Author |
Message |
Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Monday, March 01, 2010 - 8:57 am
Conch is pronounced "conk."
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Monday, March 01, 2010 - 3:17 pm
How do I nicely tell someone to stop messing with the stuff at my desk when I am at lunch or off for the day? My position requires someone cover me when I go to lunch. 4/5 days a week, the usual gal that covers me has to in some way mess with my stuff. She either moves stuff around on my desk, removes my name plate, etc. Today, she took a bunch of paperwork that I had set on the counter for distribution somewhere else. I thought they had been picked up by the people they went to. She had moved them to the back counter. No one knows to pick up their paperwork there. It's really starting to aggrivate me. This is my office, my desk and she only sits here for an hour. Fed Ex also picks up from my desk. Things are stacked up on the desk because the fed ex gal asked if that was ok. Sure, don't bother me, but the gal that covers doesn't like not being able to see out the window if someone is coming up the walk. Must be nice to be able to sit here and stare out the window.... I like the blinds closed behind my desk, she HAS to have them open while she sits here. That bugs me because the smokers of the company stand right out there and smoke. I feel like I have someone looking in at me while I work (which I do when the blinds are open). Am I being petty? At least she's not moving furniture when she sits here anymore, that was crazy for a while.
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Y2krazy
Member
09-17-2002
| Monday, March 01, 2010 - 3:30 pm
Escapee, I would just come right out and say, "Please don't re-arrange my desk while I'm gone. It may look messy to you, but it is very organized for me. I need to know where all these things are when I get back. Thank you!" If someone continues to move things around, start putting them in your desk for lunch, and LOCK it. Maybe that would work.
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Babyruth
Member
07-19-2001
| Monday, March 01, 2010 - 3:39 pm
You could set a mousetrap under each stack of papers... J/k. 
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Hukdonreality
Member
09-29-2003
| Monday, March 01, 2010 - 4:35 pm
I am so much more forthright and wouldn't say please at all. People who are ballsy enough to take liberties don't deserve "please". Just get to the point and tell her that it's your desk and to leave things the way they are, period.
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Monday, March 01, 2010 - 4:45 pm
I would nicely explain that you organize the piles on your desk in a very specific way and that when she reorganizes things it interferes with your work flow. Be nice about it. Be assertive and not aggressive! Definitely don't be passive but do be polite (sorry Hukd!). And THEN set those mouse traps! (Having gone thru much training recently, you have to be assertive and explain why it's a problem but you have to be nice about it. Sucks when you know mousetraps would work ever so much faster!)
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Pamy
Member
01-02-2002
| Monday, March 01, 2010 - 6:05 pm
<note to self, stay on Grooch and her friend's good side>
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Monday, March 01, 2010 - 9:11 pm
I thought about putting a label on the counter that said "do not remove paperwork that does not belong to you"
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Babyruth
Member
07-19-2001
| Monday, March 01, 2010 - 9:13 pm
She probably wouldn't think it applies to her, since she's covering you. I like what Y2krazy said.
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Christy358
Member
07-10-2007
| Monday, March 01, 2010 - 10:51 pm
Nice is the way to go, and explain why things are the way they are. Seems like she might be bored sitting at your desk, maybe you could give her something to do? Maybe it could be her "regular" thing?
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Happymom
Member
01-20-2003
| Tuesday, March 02, 2010 - 1:09 am
Doesn't she have some sort of work to do for the hour? Or does she just sit there? Someone should give her some work. I would let the blinds issue go or maybe when you return from lunch you can mention how it really bothers you to have them open as you're closing them. Maybe she'll take the initiative to close them next time. If you haven't said anything, she can't know. I would say something about the paperwork for sure and being nice never hurts. I am surprised that she used to move the furniture around. Weird.
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Tuesday, March 02, 2010 - 8:23 am
Oh god forbid 'I' tell her what to do. She's one of the brown nosers who treats everyone else who is not in a position of power like dirt. She's got an overbearing personality and feels if you are equal with her (on the organizational chart) then you are below her. Basically if you cannot further her position, you are a worm. However, in front of the bosses (or men) she's the ass kissingist, flirtiest, sweeter than saccharine person you've ever seen. It's disgusting and most of the women here don't care for her. My boss explained the difference between her and I once. I command respect, she commands recognition.
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Tuesday, March 02, 2010 - 11:02 am
Well, try to explain why it's important that she not move things around. If that doesn't work, and you're loath to try the mouse traps, then you may have to take to locking things up. A bit of a pain, but at least you can put things back immediately and know where they are. Bummer you have to work with someone like that. When you get the new job, will you be rid of her covering for you? 
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Tuesday, March 02, 2010 - 11:12 am
When? Don't you mean IF? I think that if they are removed again today when I come back from lunch I will say "Hey, could you not take this stuff of the counter, it's here for a reason." I think she'll say "well it looks bad there." To which I'll say "Good thing you only have to sit here for an hour, then, huh?" That will keep me from saying "Leave it the f alone!"
