How do you deal with your coworkers?

[surferlove007]

I work in the Deans Office at the College of Architecture at Texas A&M university in College Station. I'm in school full time and I work 20 hours a week. That's a lot. I pretty much don't mind my job too much however there is this woman there who drives me ape shit.
Her name is Jan, she is the "Lead Office Assistant." Which means she does my job except she does it full time instead of part time. This woman has never gone to college. Our jobs entail: making copies, delivering the copies, making coffee, delivering coffee, running across campus to deliver more copies, making files, reserving rooms, reserving parking spaces, taking phone calls, delivering messages from the phone calls and doing whatever other tasks the Dean has asked us to do.
Jan believes that since she is 60 she does not have to make coffee, answer the phone, make copies or deliver copies. She also takes 1.5 hour lunch breaks everyday and locks her computer at the front desk so the student assistants cannot get online or book anything in her absence. I get irritated with her because she asks me to check the coffee every 15 minutes and talks to me like I'm a toddler and not an adult.
I suppose my frustration reached its peak last Thursday when I had asked earlier in the day to leave 30 minutes early to meet with some classmates over a group project and Dawn (a superior lady) said it was fine. I was preparing to leave when Jan comes up to me and tells me I have to stay and that my jobs more important. After I got over the shock of her telling me my $6.00/hr job was more important than working toward my BA Degree I told her that I had already cleared it with Dawn and that I was leaving. She then went to Kathy (the lady above Dawn) and complained to her for 5 minutes and told me to go talk to her or to stay until 2:00. (I ride the bus from the Apt to TAMU, and then from TAMU to Blinn (the school I'm at now atm). The bus takes a while and gas is expensive.

So today I put her out of my mind, talked to her at the very minimum. The other student assistants get aggravated. $6.00/hr is just sometimes not worth putting up with someone like that.
I'm an intelligent young lady, I don't need an uneducated bitter grandmother telling me what to do and that school comes second.

[Willravel]

1.5 hour lunch breaks? I'd likely fire an employee for something like that. Are Kathy and Dawn aware of Jan's unwillingness to make coffee, answer the phone, make copies or deliver copies?

[surferlove007]

They're aware but they don't care. Dawn doesn't care for Jan...but Jan is protected by Kathy, Dawns Superior. So when Jan complains to Kathy something happens. Other then that, everyone wouldn't do anything for her.

[Willravel]

Well there's always Rickrolling some child porn on her computer, but I guess the only thing you can do is either confront her in a way that you think may change her behavior or leave her to her own moronic devices.

[Fotzlid]

I work with someone similar. She is the ward secretary. She nevers shows up on time, constantly leaves her desk and disappears for 15-20 minutes at a time, gives me all the phone calls even when 95% are not for me and is generally very snippy. I've tried talking with her but to no avail. She has an excuse for everything. She is also one of those people who would go out of her way to make someone elses life miserable if she doesn't like them. I've learned to just ignore her. She stays on her side of the ER and I stay on mine.

[Willravel]

You guys need to work for me. I REWARD hard workers (ever heard of a $500 Christmas bonus for someone who makes $12,000 a year?) and would probably fire someone if they were consistently late. As a manager, I know that people like Jan and Fot's ward secretary don't just screw up their work, but are unhealthy for the whole workplace. One person can ruin production for a whole area of the company. People like that belong in mall kiosks (unless they learn), not working with the bright folks here on TFP.

[Fotzlid]

I'd can her ass if it were up to me, but it isn't so I deal with it.

[surferlove007]

Yea, well they treat the student workers like the lowest of the low. I'm just one of the few who's not going to put up with it. I'm starting to understand why these people can't manage to keep student workers around for more than a semester. Putting up with people like her is not easy and it gets old in a hurry. I would lock her in the copy room if I had the keys...Oh and not to mention its just another good incentive to finish school, not that I needed one.

[Fotzlid]

If they use a lot of students to fill spots, its not too suprising they take that view. Always a fresh crop to take the open places. Not right, but not suprising.

