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Anglewannabe

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First an explanation. The cubicle in front of mine sits ‘Annie’. Annie reports to ‘Bev’ whose office is right beside our cubicles. ‘Glen’ is a VP and friendly man. When I first started working there, they asked me if I would help Bev’s team until I was more busy. I agreed and I know Bev liked what I did because I took good notes that I gave to her. Bev will have a lot more work coming to her team and she will be hiring more people and was happy that she now would have good notes to give the new people. Annie started about 3 weeks before me and this is my fifth week there. Annie gives a bit of a standoffish impression. She didn’t strike me as a super star worker but she seemed to know what she was suppose to do.

Well, last night people were starting to leave and only me and Annie were left in our area. Glen just walked into Bev’s office and had a seat. I found it strange that he would do that. So on my way out, I poked my head in to say good night to him. He was reading a client list which was REALLY odd because he could have got it on-line and read it at his desk. But I acted as nothing and left and said good night to Annie on my way out.

So this morning, I go into Bev’s office to say good morning. Her exact words to me were ‘I am so sorry you had to see that last night’. I said honestly ‘I really don’t know what you were talking about’. To which she replied, ‘Glen said you were around last night so I though you saw him tell Annie that she was let go’.

I was in shock. Bev explained that a lot more work was coming their way and Annie just was not meeting her target. I stayed calm on the outside and tried to say something to the effect I understand these things happen.

First, I feel fear. I always get nervous when someone is let go because I am scared it could happen to me. I have not had any official feed back about my performance from my manager so I really don’t know what he thinks. When I email ‘Jane’ for help she sometimes will copy my manager on her answer, I suspect this lady is annoyed by my questions and is trying to let my manager know about it. Every time she does that, my manager will walk over and ask me about it and say ‘Do you think you can figure it out’ and I say yes and he walks away and I eventually do figure it out. I don’t know if Jane is coming across as a stool pigeon or he thinks there is something wrong with me. He really does not spend time getting into the details. And after I think about it, Annie was in Bev’s office with the door closed for an hour last week. I don’t know if they were telling her she needed to shape up or not.

And here is where I feel guilty. As much as I feel bad for Annie and I have prayed for her, I don’t really feel all that bad in the sense that I am not going to continue thinking about her that much. And honestly, am a bit relieved she is gone because she could annoy me at times with gossip.

The whole day, no one talked about it and I continued on as usual. I think my best bet is to just continue doing my best and working hard and wait until my manager gives me feedback before jumping to any conclusions

Angie
 
I am sorry for your news! Is there another co-worker you can ask for help besides this Bev woman? That was the cc to the manager may stop. Sadly, work place life is not what it used to be. You mentioned you fired co-worker gossiped. I think that is a big no-no in this day and age. Perhaps there may be more to the story than meets the eye.
 
The whole day, no one talked about it and I continued on as usual. I think my best bet is to just continue doing my best and working hard and wait until my manager gives me feedback before jumping to any conclusions

Angie
yup.
Work hard, mind your own business.
Don’t speculate.
 
The reason people cc their supervisor is because they feel the need to cover their butts,or an excuse for why their work is behind. and it is in writing for proof.

Verbalize questions to her-don’t email.

The fact that annie was let go should have been addressed to the group, not individuals, and the terms of the seperation should have been vague-not’she was let go’. This would cause worry even in the most secure workers.

Annie may have been let go becuase of many reasons. Just be careful with emailing Jane and do your best.
 
I would start minimizing my contact with Jane as you have more time in the company. Initially, they might tolerate this, but eventually they might not. I have been on both sides of the coin: receiving emails about XYZ from new employees after I left this job for another, and sending emails about XYZ after I joined a job after I left another. Frankly, I don’t mind the emails (probably some would) and usually before I leave a job I do leave a clear set of instructions to help new employees. Typically after 3 months, the emails simply stop. Presumably, it is because the new employees already figured it out. From the perspective of managers, I’ve been there too, an employee that still requires hand holding beyond the initial months (quantity varies) doesn’t look good. Also careful, some jobs may have probationary periods (6 months or 1 year). They force your manager to evaluate you from a not so nice perspective.
 
Easier said than done, but develop confidence. You know now what the reason is that a person was let go: she didn’t meet her goal. Are you meeting yours? If so, don’t worry, and work hard.

As much as it stinks, we must be very cautious when it comes to confiding in colleagues. Perception becomes reality, and I’d venture to say that if you’re creating a perception that you might fall short some day, people will start actively checking to see whether it appears to be happening.
 
Angie. You think too much. You overthink. You assign motives to people with no evidence, you characterize people as “standoffish”, “annoyed”, “gossipy” and you are heavy on “I suspect”, “I don’t know what he thinks…”, “it seems”.

