How do you approach a supervisor about a fellow coworker...

[Lachesis00]

The coworker is a brown-noser to both supervisors and even the person who runs out dept. She is such a buttkisser. And the sad thing is, they both love it. They all seem to be buddy buddy. They go to lunch, they have tons of gab sessions.

There are a couple problems. One is we are assisgned (sub) catagories... you stay in your (sub) catagory period. We are both under a major catagory, and we each do different sub-catagories. If you run out of work, you can ask a fellow coworker IF they need help.
She takes it upon herself to take items (and each day it's more and more) out of my catagory. This make me look bad as we're graded on our performance. She never EVER asks.
Now if she has a lot of items under her sub catagory and I ask if I can help her, the answer is ALWAYS no. In fact she has gone so far to make sure NO one takes her items. She doesn't even want you answering emails that may pertain to her sub catagory. I have gotten so ripped by her. And yet she thinks nothing of taking over many aspects of my sub catagory.
Now if we're done and folks in your catagory do not need help, you venture outside your catagory and ask other people if they need help. She never ever does this. The reason being is you get trained in your catagory and can cruise right along entering data... when you go to a new unfamilier catagory you slow WAY down. Your numbers decrease. We're audited. We are pushed to get so many done per hour.

We've had meetings in the past as to people NOT taking other folks work w/o asking first. She continually does not listen and will take my work.
I have talked to my friend/fellow sub-catagory coworker who agrees, she is over the top. He has been mad at her for pulling the first stunt with him over the past year. She has been called on the carpet and yet she continues to do it.

The second issue I have is she acts like my supervisor and will audit my work... which wouldn't be a bad thing but she is very degrading. *And* she is not a supervisor... period. She is my equal. If she were trying to help, thats one thing but she literally is trying to make me look bad.
I know she wants to be a supervisor eventually... She will CC my supervisor on every little detail. It's embarrassing and humiliating. Many times do not warrent an email, especially the tone she uses, very condensending.

This is the first job I have ever thought about quitting because of the cruddy treatment I get from one person. The first job I have taken Xanax once a week minimum b/c the stress gets to be so overwhelming.
Again, she is very *in* with both supervisors and the top dog boss. I want to say something but I am not sure how to go about doing it. I do not want to be tattling or woah is me persay but this is affecting my job performence all around.

 

[luvwinnie]

If she is that close to the bosses, I think I'd look for another job...esp. with all the stress it's causing you. Good luck!

 

[Tigger_Magic]

This sounds like a losing situation for you. I agree with luvwinnie -- it's time to look for a new job. Maybe your current employer will give you an exit interview and you can tell them then exactly why you are leaving.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

Yea, I'd have to agree with both Luvwinnie and Tigger, find a new job asap. If she's in with both sups plus the big boss then just leave it and move on. Sorry to hear it though. That really stinks. Major for you, and even a little to get you through the days and weeks.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to find out that she irritates your supervisors too. Who has time to be CC'd on every little detail?

Unless your bosses are complete idiots, they have to see her for what she is. Either way, idiots or not, I'd be looking for another job.

I wouldn't quit until I found one, and then when I was able to quit, I'd tell them exactly why.

 

[JKMastalski]

Is there someone higher than the supervisor you could go to ? That way, you can avoid the buddy-buddy supervisor all together? If not, I would try talking to the supervisor and if it is not resolved, than I guess i would start looking for another job.
Another idea - I don't know how your office works, etc., But is there away for you to lock in a drawer the work so she can't get to it and take it?

 

[CapeCodTenor]

Something I just thought of. Does she take work from everyone else too, or just you? If she does, then you could write a letter detailing all of the complaints and have everyone sign it. This way the supervisors can see that it's just not you that this is happening to.

 

[wvrevy]

Maybe it's just me, but I certainly wouldn't approach the supervisor about it. Instead, I'd address my problem with her directly. Be polite, but make certain that she understands that she is not your supervisor, that you do not appreciate her behaving as if she is, and that you are perfectly willing to accept help when it is needed, as long as she asks first.

I've always found that, if you aren't willing to stand up for yourself, odds are nobody else is going to do it for you.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

I would at least try to talk to the supervisor. This is not at my job but someone's I know: One coworker is a buttkisser and seems all buddy-buddy with the higherups. But the higherups know what they truly are like and the coworker annoys them too.

So I would tell your supervisor that you have an matter you would like to discuss and tell them everything you said here. If they do nothing about it, then quit because you don't want to work for a place that doesn't care for it's employees. If you do have to quit, make sure all this is written as your reason. Many to you. You shouldn't have to deal with that kind of stress from a fellow coworker.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

You are in a pretty much no-win situation. If she is butt-kissing the supervisors chances are even if they are irritated by her they will defend her. And if you go above the Supervisors to their supervisor, you are asking for trouble (loyalty and team player issues).

Deal with the issues you have control over. Tell her you do not appreciate her auditing your work, that is not her position. Tell her how you feel. She may not care, but at least you let her know.

The work world sucks sometimes.

 

[Maleficent13]

As a supervisor, I have a question:

1. How is it that there is enough of your work undone that she can take it? Basically what I'm reading is that she is pretty much twice as fast as you are (ie, she gets hers done and then does a lot of yours too).

The reason I'm asking is if I was a supervisor, and someone came to me with this complaint, I would investigate. If I discovered that Employee A was able to complete all her own work PLUS a lot of her coworkers' work, my thought would be, "Hey, Employee A is pretty darn efficient! I could probably downsize and maintain efficiency."

