22 replies to this topic

[Maeghan]

A little background information.

I've been at my current job for over a year. I've been there the third longest, just behind the owner and the groomer.
I'm a "morning manager" of sorts. I open at 6 am, usually show up earlier, and run it until 10 when the manager comes in or whenever the owner comes in, around 9. During that time, I'm running the front desk, cleaning, answering phones etc.

In the 5 months, we've had about 4 or 5 people working 6-10 with me. Before that time, I would work by myself until 9, doing all of the above and watching the dogs, breaking up fights, and cleaning up pee & shit.

They hardly last more then 4 weeks.

Inevitably, the job isn't what they thought and they just hang their hands and quit. Or they constantly talk shit about me behind my back and either get fed up when the owner doesn't listen to them and they leave in a huff or the owner gets tired of them bitching and they fire them.

Currently there's a young woman who does all the cleaning. I never asked her to. I went on a 5 day leave for a funeral, before then we were splitting it down the middle, but when I get back she has this whole other method and does it herself. I offer to help when I have down time up front but she says she wants to keep her "routine". K, no problem. If she wants to do it, what am I supposed to do?

The owner has even asked her to just stay with the dogs, but she still insists on doing all of the cleaning. Then she tells the owner and the manager that I don't do anything, that I need to help clean, that she really "earned her money today". It makes me very self-concious because the manager only tolerates me and is nice to me because he knows the owner loves me. If he had his way, he would have fired me a long time ago.

I don't do a bad job. The customers know me. They expect me in the mornings and if I'm not there, they go out of their way asking me where I was, etc. Thats why the owner loves me, because Ill get up early every day to open, I can talk to the customers very well, and the customers love me.

I feel like everyone at work other than the owner and groomer and the other kennel tech who works evenings, are out to get me because Im so close to the owner.

Im tired of being shit on constantly.
Im tired of having to constantly prove myself.
Im tired of being the only one who doesn't go out of their way to bitch about someone.
Im tired of having my job in jeopardy because I love this job. I love my boss because she's an amazing woman who I respect. I love (most) of my coworkers. I love my customers and I love their dogs.

If I lost this job. I dont know what I would do.

Right now, Im gritting my teeth through all this bullshit so when we build the second location, Ill be manager and I will get to choose who I work with. It just creeps me out that people can be so... cruel. I can't imagine trying intentionally to get someone fired. Even though I know all of this, I never say anything to her. I smile and make talk and try to be friends with her. Because deep down, I just want to work and I want everyone to like me. Im not as secure as they think I am.

/endrant

Do you have experience with office politics?
How do you deal with the constant back stabbing and drama?

Edited by Maeghan, 02 August 2012 - 02:48 PM.

[Yung]

Do you have experience with office politics?

Honestly I think a better question would be to ask who here has not had experience with office politics.

"Office politics" exist everywhere, from churches to schools. Ultimately it is all the same.

[idontknow951]

Trust no one. Bring in something to record what she says and write down everything. If they eventually fire you, get a lawyer and sue their asses off. You're in a spot where it's your word against someone elses'.

[tri]

My mom always said work for your self not one else.

[Maeghan]

Trust no one. Bring in something to record what she says and write down everything. If they eventually fire you, get a lawyer and sue their asses off. You're in a spot where it's your word against someone elses'.

I can't do that.

She never says anything in front of me. I hear it from the groomer and the owner.

The owners are good people. I would never sue them.

[idontknow951]

I can't do that.

She never says anything in front of me. I hear it from the groomer and the owner.

The owners are good people. I would never sue them.

Then you'll get the short end of the stick. If you honestly feel at risk of being laid off, then you need to begin to document EVERYTHING you do.

[Maloo]

In the 5 months, we've had about 4 or 5 people working 6-10 with me. Before that time, I would work by myself until 9, doing all of the above and watching the dogs, breaking up fights, and cleaning up pee & shit.

I giggled when I read this part, I must confess..
Also, it really sucks that you have to put up with this. I really think it's nice of you not to want to throw anyone under the bus, even when they're trying to do the same to you. I'd say the best thing to do would be to just start cleaning before she has the chance to, or something, just to show everyone that you are, in fact, trying to do your job, and she's the one standing on your way.

[Maeghan]

Unfortunately, the owner only wants me at the front desk.

So, while Im helping people and shuffling dogs around she starts the cleaning.

And I can't exactly leave the front desk. People get really annoyed when theyre running to work and trying to drop off as quickly as possible and no ones at the front to take their dog.

[Maloo]

Unfortunately, the owner only wants me at the front desk.

So, while Im helping people and shuffling dogs around she starts the cleaning.

And I can't exactly leave the front desk. People get really annoyed when theyre running to work and trying to drop off as quickly as possible and no ones at the front to take their dog.

Well, in that case, I'd arrive early, shit on the floor, blame a dog and laugh while she's cleaning your shit

[luvsmyncis]

What are you doing that makes people dislike you? I would suggest you try to find out, keep a level head and not take their criticism personally, and improve on whatever that behavior is. Sadly, sometimes every workplace looks to one person to blame everything on, but in all my experience, that person is ALWAYS the weakest in the team. Not that you DESERVE to have people whisper behind your back, but there must be something you've done (or not done) to get them started.

