Co-Worker Frustration - How Do You Deal with a Difficult Co-worker?

my nemesis at work used to do everything possible to make me want to do mean things. The list was so long. Even after promotion to AUDITOR of everyone's work going to the floor, I thought I had some clout and ask for her to be moved away from my area. After coming back from Christmas break I found she had been made my cube partner. She finally asked to be moved when I faked being interested in EVERYTHING that she did, and chimed in to EVERYTHING she was doing. She eventually quit or should say she quit before she got fired, but it wasn't my doing, she and another lady got into it and she slammed that woman's hand in a door. YEAH!
Guess my point is, kinda. Leave it alone, if she is worthless as a worker it will be found out at some point. She may just be a better friend than co-worker.

You need to stay away from this woman. How does her poor work ethic NOT impact your job? If she doesn't get anything done, THEN what happens? Where is the supervisor?

I would bring in a pair of headphones and put them on, even if you aren't listening to music. Or if you are on the phone a lot, use them for talking on the phone, hands-free type of thing. Don't go to lunch when she takes her break. Don't talk about your business with her - no specifics or anything. Just tell her you are tired from your pregnancy hormones if she peppers you with questions.

And document anything that impacts your job. Make sure that she cannot possibly throw you under the bus after you go on maternity leave. If a project is not done because of her, detail EXACTLY why that project isn't done so it is perfectly clear to your boss.

If you don't, you may end up coming back to a job and then getting "laid off".

Good luck,
Dawn

Do you depend on anything from her in order to do your job? If not, and she is nice to talk to, ignore her. So what if she can tell when she's getting on your nerves? I vent via email and Facebook when people get on my nerves.

I would distance myself from her and only speak to her when you need to for business or professional reasons. I would also document anything that applies to YOU.

You can also bring it to your boss.

Boss, I'm in kind of a pinch here. I need x numbers for that y report you gave me, but I've been unable to get them from her even though I asked on x, y and z dates. Is there another resource I can use?

iPod!

That's how I deal best with the woman that shares my office.
She's a loud phone talker.
She's a conservative that spews "sound bites" that she hears on her conservative talk shows.
She throws people under the bus all day in a "well....see....that's what I mean....when Mary did that....never any issues....but now...."
Our co. is undergoing a lot of changes and she fights it tooth and nail.
Waxing poetic about "the way it was", "what used to be"....etc.

Don't get me wrong--the political discussions I enjoy. But the rest? Ugh.
Luckily, her job & my job rarely intertwine and on a personal level she is fine.
On occasion I HAVE called her out about blaming people, etc. but I don't think she gets it.

Like I said...iPod!

Try not to let her get to you!!! You are not going to change how she is and if your boss does not see it nothing will be done about it. Unless you bring it to the bosses attention. Then that can cause more problems. I had a co worker I could not stand and she could not stand me and wanted to punch her in the face daliy but I just killed her with kindness. When my boss first started she didn't know I didn't like the other lady cause I was always so nice but the other one was not as nice to me and that she noticed.

Good luck and God Bless!

I'd have a chat with your manager.

Hip flask under the desk next to err my laptop. :p I guess being pregnant that won't help though. :(

Seriously I get by joking all the time. One reason I am on here during the day is I PM my friends when someone is getting on my last nerve. Like you I cannot hide my feelings. :)

For the most part, you can let her fail as her work habits will get in the way of her work and she's going to fall on her face sooner or later.
The only time this gets tricky is if her failure reflects badly upon you.
Does she have performance reviews?
Are you responsible for training her or for anything she does?
Some people are trainable while others are not.
If the boss is just letting her slide, then it's his fault and it's his money he's throwing away - he's entitled to do this if he wants to.
It's not your situation to fix.
Be polite, but keep your distance from her.
She's not likely going to be working with you for very long.