I'm in an ongoing temp job as a secretary. From day 1, the permanent secretary (who's not even in charge of

Question

me), seems to pick up on everything I do that's so called 'wrong'. I can do no right by her. All I know is, I've not been asked to leave, so I must be doing something right. Actually, my line manager did warn me that she liked to 'take over'. Anyway, she told me that all the letters I did came back with a whole load of corrections on them. I said, "Oh ok. Just leave them on my desk and I'll correct them". She said, "I've done them for you. You could have looked up the previous file to add in the blanks you left in the letters". I emailed my boss (my direct boss) and told him I was sorry for making so many mistakes on his letters and that I'll try my utmost next time to do better. He said, "There was nothing wrong with them". Is she trying to create trouble and how should I deal with her? I feel so singled out and victimised. Now I no longer want to stay here.

Answer 1

it sounds like shes guilty of bullying

Answer 2

Tell her politely and firmly that you are perfectly capable of doing your job, you realise she is employed there on a permanent basis, but that doesn't make her your boss and in future if you make any mistakes you'd prefer your real boss to pick up on these. It is no skin off her nose if you make a mistake and it will not reflect on her, so why waste her time checking up on you when she has her own work to be getting on with (and make some comment about not wanting her to fall behind on what she should be getting on with because of her time spent checking up on your work). Have confidence in yourself hon and stand up to her - she'll probably respect you for it and back off.

I have been in a similar position and the person in question was rather thick skinned anyway and didn't take offence to what I said to her. Some people do tend to get territorial about their workplace so try not to take her comments to heart as hard as it is to ignore her. You don't need the grief! And if it doesn't improve have a word with your boss who probably doesn't realise the effect she has on you / anyone else who might work there. Good luck!

Answer 3

Just pull her aside one day, and say...

"Look, i have been asked to my job, i am doing it to the best of my ability, and my boss doesnt see a problem. Therefore you have no right nor authority to critisise my work, just because i dont do it perhaps the same way as you. I would appreciate it if from now on, you let my boss deal out the critisisms, and concentrate on your own work. Now, if you wouldn't mind i have work to do."

I had the exact same problem with a much older woman who thought she knew it all. i couldnt go complaining to my manager or anything because everyone was so clicky. so i just told her!

But i said it with feeling and i said it without embarrassing her in front of everyone.

Since then she had a lot more respect for me, and just let me get on.

But the trick is, to not break when you are saying it. do NOT allow her to speak. then finish and walk away and ignore her all day. then next morning come in like nothing happened. and she has no choice but to think.... Oh. what now!?

Good luck honey!

Answer 4

What are you? Younger, prettier, more clever than this woman? Sounds like she's incredibly insecure and very threatened by you (and I wonder why there's a vacancy you have to fill, even temporarily?!).

Play by her rules. Ask her questions constantly (about the 'blanks' you were supposed to know - by telepathy?!), keep her so busy helping you do your work that she doesn't have time for her work.

Keep on the good side of the boss (as you have done so effectively so far) and refer any points she picks up on to him.

Don't forget, you're not there permanently, as she is. You can leave at any time. And that, you may find, is the crux of her problems. Don't sweat it. Be a far better, more generous person than she is and one day, simply leave for better things. Good luck!

Answer 5

in a nut shell your being bullied, you can tell your boss in the company or your agency boss. or have a quiet word with the secretary who thinks she is over you. when i say quiet word i mean "quiet word" out of ear shot of everyone else. a lot of company employees think because your a temp that you answerable to them. in reality your only answerable to the person who signs your pay cheque. let the office hag know that. if you do decide to leave make sure you get a hand written and signed reference from the company boss, and then tell the office hag what you think of her.

Answer 6

she's a jealous bully. i worked with someone who did the same to me, she would make mistakes and then tell the boss it was me, this didnt come out until i was leaving. keep copies of your work and if that happens again you have proof it wasnt you. then show that to your superiors and TELL THEM what she is doing and how she is making you feel. do not put up with it, she is in the wrong not you. good luck xx

Answer 7

She's probably the one feeling a bit threatened by you being there. Just try your best at what you do, make sure you make as few mistakes as possible.

She may try harder to point bad things out about you, but sooner or later she's going to shoot herself in the foot and expose herself. You'll be laughing then.

Answer 8

It' very important that you tell your boss how you feel. It sounds as if he will not want to lose you. Men are biologically less able than women to pick up on women's facial expressions and subtle hints. It is necessary to tell us straight out how you feel.
Bullies always pick on those who seem willing to be intimidated. If you stand your ground she may well leave you alone.

Answer 9

she sounds very jealous of you. she might even be trying to protect her job security by making you look bad. i knew a girl like this and she always seemed to put the good workers down and hardly ever said anything about the bad workers. i think she felt that she wanted to be surrounded by bad workers because it made her look good in comparison.

the only solution i can think of is to make her feel like shes in charge. this way she won't feel so threatened. you might also need to try and be friendly with her but i'm not sure that would work because it's always going to be about the job.

Answer 10

Doing temp work means you have to put up with stuff like this from the permanent staff. If you don't like it, apply for a permanent position somewhere.

Answer 11

Tell her to shove it up her ****. If you end up confronting her, point out that if she is so perfect, why did they need you. I will put a stick up her **** and she will never be able to come up with a satisfactary responce.

When she stutters to awnser, walk back to yur desk and get back to work. It iwll piss her off.

Do this as it all abut image. if you can prove your in contol despite her attempts, she will be pissed off. Keep showng her your better and eventually she will stop.