Problems at work
I am sure there is a vendetta against me at work. In the last few months someone without consent went into my drawer and removed a laptop as I hadn't locked the desk and reported me to the line manager, I have been reported for putting something in the wrong bin( we have confidential and non confidential waste bins, but this was so petty as to be laughable) and pens have been removed from my desk. Also I notice when I come into the office, my team mates never seem to acknowledge me, but fall over themselves when one of their clique comes in, and I get left out of conversations.
It's pointless going to a manager as they are all thick in and the union is practically useless. We have a so called diversity and equality policy and it's not worth the paper it's written on as single men over a certain age and older women don't seem to count.
It's getting me down, but where I live, unless you hit lucky and get in at Sellafield, there are very few jobs.
It's pointless going to a manager as they are all thick in and the union is practically useless. We have a so called diversity and equality policy and it's not worth the paper it's written on as single men over a certain age and older women don't seem to count.
It's getting me down, but where I live, unless you hit lucky and get in at Sellafield, there are very few jobs.
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Comments
Colleagues are plotting against you.
They steal your pens.
They ignore you.
Managers are in on it.
Union is useless.
Diversity and equality policy is worthless.
No jobs to be found.
What do you intend to do?
No sympathy from me on these 2 bits. In my old firm the Security staff would do spot checks at lunchtime and after work to ensure laptops were secured properly (both physically and by software). There is confidential waste policy for a reason in every firm - it's to stop bin-raiders taking docs and either misusing them or taking them to the newspapers. The fines if data is not dealt with properly can close a firm.
Pens are fair game. If you don't want someone to use them, switch to a traditioal fountain pen or use a pen with an embarrassing brand name on it. "Anusol", "Femidom", "Durex" - no-one steals them.
Why aren't you joining in with the morning cuddles and hugs?
It's pointless because no-one will support you if you choose to ignore Data Protection legislation.
Yup, it's the same with every employer. Anyone with "childcare issues" will receive preferential treatment - don't moan about it too much, you might need it yourself one day.
If they don't wield this type of power and they're stealing and reporting you for minor infractions, I say fck em. Business as usual.
Don't quit if they're withholding their friendship.
p.s. If it's worse than you've intimated can you transfer to another office or department within the company?
They leave you out of conversations....Their choice.
You are not coming across well in your opening post, Do you come across this way in the office too? Might have something to do with it
Right, I try to be friendly and treat everyone with respect, as the policy determines. It was a simple mistake with the laptop, but for someone to check in my drawers, where there could have been personal information, is going too far.
Is it that you wish to be told you are right and they are wrong?
I stick by the rules as much as I can and this was a simple mistake. The world won't end.
In an unlocked drawer?
The desk isn't yours.
Where I worked an employee faced dismissal because her laptop, that contained clients personal information, was left unlocked and not attached securely to a port on the desk as per company requirements.
The union saved her job because the company had previously been fined after a senior manager left a laptop on a train.
They heightened staff responsibility and were waiting for a scapegoat to show how seriously they took "security".
Going into your drawer without consent isn't nice, but if it's company policy to keep laptops securely locked away, it's difficult to complain when you get caught out. Easily resolved - just lock your laptop away.
Some companies take confidential waste seriously and with good reason. Another one that's easily resolved; if in doubt, throw work related stuff in the confidential bin.
This has happened to me at every work place I've been at. Everywhere from small, non-profit organisations to multinational corporations. If the pens are from the office stationery store, it'll get seen as fair game by passers-by.
No, it's not great that people help themselves, but if it bothers you or they're your pens that you've bought, keep them in your drawer.
Afraid I can't comment too much here as I don't know how you interact with your colleagues and vice versa. All I can say is try and get to know one or two of them better. Use a few people as a entry point into the group.
I don't want to sound heartless, but from what you've said, I'm not sure what there is for a manager to get involved with. The laptop, confidential waste, and your pens - all things that are within your control. With the 'clique', that's a little harder, but a manager can't tell people to include you in their social group.
I've been in your position (and I guess I still am) in that I sometimes feel like an outsider at work. It always seems that there's a group that are really good friends, full of chat and banter, and I'm the one on the periphery. I get included because they feel obligated because I sit near them.
Don't let it get you down. How you feel about these situations is as much about how you view thing and how you choose to respond. There are factors that are within your control. Put the negatives aside, ignore their clique, talk more with someone you have something in common with.
No, maybe you won't be the most popular person around, and maybe you'll still be an outsider. If that's the case, don't worry about it. You can't be friends with everyone and, sometimes, it's just not meant to be.
Try it for a month or so. If you still feel down, look for another job. I get what you say about there being very few jobs. I spent a good deal of time last year out of work, but keep an eye out. Sometimes, jobs pop up when you least expect. Just be sure you're ready to take advantage.
All the best. I hope thing get better for you.
In one office, there were four of us in the office full time, and about 30 sales people wandered in and out to work from there on a hot-desking basis. It was a nightmare for us four "statics". There weren't enough cups to go around if a lot of them were in. I even got a marker once and wrote on my own cup (that I'd bought) "Relly's cup - hands off or die!" (or words to that effect) and it still went missing regularly - even if I left it in my drawer. I ended up taking it home at night.
In another, there were a few of us static in the office with various engineers, supervisors etc wandering in and out to work or pick up supplies. The cries of "Where the bloody hell has my pen gone AGAIN?!" were quite common.
It's damn infuriating and disrespectful - they don't consider that whilst they're speeding up their own work they're slowing yours down. When you leave your desk, keep your pen in your pocket if possible. If I had no pockets, I used to clip mine to my blouse lapel, that sort of thing.
Socialising-wise, well, if you walk in with your head down because you just know they're going to ignore you anyway, they will. I'm not saying you do that, but it gets to be that way after a while. It's natural because we don't want to be rejected by giving a cheery "Good morning!" only to be ignored. However, if I were you, I'd give them that cheery greeting, and if they do ignore you, I'd say "Ahem? Good morning?" with a laugh/smile and make them acknowledge you. After a while, the positive will start to take effect.
I think some of what you're feeling is built up upon the laptop, pens and waste thing. If you can accept that those three things aren't something to feel persecuted about (honestly, they aren't), then the other should settle itself.
Best of luck.
Its not worth staying somewhere where you feel like this.
Apologies for going off topic slightly, but do you happen to know if the Springfield Isotopes ever completed their move to Albuquerque?
No, but the Red Crow flies east for the Winter.
Strangely the companies that make their employees 'feel at home' whilst at work are the ones that survive and prosper - but it takes good management and team building.
The rule with colleagues is never ever ever talk salary
The rule with colleagues is never ever ever talk salary[/QUOTE]
They then take the risk of people being too relaxed though as the OP here appears to have been.
Well the OP profile, says Occupation civil sevant
There are no accountants in the civil service?