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Tuesday, March 02, 2010 - 11:36 am
Girlfriend, the power of positive thinking... WHEN you get your new job!!! I think you should be nicer about it though. It's only going to be perceived as being antagonistic or confrontational, which won't help you getting that new job! Do ask her politely to not move stuff around. In fact, stick Post It's on the piles if you have to. If she says something like "it looks bad there" just repeat what you said, "the piles are in a specific place for a reason, so please don't move or remove them." Do NOT be confrontational!! It always comes back to bite you in the you-know!!!
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Kitt
Member
09-06-2000
| Tuesday, March 02, 2010 - 12:08 pm
Yeah, you don't want to give her real things to be able to say to other people about you, if she's the gossiping sort.
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Happymom
Member
01-20-2003
| Tuesday, March 02, 2010 - 12:27 pm
Try to think of her as a person you just met or try to think of her as someone really nice instead of that she is very annoying. If she says it looks bad, just say "maybe but it's work in progress" or something and "for the sake of efficiency", you need it all left there. I like the post its idea too.
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Tuesday, March 02, 2010 - 1:41 pm
Today, the papers were not moved. I think she may be going after the same job that I am. We shall see. I am more qualified, but where I am right now I am very limited in mobility (in other words, I don't have the luxury of walking around and schmoozing that she does). Someone HAS to be at my desk from 7:30-4:30 every day. She's back in that department right now 'helping' out since they are short handed. I was helping out too, but only what they bring me. Like I said, educationally, experience, and professionally, I am more qualified. I just don't have the schmoozing background she does. I'm a little bitter. I didn't say anything to her today, just smiled and thanked her for covering just like I always do. Nothing was moved today.
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Dfennessey
Member
07-25-2004
| Tuesday, March 02, 2010 - 1:53 pm
Does she come back with brown on her nose from kissing so many butts?
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Tuesday, March 02, 2010 - 2:14 pm
So you can't physically go ask if they need help, but what about a phone call? Email? IM? You can reach out in other ways and ask if they need help in that dept. I'm a firm believer in karma. I'm also a firm believer that most people can sniff out b-s when necessary. If you are sitting at your desk getting your job done during work hours, and she's wandering around "schmoozing" people, people will notice. So reach out to the folks in your "new" dept in other ways. Be proactive!!! And be thankful for the small things, like she didn't touch your stuff today!
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Tuesday, March 02, 2010 - 2:30 pm
Costa, that's exactly what I do. I call, ask what I can do and never say no, even when I'm swamped. I actually took over one of the projects that is delegated for the 'new' position. Most of the other stuff I know how to do, or already do. I have a meeting with my boss in a few, keep those fingers crossed. I don't know if it's about the new job or my review. Either way, crossed is good.
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Dfennessey
Member
07-25-2004
| Tuesday, March 02, 2010 - 2:46 pm
Good luck Escapee. 
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Tuesday, March 02, 2010 - 3:42 pm
<fingers crossed> I'm sure either one, new job or review, is gonna be good!!!! And I'm sure you don't need no stinkin' luck but I'm sendin' it your way anyways! 
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Sunshyne4u
Member
06-17-2003
| Tuesday, March 02, 2010 - 5:46 pm
I'm a firm believer in karma. If you are sitting at your desk getting your job done during work hours, and she's wandering around "schmoozing" people, people will notice. so am i and i've found that 22 yrs at one workplace means i see A88kissers promoted over and over again. The social part of most jobs is considered higher than the credentials on paper. I had both my boss and the Union tell me and show me the guidelines for job promotions. I hate people like Escapee Describes. Sorry, but fakes are fakes and any shuffling of papers or "hiding stuff' from you is probably her trying to set you up to look bad. Ya i'm bitter, i've worked with a few monsters and am NOT assertive. I think i should have taken an Assertive Course way back in my 20s and life would have been different LOL OH....and the Conch in the wheel area. Good example. that is why I mentioned that hte smell could be from running OVEr a dead carcass. once that smell is in the grease under the car...hard to get rid of without a major undercarriage Clean.
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Sunshyne4u
Member
06-17-2003
| Tuesday, March 02, 2010 - 5:53 pm
i should say that the info about Social stuff was given to me when I was getting my first Parttime position way back in the 80s. LOL but i found it to be the truth for most jobs. Not mine tho, you needed organizational ability for it, not social skills LOL i only witnessed Karma payback twice at work. Usually a person ended up with something bad in their Outside life. like telling their husband that they were leaving them for a doctor that they'd been having an affair with. Only to find out a day later that the doctor changed his mind and went back to the wife. So, the smoozer ended up living in the house with the Disgruntled husband who made her life miserable LOL I laughed when I found that out. Can you imagine!!? honey, i'm leaving you for a hot doctor! then later the next day LOL ... honey, forget what i said yesterday, i'm staying lets pretend everything is the same eh?
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