[match000]

perhaps you should find a research job. working as an undergraduate research assistant makes your resume look better and will pay more than $6.00 / hour (probably twice that).

and yes, I know you are a BA and I even tho I am a BS, I am pretty sure BA degrees have research jobs too. The psychology departments usually love taking on undergrads to help coordinate and man those long and boring psych experiments which require someone to be there for hours on end waiting for people ; you can study during those times too!

If you arent a psych major, it might be alittle difficult; but that's just an example.

additionally - library counter jobs are the BEST. you are paid to just sit there and study (hardly anyone checks out books, and besides, its quick to do). if u cant get a counter job, shelving books isnt as ideal but its a pretty easy job too. But I think library jobs probably pay around $6 / hr too

[Shauk]

Originally Posted by willravel

You guys need to work for me. I REWARD hard workers (ever heard of a $500 Christmas bonus for someone who makes $12,000 a year?) and would probably fire someone if they were consistently late. As a manager, I know that people like Jan and Fot's ward secretary don't just screw up their work, but are unhealthy for the whole workplace. One person can ruin production for a whole area of the company. People like that belong in mall kiosks (unless they learn), not working with the bright folks here on TFP.

what are you hiring for? lol


also, ghoast


have you taken the initiative here and tried to get on her good side? Maybe find out what her interests are? She can't be a cold blooded wench through and through.

Hell, bring her a muffin, maybe she'll think you're worth treating nice if she takes you out of the prejudiced lens of "temp fodder"

[Hain]

I:
Log when my coworkers do stuff that pisses me off and gets unnoticed.
When I get fed up with it, I hand in that log of the people and find a new position

@ Ghoastgirl: have you ever considered finding a different position? Like tutoring? Even in my first year of college I held down 24-credit hours a week plus 10-official hours of work. (The unfortunate part of living on campus and being a tutor is that your students know where you live and can ask you questions outside of the office.)

Being a private tutor, off the campus books, is also a great way to make top dollar income.

[Cynthetiq]

Welcome to the real world of office politics.

It isn't much different in the real world when it comes to office politics. There will be someone who doesn't pull their weight who is protected by someone in power. There is always someone who doesn't pull their weight. There is always someone who has X obligation and the team demands Y time. There is a know-it-all/condescending type person. There are infinitely more combinations and situations.

I've been able to simply put people into one of two camps, blockers or facilitators. Blockers do nothing but block you from your goal, no matter what the goal is, work or personal related. Facilitators do everything to help you with your goal. They may not directly get involved but the fact that they aren't a blocker is already a 0% facilitator.

My solution that works for me is quite simple. I'm not there to make friends, I'm not there for having fun. I'm there as an exchange of time versus money. Understand what the exchange of time versus money is. It doesn't matter if it's $3.35/hour (minimum wage when I was in high school,) $4.25/hour (minimum wage when I was in my early 20's,) $17/hour (temp job I'm currently hiring for, )$43,000 (yearly median salary) or $75,000 (management position.)

The employer needs someone to fill up a time schedule of skilled people. I need to find someone willing to pay me money for my skills so that I can pay bills/have disposable income (whatever the need is).

Generally my need of the money outweighs everything else. I don't remember any of the pieces of shit that blocked me from accomplishing my work/tasks/personal goals within a company. Even if the person is in direct conflict with me. I either find a way to work around the individual or find a way out within my own timeframe and choice, this applies to my boss as well. I'm not going to jump ship because some other fucktard decided to make it their goal in life to be a thorn in everyone's side.

YMMV

[jewels]

Chances are that if she's 60, she's been there a long time and is anxious to pension out. Perhaps she views your position as her assistant, so maybe you should clarify with someone above her to find out if this is so.

