Colleague | A Little Less Fluff

Dear Work Colleagues

Sigh, where do I begin.

When I started here in April I was excited for the prospect of working again (I still am) and meeting other adults to talk to (maybe not so much anymore). I walked in on that first day with hopes of a wonderful working relationship and really, for a second, you had me fooled.

As time went on I noticed some kinks in the shiny “awesome working environment” armor were beginning to show. The glow of the polish was starting to fade. True colours were starting to show. I started seeing the backbiting, the gossiping, the inefficiency of staff, the lack of interest in any work related responsibilities, the superior attitudes, the bending of rules to get whatever is necessary, the cliques and so forth.

Ordinarily you would just say, why don’t you just get outta there? Well I’ll tell you why. It’s very difficult to find another job at this time of year. Also I can’t just quit because the salary helps. Also I quite like working. So my solution is basically one of just keeping to myself and if one of you are friendly enough to want to chat I shall do so.

You see, I do not need your approval of whether I am a good colleague or if I fit into your “group” to get my fucking job done. I do not need you to be holier than thou and treat me like I am some kind of intern in the beginning of a working career. Remember while you were still studying and fucking barely scraping by I was in the working world already edging my way trying to make a name for myself. I am older than you and to some degree I’m also sure your mother taught you some means of respect for that. I do not need the condescending undertones in your voice like everything is a joke to you. Some people have real problems in life rather than “I don’t have tickets for the big game this weekend, what AM I going to do! Boo hoo”.

Also, dear colleagues, maybe if there is something you have on that pea brain of yours that can assemble some thought, how about you speak to the person (whether it be me or anyone else) directly instead of looking at that poor person strangely or making “in the air comments” right by them. Its rude and you certainly have no spine if that is the way you intend getting your point across.

And finally, I am of the opinion that although some of you may think that the work place will crumble should you leave, I have news for you. IT WONT. Unfortunately, and I know this must be devastating to your ego, the work place will run just as normal without you. Yup, you heard me. It’ll carry on. I know this might come as quite a shock to you, but I reckon someone had to tell you. You’ll get over it.

Sincerely, Yasmin

I find it very strange how the human psyche works. In fact I was going to study Clinical Psychology after school. That idea kind fell by the wayside. I don’t know why, but at the time it did. If I had the time and money I would do it now. After all, you’re never too old to learn.

Back to what is bothering me. Colleague

Yesterday at work I asked a colleague (she is an assistant) if her boss was busy as I needed to speak to him. She responds that he has someone in his office. I then ask (since I know she has access to his emails because she has done this for me before) if she can check if her boss received the email I sent last week and subsequently resent yesterday morning. I kept on getting an “out of office” reply. She then responds and says why don’t I just ask him. I say because it sounds like it is a very important conversation happening in the office and I don’t want to interrupt, and ask her politely to just check with him later if she doesn’t mind. She says no problem.

An hour later she comes to my office and says that her boss wants me to print said document I had sent him in the email and bring it to him. As she is turning around she says “oh, and he says don’t your ever threaten him through me again” and promptly walks away. WTF??? No, I mean What The Actual F*CK??

Did I say something to her that completely set her off? Did I in the least threaten her or her boss? What the hell is this about threatening anyways?? I must have had some other conversation that I don’t know of, or zoned out and spewed all kinds of rubbish while under some restraint. How come I don’t remember this?

When I went into her boss’s office with the document he didnt give any signs that he was pissed off with me. Clearly she had been having a bad day? Or year. Or century. Whatever it is/was, she was nearly two steps short of a bitch slap.

I decided, for the benefit of everyone, that I shall show some restraint and give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she was having a bad day. She usually pops by and we have a chat. She has been very silent today. Very. I haven’t seen her interact with anyone really. Unless I am being given the slip and she is talking to everyone but me. I shall give her a couple of days.