Any thoughts....?

[SarahYoung1977]

I work in a male dominated office for an engineering firm where of the 300 or so employees only 25-30 of us are women, that said, its a great place to work where I feel like there are no gender stereotypes or agendas etc.
3 years ago a young graduate started straight from uni and immediately set herself up as the bubbly office flirt, pushing the boundaries of the office dress code by wearing very low cut tops, figure hugging little black dresses etc.
At the time, it was obvious that the predominantly male staff had no problem with this as a bit of fresh eye-candy and the majority of the female staff I spoke to generally felt a little sorry that she felt she had to try so hard to please the male workforce.
However, more recently its become apparent that shes somewhat played the long game and is now capitalising on years of investment in flirting and leaving little to the imagination by getting a variety of promotions and pay rises way above her ability and way above the norm for other members of staff (both male and female) of a similar age and experience.
Obviously this reeks of sour grapes but its not, Im in my late 30s and shes still got quite a bit of catching up to get me worried but theres definitely an air of frustration among her peers in terms of their efforts exceeding hers and not receiving the same rewards.
Its annual review season at work soon and Im wondering if I should say anything or if I should let someone else broach the subject. Theres no doubt that shes the favourite of several of the senior management and while the situation is beginning to irritate me as a point of principal I dont want to come across as having sour grapes.
Any thoughts.?

You're right it reeks of sour grapes. How would you even go about Proving this as you can't just bring it up and leave it at that?

Have you "proof" of her lack of ability to do the tasks she's now assigned to? Have you "proof" the promotions were undeserved or that others deserved them more?

I would steer clear of mentioning this or even thinking about it, (as far as the latter is possible). It´s not really any of your business who gets promoted unless they´re your boss or your theirs. Try to concentrate on your own career and leave your colleagues to it.

"getting a variety of promotions and pay rises way above her ability"
If she lacks the ability to do the job, won't that be addressed at her annual review?

Keep well our of it and concentrate in your own career. If she's not up to the job she'll get found out soon enough.

Also, GET YOUR THREADS MERGED!

Sour grapes. I would be surprised to discover that your bosses are so susceptible to the female form that she has done well at her job PURELY on the basis of her cleavage.

It is more likely that she has self-marketed in a variety of ways - standing out from the competition by being outgoing, friendly and well-presented.

When you describe her clothes, is there even the slightest possibility that by "low cut tops, figure hugging little black dresses etc." you mean "well-fitting, snappy clothes that flatter her figure" compared to the rest of the women in the office?

have you used your real name OP?

Sarah (is that your real name btw? [sceptical] ) just because she dresses in a certain way or has a bubbly personality what makes you think she's just putting it on for the office? Do you think in her free time she isn't well dressed?

If you manage her or work with her and have a specific grievance, by all means raise it. If you don't, leave her alone. Let her contemporaries fight their own battles.

Life is easier for beautiful people - fact.

I wouldn't say anything, there is nothing you can say that isn't going to make you look bad.

It can't be a very successful company if the management are so susceptible to a pretty face and a low cut top - how would the work ever get done? And what a low opinion you have of your male colleagues.
You do sound bitter, what proof do you have that she is being promoted above her ability? I wonder if she knows she's being bitched about by her female colleagues for getting in with people while having the hall to wear a low top - maybe the men are a much more friendly bunch at your place than the women..

I had a similar situation where a colleague was promoted above his ability, mainly due to his self marketing skills. He managed to keep up with the job for a while but eventually the cracks started to show in his work & he's no longer with the company.
If she has been promoted above her skill level it will eventually show up & her manager will address it. Until then I'd keep quiet.

no, stay well out of this. It's absolutely none of your business.

If she's not up to scratch she'll soon be found out, I see it all the time where I work (mostly from blokes that make huge promises and can't deliver). If she is up to scratch then what does it really matter that she throws in a little flirting? I wouldn't do it myself, but if it gets her noticed bully for her!

Wow. You'll sound absolutely bonkers if you bring this up. The only thing you're meant to discuss in your performance review is yourself.

You do sound jealous I'm afraid.

She isn't the issue. She can wear what she wants. If you have genuine reason to think bosses are treating her differently then you need to make the complaint about the bosses. Not her!

I work in a similar environment (even sounds like the same company!) but this definitely happens. Whenever there are job cuts they are always the first to go though. I'm not sure how you could bring this up without sounding bitter. But I agree it's very fustrating, and unless you've worked in a similar environment it's hard to believe.

I don't think anyone finds it hard to believe that his happens, just finding it hard to believe that the OP thinks it is their business to bring it up during the annual review process or try and do anything about it at all in fact.