Whenever I've had someone above me treat me with disrespect, I straighten them out very quickly. I simply let him/her know that although I'm not the same paygrade or of the same authority, I abide by the same rules and use the same toilet. That being said, two can play her game. You could always use that extra half hour of lunch as ammo. (Did I really say that? )

[The_Jazz]

Until (or even unless) Dawn or Kathy force the issue, it seems pretty easy to just ignore her. If you don't have to work shoulder to shoulder with her or report in to her, then just do your job and leave her alone. It doesn't matter what she does or doesn't get away with; that's not your business. You focus on what you do and do it to the best of your ability. Remember that when you've gotten the benefit of a good recommendation out of this job (which is really one of the big reasons you have it), she'll still be stuck doing the same thing. You're going to surpass the high point of her life exponetially, so putting up with petty bullshit now is no big deal.

She most likely treats everyone in your position like this. She's a bad employee, but that's not your problem. Don't get sucked into the drama of trying to "fix" her. If I were the boss in this situation, I'd give Jan a little talking to, fire you and just confirm your employment (i.e. no recommendation at all which amounts to a negative) when your future employer called.

[surferlove007]

Fire me? I've done an excellent job, I jump when asked to no questions asked...however school is top priority. I already mentioned that.
And Shauk...The irony was that I was thinking she wasn't so bad the day before and then that happened and it flushed all that away. I even asked her what she was doing for Easter. Thursday happened and I couldn't care less what she does.

[Cynthetiq]

Originally Posted by ghoastgirl1

Fire me? I've done an excellent job, I jump when asked to no questions asked...however school is top priority. I already mentioned that.
And Shauk...The irony was that I was thinking she wasn't so bad the day before and then that happened and it flushed all that away. I even asked her what she was doing for Easter. Thursday happened and I couldn't care less what she does.

I think the point that Jazz is making is that the long term worker is more important in the big picture. Some transient that comes in and rocks the boat and then leaves isn't helpful at all to the overall longterm health of the group.

If I was managing the group I may be inclined to do the same thing. I have to think of the team as a whole and then the individuals, not the individual and then the team.

[The_Jazz]

Cyn has it right. I'm going to believe a longtime employee over a temp/short term worker every single time. Honestly, I'm at the point where I rarely bother to learn a summer employee's name any more, even if they're working for me. I'm sure they're all nice people, but I don't have the time or energy to get to know them like I do the folks that have been with me for years. That, to some extent, is what you're faced with here. If you're going to be part of the disruption that's getting in the way of business AND you're going to be gone soon anyway, I'd just find a way to help you out the door a little sooner just to solve the problem the easiest way possible. It would have nothing to do with how hard a worker you are; you're a temp (of sorts) so by definition you're easily replaceable.

GG, this isn't meant as anything negative about you at all, but if your top priority is school (as it should be), then it isn't work. And it is the top priority of the folks you work for. You need to remember that.

Again, this isn't an issue unless one of the higher-ups decide it is. My advice is to just keep your mouth shut, tough out the next few months and be happy with the fact that you're going on to a career that doesn't involve fetch coffee. Honestly, the energy you'd expend fighting petty bullshit office political games isn't worth it since you're going to be gone soon. Just make sure that whoever's going to go on your resume thinks that you're a hard worker. Obviously Jan isn't going to be that person, so why do you care what she thinks? Or what she does? She may have permission to take a 1.5 hour lunch every day and no one bothered to tell you.

If she does something that makes it impossible for you to finish your job immediately because she isn't there or won't do it, just write her or someone else a note as to what needs to be done, why you weren't able to finish it and go on your merry way.

[Willravel]

The_Jazz, it's also the responsibility of management not the be ignorant to any issues going on between my employees if it interferes with work. If I hire someone to do a job (like make coffee, answer the phone, make copies or deliver copies) and this person isn't doing that job, it's up to me to monitor them to a reasonable degree so that I see evidence that they're not doing their job. The biggest mistake a manager can make is to leave his or her employees completely to their own devices. You might as well not even be there.

