deal with.

I think very much a spade is a spade, I am the same person each day, whether happy, sad, tired etc, I'm still the same to people, polite, nice, friendly. One girl, one day can be chatty, friendly, the next day, ignore me, another day, speak over me, another day be purposefully awkward then the next day make me a cup of tea. I have found she will literally step over me to get what she wants, answer questions for other people to me, reiterate something which I have just said but louder or more authoratively, or perhaps act upon something happening which I have chosen to ignore, heavily discipline something which I have only perhaps just lightly dealt with (kids behaviour etc).

I am- being nice, friendly, normal, not letting it bother me (as such), getting on with my job. I'm sure I'm doing the right thing. I just don't know how to "deal" with people who don't show you their true selves. Folk with many levels- what do you do?

I'm too old for this shit, I'm not going to take it to the manager, but lets just say, the day she's not there, is a very normal day at work, the other days are a bit Confused

For those well experienced in office politics, what do you do??

OP posts:
User1053051066 · 27/09/2019 00:12

bump

OP posts:
KellyHall · 27/09/2019 00:19

It's a really tough way to work and I've experienced the same thing in my current and two previous jobs. I did speak to my manager in each instance, sometimes it made it better, in one role it made no difference but it has never made it worse.

Don't let it continue if there's a chance it could be rectified because that's you silently saying it's ok. Most people don't want to be arseholes and will make adjustments if they realise that's how they're coming across!

Redshoeblueshoe · 27/09/2019 00:20

The problem is every workplace has someone like her.
Can you challenge her when she is being an arse ?

User1053051066 · 27/09/2019 15:41

We work in quite a small place, about 7 full time. Shes so clever that she plays it well and can make herself popular and carefully single someone out. I could challenge her next time but I'm worried that shes so confident it may back fire on me? I'm not conniving enough to be sure to call her out on anything and be sure she won't turn it around on me.

OP posts:
something2say · 27/09/2019 16:24

I'd avoid her tbh. I've always been like that tho - head down and focus on work and the clients. Can't stand office politics and learnt that for me it's just best to stay out of it. The girl might be sniffing you out to start with and in a few weeks, she might just leave you alone...

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