So bottom line you are wildly speculating all over the place. JUST ASK. Ask your boss for time to discuss your performance. ASK Jane if you should be doing something different or if email is OK (didn’t we already tell you to set up a meeting and call her?). ASK Bev for feedback on your performance.

ASK.
 
Angie. You think too much. You overthink. You assign motives to people with no evidence, you characterize people as “standoffish”, “annoyed”, “gossipy” and you are heavy on “I suspect”, “I don’t know what he thinks…”, “it seems”.

So bottom line you are wildly speculating all over the place. JUST ASK. Ask your boss for time to discuss your performance. ASK Jane if you should be doing something different or if email is OK (didn’t we already tell you to set up a meeting and call her?). ASK Bev for feedback on your performance.

ASK.
👍
 
I am sorry for your news! Is there another co-worker you can ask for help besides this Bev woman? That was the cc to the manager may stop. Sadly, work place life is not what it used to be. You mentioned you fired co-worker gossiped. I think that is a big no-no in this day and age. Perhaps there may be more to the story than meets the eye.
Bev is NOT the woman I email for help. Unfortunately, the woman I email is the only person who knows the answer to most of my questions
 
Verbalize questions to her-don’t email. .
She is 2000 miles away and in a different time zone so email is a necessity. Also, there are a LOT of things that need to be done according to the contract and no one knows where the contracts are. My boss told me that emails from Jane would suffice instead of a contract so I kind of need her answers in an email to cover my butt
The fact that annie was let go should have been addressed to the group, not individuals, and the terms of the seperation should have been vague-not’she was let go’.
After I got to my desk, an email was sent to everyone with a general ‘Annie no longer works here’. I suspect Bev told me because she thought I saw it.
 
I would start minimizing my contact with Jane as you have more time in the company. Initially, they might tolerate this, but eventually they might not…
Well, the good news is, I suspect I learnt all the tasks I have been expected to take over from her and my emailing her will come to an end soon
usually before I leave a job I do leave a clear set of instructions to help new employees…
Sadly, Jane’s instructions are not clear and I am left to assume a lot of things that I am not comfortable with so I will email back for clarification.
I’ve been there too, an employee that still requires hand holding beyond the initial months (quantity varies) doesn’t look good. .
Agreed, however, like I said before, I am suppose to follow contract agreements and there is no contract for me to refer to. I am hoping that as contract get renewed, I will receive a copy of the new one for my files
Also careful, some jobs may have probationary periods (6 months or 1 year). They force your manager to evaluate you from a not so nice perspective.
In Canada, it is 3 months.
 
You know now what the reason is that a person was let go: she didn’t meet her goal. Are you meeting yours? If so, don’t worry, and work hard…
I don’t really have goals. I have met all my deadlines so far and done a good job at taking notes. I suspect that more work will come my way so eventually, I will have to work faster.
As much as it stinks, we must be very cautious when it comes to confiding in colleagues. Perception becomes reality, and I’d venture to say that if you’re creating a perception that you might fall short some day, people will start actively checking to see whether it appears to be happening.
Agreed, that is why I only ask questions/make statements that I can live with if they get out
 
The reason people cc their supervisor is because they feel the need to cover their butts,or an excuse for why their work is behind. and it is in writing for proof.

Verbalize questions to her-don’t email.

The fact that annie was let go should have been addressed to the group, not individuals, and the terms of the seperation should have been vague-not’she was let go’. This would cause worry even in the most secure workers.

Annie may have been let go becuase of many reasons. Just be careful with emailing Jane and do your best.
I agree with you except for one thing. E mail is probably the single best way to communicate in the business world. If face to face conversations are needed so there is clarity even they should be followed up with email highlighting the conversation. This is very important.
 
Angie, do you think a hr class could be beneficial to you. My advice is stop with the self addicting drama at work and keep you head down and just worry about doing your best. Not trying to manipulate each and every personality in your office by assigning them categories or motives. Good luck. Sorry to hear this problem is infecting your new place of employment.
 
, I am suppose to follow contract agreements and there is no contract for me to refer to. I am hoping that as contract get renewed, I will receive a copy of the new one for my files
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This is pretty bizarre. I too work with contracts (between my company and the clients) and we have all 10 or so of them on a website. Without that we couldn’t meet the contractual obligations.
I also have to email a woman for help with the complex situations, and she’s always very helpful. I suggest you check with “Jane” to make sure she’s okay with helping you. You could ask if she prefers all questions at once, or one at a time.
Supervisors are supposed to provide regular feedback. I find it annoying, but at least I know where I stand. Why not ask your supervisor if there’s anything you could do to improve?

They’ve fired several nurses lately – they can’t keep up with the workload. (it’s telephone nursing.) They always tell everyone at the daily short meeting. It’s hard but that’s business.
God bless.

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