When I was working for my previous employer, I had to fire several people for what I'd call laziness or entitlement. If you can't do the job I pay you for, or even worse if your poor behavior interferes with the ability of those around you to do their job, there's no place for you on my team.

[Cynthetiq]

Originally Posted by willravel

The_Jazz, it's also the responsibility of management not the be ignorant to any issues going on between my employees if it interferes with work. If I hire someone to do a job (like make coffee, answer the phone, make copies or deliver copies) and this person isn't doing that job, it's up to me to monitor them to a reasonable degree so that I see evidence that they're not doing their job. The biggest mistake a manager can make is to leave his or her employees completely to their own devices. You might as well not even be there.

When I was working for my previous employer, I had to fire several people for what I'd call laziness or entitlement. If you can't do the job I pay you for, or even worse if your poor behavior interferes with the ability of those around you to do their job, there's no place for you on my team.

True, but in some cases, when politics prevail and protect the lazy or entitled individual, there is little one can do.

Further, there are other protections that could be in place like the idea of potential lawsuit. If Jan is a black woman over 55 she's a triple dip protected class. You couldn't fire her without looking over your shoulder every day that a potential lawsuit was coming.

[The_Jazz]

Will, you are correct, which is why I'm working under the assumption that management knows what Jan is up to. She's obviously a low-level employee if she's 60 and doing this, so I have to think that there's at least some tacit approval somewhere up the chain for this sense of entitlement. It may simply be seniority, and if she's the senior person and wants to delegate a particular task to someone else, that's her perogative. Given the information that we have, I think that GG could potentially "whack the hornets nest" if she makes an issue of this.

[Willravel]

Cynth, 9/10ths of being a manager is knowing how to fire someone in a way where they think a lawsuit would be suicide. Seriously.

Jazz, I'm not saying GG should do anything, in fact it's not her responsibility. This situation is a failure on the part of management. A healthier work team is more productive and happy. This 60 year old is a black hole of efficiency.

[Jinn]

It isn't much different in the real world when it comes to office politics. There will be someone who doesn't pull their weight who is protected by someone in power. There is always someone who doesn't pull their weight. There is always someone who has X obligation and the team demands Y time. There is a know-it-all/condescending type person. There are infinitely more combinations and situations.

Amen. Jan has a different name at my workplace, but she's there nonetheless.

EDIT:

Originally Posted by willravel

The biggest mistake a manager can make is to leave his or her employees completely to their own devices. You might as well not even be there.

I couldn't disagree more. I hate when my bosses can't leave me to actually DO my work. They hired me to be a self-sufficient employee. I will report my status when asked, and I will come to THEM when I need assistance. I don't need them asking me every couple days if I'm okay.

Luckily enough, my current boss understands that he doesn't need to check up on me every day.

[Cynthetiq]

Originally Posted by willravel

Cynth, 9/10ths of being a manager is knowing how to fire someone in a way where they think a lawsuit would be suicide. Seriously.

Jazz, I'm not saying GG should do anything, in fact it's not her responsibility. This situation is a failure on the part of management. A healthier work team is more productive and happy. This 60 year old is a black hole of efficiency.

Sorry will, but no.

The gambler song has better information than that simple sentence. Sometimes you can't fire someone. It's knowing when to hold'em, fold'em, or walk away.

I have had lock, stock, and barrel logs, reports, and data on why I could fire someone and was not given permission to fire someone because of the worry of lawsuits. I was the lone ranger at the office of firing people. I fired people that people thought could not be fired. And yet, there are just sometimes when you just aren't going to be able to. A triple dip black woman over 50 is just someone you aren't going to be able to fire short of direct insubordination. The only way I was able to do anything was during a major reorganization. Other than that, the triple dip is not worth it to the company.

Any manager, I don't care how knowledgable or good they are will know and understand that you can't fire someone who is 2 years from retirement. You may try to find them a payout package, but if they decline you cannot just fire them. You cannot modify their job too much. You have to bear out the 2 years.

