What do I do about this?

Question

A person I work with (that holds the same title I do) is trying to show me up at work. I do my job to the best of my ability, but she is constantly trying to do better than me. In order to do this, she has to lie about the work that she does. her scores at work are getting to be better than mine, but only because she lies about what shes doing and i know this for a fact! Also, when I am out to lunch or when i go home, she goes through my desk and gets on my computer to check my emails. She also takes things from my office that she thinks i need to do my job! I have had to begin locking my desk even if i go somewhere else in our small building that I work in so she wont go thru my desk and I have also set a password to my screensaver so that she can not log onto my computer!we work in a small company and i dont want to confront her and make it hard on everyone here!my boss is aware of this situation! what else can i do?

Answer 1

To get a head in business remenber, its not what you know it WHO you know. As long as your boss is on your side, and you keep friends with those above you, you'll be fine. I wounldn't tattle on her, confront HER instead. Its not like she can fire you. Maybe just make some remarks once in a while, like, "Some one keeps going through my stuff, who do you think that would be?" When she gets the point, maybe she will stop. Good luck, she sounds like a real pain in the ****!

Answer 2

If your boss is aware of this and hasn't done anything about it already then there may be a problem with the boss. The boss should have already called both of you in to address the situation. However if you would like some advice you have two options both of which will entail confronting you problem person. The first is to directly confront her which will escalate the situation and probably you will get the blame for the situation, or creating a hostile work environment. The second way is to intentionally leave you door unlocked as you always did. Password protect you email. Leave little notes with false information which will look really good to your pier. When she begins to use the false information it will be evidence that she is doing what you have alleged! It probably will interfere with her performance as well. When we cheat and stab others in the back and it backfires we get our just desert. Also, always smile and remain friendly with her. Once you have her trapped with the evidence then very inconspicuously take her to lunch away from the work after hours and tell her I know what's been going on. (Try your best to avoid any name calling or saying directly you have been stealing and cheating). Can we start over and work together instead of against each other we can accomplish much more together then trying to compete and cheat one another. You say it that way so it doesn't make it a personal attack on her. If this works then inform you boss that you have resolved the matter on your own. This will make much more of an impression then the statistic of her work efforts or for that matter.
complaining to the boss about it.

Answer 3

I would talk to her about it, I had this same problem a few years ago, I told my boss, they talked and things got better for a day or two, but then it was back to same ****. I finally told them how I felt and that if it didn't stop, that two could play the same game. Finally I pushed this person over the edge, because I went to my boss and asked him if there was anything else that I could work on that would help make his life easier and he gave me a special project to work that only he and I knew about. Finally I got a step up on my pain, and got bumped up to a new position.

**not every situation is the same, but I would confront your problem, maybe with you boss present**

Answer 4

That is a tough one.. I know someone similar like that. Basically there is not much you can do. If you really want to catch her, you have to put a hidden camera somewhere to if that is caught, then you can have evidence to show to the boss or HR. Otherwise, face to face confrontation is not worth it.

If it comes to the point you can't stand other than ignoring her, go talk to her directly, then talk to the boss. Get it over with!!

Answer 5

Small company, boss is aware of the situation.

Let it play out. You have done what you needed to do.

Not all things work out to our advantage, but in the long run, lessons learned about different personalities and management styles, will help us further on down the road.

Answer 6

Whew! Sounds like she's "really working hard!" to get on your nerves! ha-ha-ha!

Advice: sit back, be cool, focus on your own work. Don't let her get to you and whatever you do, don't let her see you flustered. You did right to protect your PC...but really, if you're minding your business and doing your own work, and ignoring everything she's doing to distract you....you will have more time to do more work and volunteer for special assignments.

When the boss sees how much more work you can do than her, she won't be able to compete! --because she's wasting all her time trying to one-up.

Chances are, if there's a promotion or pay raise coming up, it'll have your name on it!

Remember: when you give people like that enough rope, they eventually hang themselves or get caught doing something they're not supposed to be doing...just do your work and stay out of the way!

Answer 7

If your boss is aware, then you've probably done all you can. Either he will eventually put a stop to it; or perhaps he has some hidden reason for tolerating this behavior from her, in which case your only choices will be to put up or leave.

Stick to the moral high ground, and good luck!

Answer 8

If your boss is aware of the situation, maybe you should ask him/her to say something to your co-worker. If you have made your boss aware your boss should take the responsibility in confronting your co-worker, because your co-worker is more likely to listen to your boss over you, especially if your co-worker has shown you so little respect already. If your boss won't say anything maybe you should confront your co-worker if things get worse.

Answer 9

have you ever heard the phrase, keep your friends close, and your enemies closer? She's the one that is threatened by you, just kill her with kindness, and she'll eventually burn out. Cheaters have a very small patience level.