First post. I think it's fitting that I start this thing with some good old fashioned bitching.
I recently started a new job, and mostly, things are going well. I'm working hard, being challenged, interested in my work... and really, really wishing that people had better things to do than dislike me for no reason. OK, OK, I guess I can't assume that there isn't a reason. But my sharp deductive abilities lead me to believe that after having two weeks worth of limited interactions with a person you aren't going to have a GOOD reason for not liking them.
A host of small incidents have started to make me feel as if one of my co-workers is absolutely out to get me, a terrifying thing to think when you have just moved to a new city to take on a job. I mean, I ONLY know the people I work with, I'd prefer it if they didn't hate me.
It started when my boss pulled me aside to let me know that she had gone to him with some complaints. We research brain development, so we deal with children and parents all the time, and she had gone to my boss to report that I had used the term "rock n' roll" as a colloquial expression meaning "cool beans" (which is the way she says it,) in front of a parent. OK, so maybe it's not as formal as "cool beans," but this is hardly worthy of talking to my boss about. Certainly seems like something she could have said to me.
Then yesterday she came to my office to talk to me. When I started work here, I had asked her if I could observe her performing some of the tests that I will eventually be administering. She has yet to let me know as she goes to administer a test, which I chalked up to us not having any research subjects who needed those tests. Apparently, I'm not being "pro-active" enough about observing. OK, fine. I asked her to let me know by email, or give me access to her calendar, so that I can find out when she will be performing these tasks. Her reply, "oh, well I never really know when I'm going to be doing it." OK great, and the point of chastising me for my lack of ability to read your mind? This little run in was completely unproductive. The only thing accomplished by this meeting was that now I know she doesn't think I'm performing well at my job. For whatever reason.
Finally, the icing on the cake. She asked me if I would take one of her subjects and administer a test she apparently does think I'm competent in, and I agreed to do it. I asked her what time she would need me and she said, "Oh, there are a lot of available times, how about after lunch?" I agreed and told her to knock on my door whenever she needed me, as I would be doing data analysis in my office all day. "After lunch" turned out to mean "during lunch," and she handed the subject off to me just as our office started having a party for one of our staff members who is leaving. Since the office was providing lunch at this party, I had not brought myself a lunch and ended up not eating all day. So I sat in silence in a closet in the back of the lab while the subject did a computerized test while the office was having a party, perhaps one of the only opportunities I would have had to meet my co-workers. Additionally, when I was done I asked if I could observe her administering one of the tests I am not being pro-active about observing, and was informed that she had already done it. I repeat, I was in my office all day waiting for her. I even scheduled a meeting for another day because I needed to be there, waiting for her.
In conclusion, I am not crazy, this girl really hates me. How disappointing to learn that meaningless drama based on nothing can overshadow the experience of doing rewarding and interesting work in an important field that I really care about.
More on neuroscience and cult film later. Possibly more bitching as well.
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1 comment:
Yo.
I come to you via AND NOW THE SCREAMING STARTS.
Yeah, unfortunately, I'm the longwinded guy who leaves comments... sorry.
Surprised to see you just started this blog so I thought I'd check out what you had to say from the get-go.
Oh, dear.
I really don't know you at all, but I feel so badly for you based on your post. That whole situation must be incredibly frustrating.
I wonder if she has the same sort of relationship with her other workers, or are you lucky enough to be in a specific set of work circumstances that this really only affects you? I guess that's a wondering out loud question that you may not be equipped to answer because you don't know your fellow workers well enough, yet, to learn the answer to that question, even if you wanted to.
I wonder if there's a way to ask your boss for any practical suggestions to addressing your problems (I'm thinking the examination of her administering tests) that would come across as a neutral request rather than as an actual complaint, for instance, which, in that case, could possibly escalate into a perceived salvo in a "feud" between you and your problematic worker. Which I don't think you want, either in reality or as something your boss thinks is actually happening. You know?
(Oooh... long-winded AND incomprehensible!)
Although, re-reading your post, was your boss very serious in presenting this complaint about the "rock n roll" vs. "cool beans' language incident?
That seems like such a nothing issue that an actual complaint sounds really absurd.
I mean, was he humoring her in a way by actually informing you of the complaint?
Or are you actually sort of trapped with an arbitrarily hateful/unhelpful co-worker and a humorless boss?
Boy.
My heart goes out to you.
Good luck.
meanwhile...
Brain research, huh?
Boy, I'd love to exploit YOU!
Uh, for your expertise! On a goofy-ass horror comic book story I've been struggling with.
Brain info.
But, it's early yet. Perhaps you'll find me insufferable, so let's wait...
PS. I go by "cattleworks" usually, but this is the account name I have on Blogger.
Hence, etc.
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