And there's no need to micro manage any employee. Managers should leave employees to do their jobs. Managers should manage, not stand over shoulders.

[Ustwo]

Back when my wife was working for a big company and was having issues with coworkers I'd always frame it from the management point of view so she could see their side of it.

You have a couple of very low level employees who's job description includes making coffee, aka gophers. One is old and if it likes any old low level university employee I ran into, not very good at their job, lazy, and most likely has some personality issues since they haven't found something better. The other is a very young temporary college student.

Unless there is some busybody middle manager type, no one really cares what the issue is and who does their job better, as long as the phone is answered, the copies are made, and the coffee is fresh.

As Jazz/Cynth said the older woman will most likely 'win' any disputes since they know shes not going anywhere unlike the college student, regardless of who does the better job.

Also if the old one is union, firing them is damn near impossible at a university, at least in the state schools in Illinois, no matter how utterly useless they are. Every competent employee I knew at my last university is now gone to the private sector, they couldn't take dealing with the slugs. Odds are management would have to deal with this person a long time no matter what, while the college student again, is gone soon, I'd guess the average college employee works less than a year at a job.

So unless you want to play office politics, get buddy buddy with her boss, that sort of thing, its best just ignored.

[Jinn]

Originally Posted by Ustwo

Unless there is some busybody middle manager type, no one really cares what the issue is and who does their job better, as long as the phone is answered, the copies are made, and the coffee is fresh.

This, too, is a good point. There's probably a reason you're paid $6.00/hr. They aren't asking for perfection here, and it's not like you are competing with Jan on a big contract or working on a project critical to the University. They're probably not paid enough, themselves, to really care what kind of personality disagreements are happening below them, so long as the papers are copied and the coffee is made.

I'd recommend finding employers who NEED you, or finding jobs that NEED your knowledge and skills.

I worked 24 hours a week while full time in school, but I ended up in a professional job where even my part-time skills were necessary. Since graduation it's become full time and well-paying, in an environment where my boss actually cares about his employees (because we're similarly hard to replace). It can't hurt to start looking.

When I was younger I worked fast food, and exactly the thing you're describing happens. Thing was, it didn't fucking matter. As long as the customers got their food on time and it was cooked, management didn't really care that I hated my coworkers.

[Willravel]

Originally Posted by JinnKai

I couldn't disagree more. I hate when my bosses can't leave me to actually DO my work. They hired me to be a self-sufficient employee. I will report my status when asked, and I will come to THEM when I need assistance. I don't need them asking me every couple days if I'm okay.

Luckily enough, my current boss understands that he doesn't need to check up on me every day.

What if you were a bad employee, or worse still, what if you had some jackass distracting you from your work? It's the job of management to manage. And I don't mean lurking over your shoulder, but rather simply being aware of what's going on. I'm not just going to sit in my office all day answering phones.

When I manage, I'm kinda like a coach. I show people the ropes, do hand holding for a bit until the team member is ready, and I make sure that the whole team functions well. If I've done my job, when they're playing the big game, I can just sit back and take pride.

Cynth: yes there are situations where firing is tricky or near impossible, but if you know that someone is trouble, you can at least isolate them so that they don't bring the whole place down. It almost seems as if people are suggesting that in GG's situation the management isn't at fault. They really are.

[Ustwo]

Originally Posted by willravel

Cynth: yes there are situations where firing is tricky or near impossible, but if you know that someone is trouble, you can at least isolate them so that they don't bring the whole place down. It almost seems as if people are suggesting that in GG's situation the management isn't at fault. They really are.

The trick the better administrators did at my school was to sucker some other department into taking them.

[vanblah]

Here's the deal. You're NOT in a normal office situation. You are a work/study student and Jan is an employee at a school. What you have to keep in mind is Jan has probably been there longer than you and will likely be there after you graduate. Yes, it's unfair that Jan treats you a certain way ... but try to see it the other way around. How many other students have had your job over the years that Jan has been there? Now, ask yourself how many of them have been good workers vs. bad workers? How much BS has had Jan had to deal with from whiny students in the past? Chances are ... a LOT. And the turnover within the academic year is usually high so she doesn't have much of a chance to form a relationship and so she just sort of lumps all the work/study students into one. It's human nature.