It doesn't matter that you never asked that woman to do all the cleaning, it's clear she takes a good amount of pride in it. Even so, I imagine if she's scrubbing while you're sitting down talking on the phone, she can view that as you being lazy. Perhaps some kind of a work rotation and cross training will make people feel like the workload is being distributed evenly. Maybe you can even learn something from the system she's come up with while you were away. Instead of feeling like you have to defend yourself, you should feel like you can improve. Because we can all improve.

The biggest issue with workplace politics is an individual's insatiable thirst for power. Everyone wants to do things THEIR way, even though they should all concentrate on just getting the job done as painlessly as possible. I have voiced this a million times in my workplace but I really think people prefer to have things disorganized, hectic, and full of drama than actually being reasonable and conceding to a different idea that would benefit the entire team.

Good luck with that.

[Maeghan]

Perhaps some kind of a work rotation and cross training will make people feel like the workload is being distributed evenly.

The owner is very particular about who works in the front. She's very concerned with the relationship we hold with our clients and when we've tried new people on the desk, the customers get upset or something. They don't like handing their dog off to someone they don't know or trust.

People who pay the amount of money they do, for us to watch their dogs, love their dogs like children. I love my dog. They are devoted to their dogs.

Other wise, you're probably right.
I just don't know what I can do better. I devote so much of my life to this. I'm basically the walking google.
"Maeghan, whos this dog?"... "That's Nate, he's boarding to the 8th"
"Maeghan, how much does Coco eat?".... "1/2 cup, AM & PM, with one of his zyrtec in the morning"
"Maeghan, what kind of groom is Missy supposed to get"..."She wanted a puppy cut, but with a shaved muzzle and tail"
"Maeghan, did anyone want a bath?"..."Yes, Cleo; she's getting picked up at 5, but I would start her bath at 3 because she'll take so long to dry. Im gonna do Lucky before I leave today cause he's leaving at 3. And just a nail trim on Lucy."

And whats most frustrating is that no one comes up to me and says, "Hey, could you clean more?" or "Hey, could you do this better?"

I realize that this whole post has veered off into my bitching and whining. But I have no one else to talk to. And I'm going insane.

Edited by Maeghan, 02 August 2012 - 04:15 PM.

[Mishelle]

I also have to deal with the same thing people doing things then complaining no one does anything. We have a shift leader who's supposed to tell us what to do but she's SUPER non confrontational and passive aggressive. So she'll just do everything herself and then complain about people not doing anything in a really passive aggressive way. And it's all about how hard her life is and how hard she has it. I remember she was about to leave so I would have to be the only cashier from 3pm in the afternoon til close because someone wasn't showing up that day. And cashiers also have to do stocking so I asked her just to give me a few minutes until I finished stocking the fridge. It took me about 15 minutes and she bitched and complained the whole time how she wanted to go home and she was so tired of cashiering when I'm the carrying heavy boxes of drinks and stocking the damn fridge. She complains that she's always the one to have to make the coffee but she never even gives anyone the chance to do it. She will take any opportunity to leave her register and then we can't leave because she's gone and if we have a long line we're all going to get bitched at by the boss. She even threw money at one of the other cashiers for asking her for some change.

I say just do it. Do the cleaning even if she doesn't want you to so she doesn't have anything to complain about.

[Charli]

I agree with punk. It doesn't seem likely that everyone is out to get you because they're all jealous that the owner likes you. If they are always talking shit about you, or complaining to your manager about you, pay attention to the shit they are saying and the complaints they're making. I doubt everyone is being mean for the sake of being mean. If they're complaining that you never clean, but your owner has told you not to clean because she wants you up front and wants them cleaning, why doesn't she explain that to them? Or why dont you?

The owner is very particular about who works in the front. She's very concerned with the relationship we hold with our clients and when we've tried new people on the desk, the customers get upset or something. They don't like handing their dog off to someone they don't know or trust.

People who pay the amount of money they do, for us to watch their dogs, love their dogs like children. I love my dog. They are devoted to their dogs.

It sounds like the new people just need more/better training. No one is good their first day

[luvsmyncis]

Well, it always seems like nothing gets accomplished at work, so you have to air it out SOMEWHERE. I usually take out grievances at work on my family.

I don't think I've ever been the person shit-talked about at work. I always work hard and keep my head down, but I never expect the same out of anyone else. I know some people are lazy. I know some people get away with shit. I know I get a little aggravated when I'm running around sweating while the other girls are standing around talking about pets or boyfriends. But the only thing I can control is what I do. I never dick around on the clock, always stay late when someone calls in, and I come home exhausted, but as far as I know, the only shit talk that goes on about me is that I'm like a weird lesbian or something.

[Ladida]

After I started doing well academically, suddenly people in my programme started saying a bunch of crap about me. Then lecturers who were pals with those students started saying a bunch of crap too. It all came down to jealousy. Those people in my programme were jealous. I outperformed the people who were now teaching me. People went out of their way to make shit up and spread it around like gospel. People even tried to have my grades changed to lower ones.

