Category: Jobs and Employment
Hi!
I have been employed with the same organization for the past four years. Lately I have been experiencing some very vocal coworkers giving me a hard time. I tend not to mix much in the office because I feel like if I do then I'm getting in the middle of drama, which I don't want to do, but then I'm considered a snob.
The other problem I'm having is I have a couple of coworkers who assist me with printed forms that my scanner can't pick up. I know that I don't always show my appreciation for them, but I am at least trying to make an effort. At this point though, I think unless I grovel at their feet they won't be happy. I'm telling others that my coworkers are assisting me with certain aspects of my job, but I'm getting really tired of this. Am I just supposed to show appreciation a certain way?
Has anyone experienced stuff like this in the workplace?
Frustrated,
Kate
If you feel harassed at your workplace, you should either talk directly to those harassing you. If polite and civil conversation doesn't work, go to your boss or your work's Human Resources department. If you are able to do your job as competently as any other worker, you should be treated just as they are, and sometimes that means slogging through the office shit, but if it's getting to the point of discriminatory language or actions then it's a problem.
I think it's there everywhere. I also think it's due to jealousy or it's a kind of inferiority complex.
Even though I do have many many sighted friends at work, mostly everyone are being nice to me in front. btw, few are backstabbers as well. I honestly hate backstabbers than my enemies. I'm a straight forward. if I don't like something, I'll surely say that in front.
I meant jealousy above because, in India, there are many sighties, including well educated, they will get jealous of our salary even though they do earn equivalent to us. I think it's because they are unable to accept a blind person doing another job apart from recaning or piano tuning or something like earlier days and earning more money similar to them.
What can we do?
As per my opinion, we've to ignore them or we've to educate them as we can also do any job which can be done without the eye sight. or with some accessible devices.
Raaj.
I had this happen a long time ago, and my boss actually had the folks take turns in helping so it wouldn't go to one or two people all the time. Eventually, I wound up with talking equipment for transcription work, but I know forms make it harder. I found office politics to be the name of the game and I had to deal with it. Not easy. Eventually, I worked from home which was great.
Where I used to work, unfortunately the human resources person was the biggest back stabber in the place. Heaven forbid if you had a complaint about one of her favorite people. She was virtually useless.
The secret is to be just crazy enough. Normally be nice and mild mannared but explode every once in a while. Make sure it's unpredictible and there's no pattarn, everyone will be on tiptoes around you!
Thanks everyone for your thoughts. :)
I know that no matter where I go I will be exposed to office politics, so I can't get away from it.
I can't wait until the new changes in our online systems take place this fall, which will eliminate the need for most of the drama.
Thankfully the other day my boss basically told all of us to stop acting like kindergartteners in the sandbox talking behind each others' back, tattling on each other, and dredging up stuff fomr eons ago that can't be changed anyway. Hopefully this will help!
Bea, I wish I could work at home, but that is not an option due to the security of some of our documentation.
Jared, your post made me laugh!
If things don't change, maybe it'll be a good time to ... ahem... go on mat leave :)
Kate
It won't stop. Smile people are people and get bored if nothings going on. I'd just smile and not get involved. You have to keep your patients level up, and any help you receive give a little something back. Maybe once in a while drop a Starbucks card on them, or something. Nothing major. Bring treats, but keep out of the fray. Smile. Just say you really have no opinion, would you like a cookie? Smile.
LOL I love it!
Now I have a problem that one of my coworkers, who honestly hasn't said ten words to me without some sort of tone that indicates "piss off" became really angry at me for bumping into her when I didn't even know she was standing there... it's getting really old. At the time I didn't say much because I knew she was just itching for a fight... tomorrow will be fun...
The coworker is on maternity leave... she can stay gone! :)