I am not saying that you are a whiny student. Probably quite the opposite knowing what I know based on your presence here at TFP.

It certainly isn't fair for you to be treated a certain way based on Jan's previous experiences but if you can figure out WHY she acts a certain way you can fix the relationship pretty easily without "reporting her to a higher authority." Keep in mind that schools don't generally fire people ... ever.

The 1.5 hour lunch breaks, coming in late and general "slackerishness" are par for the course at the school I work at DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR; but during the Summer (when students are on vacation usually) and during the breaks (which you get in Spring and Winter) the staff are usually working -- sometimes overtime depending on the department. I always have to bite my tongue when a returning student asks about my "Summer vacation." Yeah, you don't get those in the real world.

During Spring Break here I worked 60 hours making sure our email server was up to date ... then when I took VACATION last week (for my daughter's Spring Break) I worked from home for several days because that very same MF'ing email server needed more attention. M$ Exchange is a fickle bastard.

Of course, I could be completely wrong ... Jan might just be a royal bitch on a power trip.

[Willravel]

Originally Posted by Ustwo

The trick the better administrators did at my school was to sucker some other department into taking them.

It's a lot tougher to fire someone with a union. Still, that solution still has that person doing damage somewhere, which I don't like at all. It would be better to isolate them by giving them a boring and lonely job.

If they quit, it's a lot harder to sue for wrongful termination.

[surferlove007]

Originally Posted by jewels

Chances are that if she's 60, she's been there a long time and is anxious to pension out. Perhaps she views your position as her assistant, so maybe you should clarify with someone above her to find out if this is so.

Whenever I've had someone above me treat me with disrespect, I straighten them out very quickly. I simply let him/her know that although I'm not the same paygrade or of the same authority, I abide by the same rules and use the same toilet. That being said, two can play her game. You could always use that extra half hour of lunch as ammo. (Did I really say that? )

I will clarify some information guys, since a lot of folks are emphasizing her being with the company for x amount of years. She has worked at the deans office for 2 years, my roommate who is a senior at TAMU has worked here longer than she has. So when it comes to her having seniority based on time elapsed that does not give her anything. Her age and her working full time are the only differences between the student workers and her. We all do the same jobs, usually us. I view her as dead weight taking up space and oxygen in my office.

I believe they have such a problem keeping student workers because when you're learning something that doesn't take 2 or 3 brain cells to rub together to figure out and someone is acting like its a seriously difficult task, it's not motivating. If I were to leave, they would have no one to work for them Tuesdays and Thursdays and therefore would be forced to do the copying and delivering themselves. I would need a payraise inorder to stay at this job through the summer into next year. If the management were actually doing their job I would believe they would see that the reason students don't stay more than a semester would be because they don't want to deal with an uneducated grandmother telling them to do their job as well as hers.

Often times Jan interrupts what I'm doing something and adds on four more tasks. I don't mind doing what I'm asked, but I do mind constantly being interrupted while I'm doing them., that wastes my time and it throws me off my mindset.

I have looked into other jobs on campus however I'd like to finish out the semester here and leave because I'm going to do summer school and therefore not just "quit" and hopefully get a good recommendation out it.

I'm lifeguard certified so I'm already on the trail to finding another job that gets me out of this hole. I worked in Lubbock at the Texas Tech Aquatic Center last semester. Loved my job, was good at it and I was respected. I expect to find something similar here.

[vanblah]

Originally Posted by ghoastgirl1

I believe they have such a problem keeping student workers because when you're learning something that doesn't take 2 or 3 brain cells to rub together to figure out and someone is acting like its a seriously difficult task, it's not motivating. If I were to leave, they would have no one to work for them Tuesdays and Thursdays and therefore would be forced to do the copying and delivering themselves. I would need a payraise inorder to stay at this job through the summer into next year.