Your workmates are jealous of you. I doubt there's anything that you need to change, especially since the customers love you. Your workmates are all bitchy because you're well liked and good at what you do, and they can't handle it, so they'll do whatever they can to try and undermine you. Don't give them that chance. Do all the work you're assigned to do, just as you are. If you're not assigned to clean, and are supposed to handle the customers, then do that. That way, the owner has no cause to get rid of you, no matter what any of your nasty co-workers say.

[MEGAKICK]

OP, clearly you're working in a pet-related industry... Pet store?

I worked as an unregistered vet tech for roughly one year at a local veterinary clinic. I had a love/hate relationship with co workers, the vet, and the groomer himself. I worked roughly 6-8 hours a day dealing with all of the technical aspects of the clinic; surgical prep, fecal/blood analysis, dental work, IV/IM/SQ injectables, IV drips, etc etc. I absolutely loved this side of the clinic, and because it was such a small clinic staff-wise (4 people at any given time; vet, groomer, myself, and receptionist) I was given a lot of space and time to myself to just do what I was loving to do.

However, because I seemed to rarely interact with the other staff, I was often viewed as 'lazy' simply because the other staff didn't really know what I was doing. Over the months, the other co-workers attitude towards me slowly started to change towards a more spiteful one. Even though there were days where I would be running around in circles due to having 2 surgeries, dental, fecals flowing out of my ass, blood work, and everything else imaginable, they still were incredibly unappreciative of what I had to go through almost on a daily basis. Yeah we did have our slow days where there was literally nothing to do (and those are the days where they started to develop their spitefulness), but on the days where we were busy, I did everything I needed to do to ensure smooth running of the clinic.

I can tell you I absolutely loved my job, and loved animals. I had been given an incredible opportunity to learn and grow (mostly because I didn't have a degree for what I was doing, but shhh ) and definitely do not regret anything about the job. I eventually quit due to a nagging injury I had sustained earlier in the year (not work-related), but the constant negativity that was directed at me (even from the vet himself) was just ridiculous. I love the pet industry, but the people in it are just... douches.


Btw... I was responsible for training new staff, volunteers, and co-ops/interns (we had roughly 4-6 every few months). On top of that, we often had foreign vets and/or recently graduated vets who would come to the clinic for experience. I always found it hillarious when I had to actually take-over a procedure because these new/old vets simply didn't know what the f*k they were doing.

Good luck with your work OP, I definitely don't miss the industry

[luvsmyncis]

Your workmates are jealous of you.

It's obviously a mark of privilege to be running the front, since not just anyone is allowed to do it. Don't ever dilute yourself into thinking people are jealous of you because you're so amazing and that you do no wrong. Everyone is expendable in a job, even the best of us. So watch your asses.

In my experience, I have found bringing donuts or breakfast tacos to share in the morning seems to cheer everyone up.

[Maeghan]

OP, clearly you're working in a pet-related industry... Pet store?
...
Yeah we did have our slow days where there was literally nothing to do (and those are the days where they started to develop their spitefulness), but on the days where we were busy, I did everything I needed to do to ensure smooth running of the clinic.
...
I love the pet industry, but the people in it are just... douches.

A boarding kennel; we do grooming, boarding, day care, a little training.

This is basically what I do. On a slow day, it doesnt look like much. But when we have 10 check outs, 15 check ins with 4 new dogs and 30 or 40 day care customers coming in, I organize it and streamline it to keep it going efficiently.

And y'know, some of my customers are wonderful people. Very nice, understanding people who just love their dogs. And then there are people who are so obsessive about their dog, that THEY become the problem, not their dog. Listen lady, maybe if you would shut the fuck up with your high pitched screeching about how tempremental he is and stopped making these big movements. trying to calm him down by babying him, he wouldn't be so worried. YOU'RE the reason he's freaking out, because YOU'RE freaked out. I HATE THAT SO MUCH. BLARRRRGH.

Make sure all of the anger, is on the owner, and none on you. Because, that is pretty much the truth, isn't it?

No, not at all.
I would NEVER say anything negative about the owner. She is a very amazing woman. Self made, funny, very business savy, smart, and she believes in me. She's like my mother. I hope I can be half the person she is.

bringing donuts or breakfast tacos to share in the morning seems to cheer everyone up.

We start work before the donut shops open.
WOE IS ME. D:

[MEGAKICK]

And y'know, some of my customers are wonderful people. Very nice, understanding people who just love their dogs. And then there are people who are so obsessive about their dog, that THEY become the problem, not their dog. Listen lady, maybe if you would shut the fuck up with your high pitched screeching about how tempremental he is and stopped making these big movements. trying to calm him down by babying him, he wouldn't be so worried. YOU'RE the reason he's freaking out, because YOU'RE freaked out. I HATE THAT SO MUCH. BLARRRRGH.

Oh god hahaha, good times. We used to keep tabs on all of the clients files to distinguish the nice clients from the not-so nice clients It's not the animal who's a crazed psychotic violent being; it's the owner.

Edited by MEGAKICK, 03 August 2012 - 11:35 AM.