Update on the B*tchy Co-worker Situation

I thought I should update you all on what has happened this week with the b*tchy co-worker disparaging my good reputation.  I decided I had to talk to the boss about it.  A lot of what I have heard has been from her telling so and so and this person telling me, and I didn't want to put anyone else in an awkward position.

But with what all was said directly to my face last week, I felt like I had enough to tell the boss without even having to mention anything I'd heard from a third party. So I kind of stewed all weekend and worried about the impending conversation until I could finally call her Monday.

And she was livid.  Not at me.  At Crazy B*tch.  She assured me 100% that I am doing my job incredibly well, and that I'm correct, I was NOT supposed to do X, Y, or Z that CB has been telling everyone I was supposed to do.  And then finally she said, "Will you be at that meeting tomorrow?  Because you and I just need to have a talk."

So, we had said talk in person Tuesday.  And she said that she's so sorry this is happening, but that CB is just this way, and to an extent, you just have to ignore it.  Which is all well and good, but really?!  I mean, had this in my previous job too.  A very similar situation with a co-worker just making my life hell every chance she got.  She did it to everyone, not just me.  And the boss knew.  Heck, she even treated the BOSS the same way.  Yet it just went on.

And I had an extreme situation years ago with a principal who was a major jacka$$.  Like to the extent that I complained to people clear up the chain of command.  And I got the same sort of response.  "Oh, yeah, he does this every year.  Looks like you're the one he chose this year.  Sorry."  I really probably should have quit.  But I had a contract.  I wasn't going to break it.  The powers that be assured me that he would not fire me, but he would do everything he could to try to make me quit.  And I wasn't going to do that to my students.  So I endured 9 months of torture.

WHY do employers just allow this sh*t to go on??  I mean, these people aren't irreplaceable.  And we preach to high heaven about bullying in schools, yet we just roll over and accept it in the workplace?!

I told my current boss this week that I understand, CB is just that way, but that still, I would like for the matter to be addressed at our next staff meeting.  Maybe not to point her out or say what has been happening, but to please clarify to EVERYONE present that X, Y, and Z are NOT part of my job, despite the widespread misunderstanding to the contrary.  And she agreed to do that.  It's supposed to happen on a conference call this coming Monday.

I felt a lot better that my boss is, in fact, quite happy with my work.  And I'm glad to know I wasn't seriously misunderstanding my job duties.  I'm also pleased that the matter will be addressed a bit more clearly with our entire staff.

Still, I just don't think this on the job bullying is okay.