Well, this is partially true. Work/study postions just aren't fulfilling no matter what. They are temporary ... most likely the only reason this position exists is so the school can offer it as financial aid and get some form of grant money from the government. Sort of a "create a need to fill a need" philosophy.

If you were to leave, they'd just hire another student. There's most likely a waiting list.

Just remind yourself that it's temporary.

[surferlove007]

Oh and I had also wanted to mention, I asked how to deal with coworkers...not how/why I should be fired because I don't want to deal with my managers making me work with someone who has the IQ of a quarter. Thanks...

[Willravel]

Originally Posted by vanblah

I always have to bite my tongue when a returning student asks about my "Summer vacation." Yeah, you don't get those in the real world. Yeah, you don't get those in the real world.

During Spring Break here I worked 60 hours making sure our email server was up to date ... then when I took VACATION last week (for my daughter's Spring Break) I worked from home for several days because that very same MF'ing email server needed more attention. M$ Exchange is a fickle bastard.

Boy did this get off topic. We all hate Microsoft (we really, really do), but I don't see how it applies.

[Jinn]

It was an aside until you made it a topic.

[The_Jazz]

In case you missed it:

Originally Posted by The_Jazz

My advice is to just keep your mouth shut, tough out the next few months and be happy with the fact that you're going on to a career that doesn't involve fetching coffee.

Either find another job (which it sounds like what you're going to do) or tough this one out. You should realize that as an employer, I'd wonder why you bounced from job to job. Also, leaving an office job to go be a lifeguard during nonsummer months looks questionable. If you were lucky enough to make it into a face-to-face interview, I would have several questions. If your answer was anything like this thread, that's going to be a black mark against you because it makes it appear that you don't do well in an office environment.

The office environment you're in now is a minor annoyance. Keep your eyes on the prize - the office job you want down the road.

GG - you and I have had our moments, but I think by now I only think highly of you. This is free advice, and maybe it's worth what you're paying for it, but I think you need to tough this out, realize that Jan's not there to order you around, and just focus on what your job really is. Future employers are going to be much more interested in your actual office job (even if it is fluffed up bullshit like this one) than any lifeguarding (unless you are managing several lifeguards, scheduling, etc.). You're going to be an architect, and that means that you're going to have to deal with the architectual version of me. When I interview folks straight out of college (which I do all the time since I rarely look for folks with experience), I look for folks that will fit with our office culture and won't cause problems. A work history that looks like a revolving door is a deal killer, but it makes me wonder what happened. Office work is ALWAYS going to look better to a future employer (assuming you're applying for office work) than not, so my advice continues to be to suck it up, deal until the end of the semester/quarter, then go on your merry way remembering that she's stuck fetching coffee while you're off doing something much more exciting. Eyes on the prize, baby.

[cj2112]

Whenever I have issues w/ co-workers, it always comes down to me realizing I have the issue, not the co-worker. People are gonna be dicks, it's what they do. I can choose to suck it up, and do the best job I can do, or I can choose to leave. I have NO control over others choices, I can only control mine. It appears you have a choice to make, either deal, or don't deal. It really is that simple.

[Willravel]

Originally Posted by JinnKai

It was an aside until you made it a topic.

It was a topic until you made it a discussion.

OWNED!

[Strange Famous]

File a complaint against her?

If any employer is going to be sensitive to stuff like that it will be a college.

[vanblah]

Originally Posted by willravel

It was a topic until you made it a discussion.

OWNED!

I'll bite ...

It was an anecdote that I used to illustrate a point that has been rendered moot by a subsequent post by GG and deserves no further discussion. Once she cleared up the longevity factor for Jan it became worthless.

Hah!

GG, from what you have said, it sounds like Jan is on a power trip ...


EDIT: BTW, Will ... stop taking my quotes out of context to further your anti-M$ crusade.