I'm not trying to be harsh...just pointing out that by complaining someone else is doing your work, it may go in a direction you don't want it to.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

As a supervisor, I have a question:

1. How is it that there is enough of your work undone that she can take it? Basically what I'm reading is that she is pretty much twice as fast as you are (ie, she gets hers done and then does a lot of yours too).

The reason I'm asking is if I was a supervisor, and someone came to me with this complaint, I would investigate. If I discovered that Employee A was able to complete all her own work PLUS a lot of her coworkers' work, my thought would be, "Hey, Employee A is pretty darn efficient! I could probably downsize and maintain efficiency."

I'm not trying to be harsh...just pointing out that by complaining someone else is doing your work, it may go in a direction you don't want it to.

That's a great point as well. The old can of worms...

 

[Kimberly815]

Good luck. I would start looking for a new job. That is what I am doing, and I am having a similar situation. No one is taking my work. But there is one particular individual that treats me as their subordinate, when we are equal (and I have been working for the company longer). And then is impossible to work with, but complains that I am impossible. I don't have any problems with the other 150 people I work with regularly. But He is all buddy buddy with the supervisors, so I have given up any hope of this situation being fixed.

Good luck. Hopefully we will both have new (better) jobs soon!

 

[Lachesis00]

She is in control of 2 catagories that have less work come in then my one catagory. I probably (if she wouldn't touch them) have 2-3x as much work come in.. I will admit, she is faster. She also does a 1/2 @$$ job. During audits, I can hear how hers go and consistantly they are... not as complete with data as they should be. She doesn't push back and get the data as we are required to do. So while her performance may be high, her audits are not.

The only thing I can think of is going to the president of this large company (who has said we can turn in anonymous complaints or we can come to him if we feel we can not talk to our supervisors).
Well I think it is him. I can't remember for sure now. I know that sounds terrible, but we had a meeting last Oct and I've only met him once. There were 3 others under him in the meeting. (OH and this WAS brought up by many people in different catagories) and while I think it was him who said this, I can't remember.

I am the soul $ maker right now and I have always carried the health insurance and so this is not something I am treading on lightly.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Two suggestions, and then a word of warning.

First, is there any way that you can 'secure' the work that is coming in to you , so that she cannot take it? If so, I would look into that right away. It might be a fair request to your supervisors to set up some kind of system to help with the organization, and 'no stealing' policies.

Second, everytime she does something that could be considered the role of your supervisor, audit, etc... and CC:'s it to the boss. I would immediately CC: everyone who was sent her inappropriate email. This would definately include boss, and your coworker. I would have a canned response ready in my computer. Everytime I saw a CC: like that, I would immediately hit the send button on this canned response. Something like this. Re: "title of coworkers email" In regards to the latest email regarding _______. I would be happy to discuss this further with "boss". "co-worker" is not currently in any supervisory authority over my job. Therefore, I ask that she refrain from acting in this supervisory capacity.

If the boss grows tired of constantly receiving coworkers emails, compounded by your canned response, then perhaps the boss will be personally motivated to address the issue.

These things may help your current situation. But, I have to say that the way this company is organized, and quota's are handed out, and audits done, this company has created a negative working environment! Your coworker is doing nobody, not even herself, any favors, by doing what she is doing and trying to make herself look good at the expense of others. We all know people like this. And, usually, we don't like them.

However, with the negative working environment being promoted by this company. They probably do not see it this way. they are likely to see YOU as the one who is the problem, not the team player, etc....

If the company looks like it is happy with the negative working environment, and that it will probably get worse, then I too would consider looking for other employment.

Don't underestimate the affects of this kind of unwarranted stress at work. It is not necessary!

It sounds like you are the 'little guy' in the situation, and it is either play the game by their rules, or you will be the one who is considered the problem.

 

[VSL]

It's never nice to have an unnecessary stressful working situation.

 

[Disney Ella]

I'm sorry to hear things are so rough at work. Dreading work is never a nice feeling.

I've worked lots of places where the top guy makes a big speech about having an open door policy - you can talk to me if there's a problem, I want to help, etc. But the few people I've seen actually talk to the big man were slapped down hard - not by him, but by their supervisors. Maybe your company is different and it really would help to talk to the president, but I somehow doubt your supervisors would be thrilled to hear about this problem from the president.

Other posters mentioned confronting the woman directly and telling her she's not your boss and that you don't want her taking your work. Have you ever done that? I would try talking to your supervisor first and if your concerns are blown off, then you know that a new job might be the best thing for your sanity.

 

[ahutton]

Along the lines of another response...

When you get emails that are "commenting" on your work, or "taking" your work, you can respond by saying something like:

Wow, I really appreciate you taking those items from my desk and trying to help. However, I'm sure there are others in the office who need the help more than I do. I feel good about being able to get my stuff done to meet my deadlines. I expect others need the help more than I do. Thanks again!

Then you are being upbeat and positive, supporting your own ability to effectively and successfully do your job, and redirecting her to get out of your space without being negative or unkind, or perceived as "the problem". In my experience, that is MUCH more effective than going to someone to complain... Same idea if she is degrading your work - say:

Thanks for the suggestion, but I feel like I've got a good handle on what I need to do. I'm sure if "supervisor" or "boss" have a question they'll let me know directly. Have a great afternoon!