Rising above it

[foreverhopeful2000]

Hi all,
I am working in London on an exciting project with a company. Problem is that the Project manager has booked my former workplace as it is cheap and local. I left because of one person's behaviour towards me as someone quite jealous and aggressive (and I later discovered the fact that my former line manager sided with her as she was permanent despite her not seeing anything from me, which involved the LM saying that they had gone with another agency). I am due to go back soon but dread the fact that these people might be on the shop floor. When I left my job my former LM said she would give me a reference - then 3 weeks after I left I was told that they can't give out references to temps. They also criticised me through my agency for reaching out to somebody else in the building for a reference when it is technically my business who I reach out to as an ex-member of staff using my own resources in my own time. I am depressed about things but have resisted retaliating or reacting to anything publicly which includes some very snide digs on the company social media page. Any advice to rise above a couple of people would be grateful as I am dreading going back to the workplace and don't want to draw attention to any unpleasantness with my new project manager. I tried to hook up online for the next meeting but they said my attendance in person was compulsory. My husband's cousin has said that I need to develop a skin when dealing with sharks.

You do seem very het up about it all.

Just concentrate on your work and cut them dead.

Is this a shared workspace? If so this is easily managed by blanking your former colleagues from the first day. Get there earlier than them, leave later, so you know they can’t talk to your current team behind your back. I’d also encourage your current team to have more closed door meetings.

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately I have to pass a reception desk where they used to have a habit of congregating. I wouldn't imagine that they can do much on the public shop floor with CCTV. Unfortunately as you know people are always going to talk - the former line manager was the worst two-faced snake possible. Everyone is conscious of the 'public image' but I have been stonewalled by a few people since I left because of the gossip behind my back.

Make several complaints to the building owners / managers anonymously using different email accounts that the congregation at the reception desk was unprofessional and off putting as a customer? If you know ex-manager still works there name her in person.

If you have a paper trail about the gossip Another option is to get a solicitor to send a letter threatening legal action due to perceived slander / gossip.