Did you get the sarcasm in the title? Hmmm. . .maybe not. I just can't believe the bullshit that I am having to endure right now. And not just me but Mike and my co-workers. See, on Tuesday I got a call from the other store. The manager wanted Mike's phone # so that she could talk to him about various things. Well, we figured we knew what one of those things was but we patiently waited. Despite the whole "significant others are not allowed in the store while you're working" bit being my store's personal issue, Jessica has dragged in other people. I just checked my entries and I neglected to tell you all about Mike's little chat with her about how he feels about this whole thing.
He was very upset. And has been for a while with this being the final straw for him. So when he said that he wanted to talk to her about it, I said go for it. Well, he got a bit worked up while doing so and apparently scared her. Now, if you know Mike, you know that he isn't a violent person and that he is the farthest thing from intimidating. Normally, that is. Get him angry about something and he can spit fire just like the rest of us. Unfortunately, we'd let his anger with her build up for too long. He'd tried in the past to let Jessica know that he felt mistreated by her but she always blew him off. She didn't take him seriously.
Well, she did this time. In fact, she went to HR and tried to have him fired from the other store! I just don't believe this stupidity. She claimed that this had nothing to do with him as an employee of another store but then she cried little girl hurt and wants him fired. I truly believe that she is trying to find a way to get rid of me. She has nothing she can hold against me to fire me with just cause so she goes after Mike in hopes that I will just quit (as I have mentioned doing) or will roll over and let her kick me.
(snort) Guess what? Neither if I can help it. I like my job and I am damn good at it. But I can;t continue with this stress. Notice the report time of this blog? Yup, insomnia once again. Yesterday we decided to each call HR and file complaints against her. Well, Mike had tried last week and no one called him back. Then his grandmother dies and we get distracted enough to give her time to file. It explains why she was in such a good freaking mood this week. She thinks that she has this all under control. She thinks wrong. I am well and truly pissed. I am sick of her treating me like a second class citizen and like shit. I've worked hard for the store. And my absence will make a difference whether she believes that or not. Even a little dent is still a dent. She has no idea how much shit I have deflected from her in the past. How many times coworkers complained to me about things that she was doing and I defended her. How many times I've followed after her and cleaned up messes and done things that she should have. Why? Because I am her assistant and that's my job. Well, no more. I will continue to do my best by my customers but not for her. For them. And for myself and my integrity.
So, this morning I will be calling HR and filing a complaint. I will also be asking for a leave of absence because I cannot stay there under these circumstances. I like my job. I really don't want to leave it. But I cannot continue the way things are. It is affecting too many aspects of my life. One good thing -- it isn't hurting my relationship with Mike. Instead, I think in a way it has brought us closer because we mostly agree with what needs to be done. And on the few gray areas between us on it, we just support each other.
We could just walk away but as both Mike and the southern Kyle (who is in HR for a different comapny) agree, if we do, she'll just keep pulling this stuff. She hasn't managed to keep an assistant for very long and they have all supposedly sucked. I begin to wonder if that was really all them or if she was pulling these things and they were trying to work around them like me but just weren't as successful. I don't know. But I think it says something for a manager to not be able to keep assistants very long. I'm not usually one to see conspiracies in things but this situation has reeked of one from the first day. I just have to be sure to cover my ass for the future. Which I will do this morning. Wish me luck.
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3 comments:
Mike can indeed have this slighly scary look in his eyes if he wants too :-).
Have you guys thought of yoga or relaxation classes (or the Laurent school of behaviour, keep cool most of the time, and even when you're pissed off, most often people won't know you are cause you look so calm).
I have been feeling like smacking my boss lately too. Some silly decisions that go against the opinions of all the employees. You know like those decisions taken by a group of 75 year old farts on a golf course about things they don't know shit about.
If that's the store's policy, it's the store's policy. Afterall, it's the policy in almost all places of business. Why get fired over it? Only to go somewhere else and discover that they too have the same policy...
Lynn,
If Mike is a patron of the store, should he be filing complaints with HR or methodically and calmly working his way up Customer Service with complaints to the corporate office? Food for thought. Good luck with that.
In other news, I think you may have lost focus. Why did you come to USC? And why are you working on a doctorate? Finish the dissertation and find a job where you are in charge. I am an assistant, and I have a doctorate. It's not always fun, and I don't reccommend it. However, people treat me like they are lucky to have me here and like I could walk out the door at any moment. Decide if this job is your life or if you are just passing through. It may relieve some of the stress...most of the time it's all about perspective. Keep in mind that all we really have (or don't have)is our health. If the boss' BS Diet Bars aren't cutting it in keeping you healthy, decide what will.
Also, it's interesting how this type of adversity can bind people closer together. :-) (Kissies are always sweeter with passion fruit!)
I hope you and Mike hang in there. This too shall pass...no pun at all intended.
Love,
Andi
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