Work Rant!! Need Advice!

I have been trying to deal with a problem at work.

When I interviewed for this job (back in Nov/Dec. 04) I dealt with 2 men that I rarely see.
They just changed over to a totally new computer system and the place is a madhouse the majority of the time. One of the questions I remember asking is "how does everyone get along with one another?" and one of the 2 men said "that's a good question" in a positive tone like it actually was a good question. They said they have a good group and think everyone works well together. HAAAAAAAAAAAAa!
I have a problem almost EVERY day I work with one or another person who does something that just does not seem appropriate.
Tonight, as has happened several times the 3rd shift (overnight) person has a really nasty attitude and expects that I should know everything she does I guess because every time I ask her something she raises her voice in a hateful tone and acts like I am a total idiot. I am really FED UP with it at this point and almost confronted her tonight but she has been there several years and I figured I would be jumped (not literally) by the others siding with her so I bit my tongue once again. My thinking is to go over her head and tell them I did not apply for a job that included being abused by a hateful Know-it-all. I am so sick of the superior attitudes of the pharmacists who think the techs are SO beneath them. Not all of them are that way, just a handful, but it is just so irritating!!!!! And the gossiping, I know it happens everywhere, but my gosh, I get so tired of hearing them bad mouth each other (techs too) and just wonder what they say when I turn my back? It really shouldn't matter to me I guess. But the one I do try to talk to about what is going on just brushes me off and tells me just to "let it roll off my back" "you have to, to survive."
Am I required by common workplace etiquette (sp?) to put up with this??
Should I just keep my mouth shut and take it like he says?
I am most likely going over all their heads considering they wont do anything about it. Then again, that will only target me as a troublemaker and they have their way of getting rid of me if they want to I'm sure.
There is 1 possible guy, 1 of the 2, I actually interviewed with who is hard to catch and very busy, that I could talk to him, he does seem to be less tied up in the soap opera and can be more objective. He is just really hard to catch without someone knowing, then all the sudden EVERYone wants to know why you want to talk to HIM.
I am determined to keep my job, but I am tired of being run over.
ANY positive suggestions would be helpful.
Thanks!

Sorry to hear there are some people at work making it difficult for you Patty. The lady in the 3rd shift, is she particularly nasty to you or to everyone who asks her questions? Hard to do anything if that's her personality.
When it comes to gossips, it really should not matter. I believe that people who gossip are lonely and miserable and want others to feel the same. See how it's already affecting you!

Originally Posted by yayi

Sorry to hear there are some people at work making it difficult for you Patty. The lady in the 3rd shift, is she particularly nasty to you or to everyone who asks her questions? Hard to do anything if that's her personality.
When it comes to gossips, it really should not matter. I believe that people who gossip are lonely and miserable and want others to feel the same. See how it's already affecting you!

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Yayi is right, unfourtunatley there will always be people in the world that are nasty no matter what. I had a similair situation at a place I used to work, and I made it a point to be extra extra nice, it made it harder for the rude people to be that way to me because no one else would back them up.

That sounds like a rotten situation! It's hard to give specific advise to you, but I will try to share my thoughts from a general point of view. I'm a manager and am on the receiving end of complaints all the time. I can tell you that it's hard to react when you hear most complaints about other employees, as you can't always tell if its just a matter of "he said - she said", a personality conflict between 2 people, or real merit to the complaint.

A good manager will investigate the complaint and try to find what is really happening, but I don't see that happending in your case - they guys sound like they aren't around much and are too busy to react. With that said, you need to stop and think about what you want the manager to do on your behalf BEFORE you talk to them. If you walk in and simply complain, chances are nothing will happen and you will only be more frustrated. But if you come in and explain the situation, give concrete examples of the problem at hand, and let them know what you specifically want out of the situation, they can respond. Do you want the person fired? Do you want to transfer jobs? What are you trying to gain out of complaining? If you don't do this part, your complaint loses merit.

Good luck Patty!

Originally Posted by Momofmany

A good manager will investigate the complaint and try to find what is really happening, but I don't see that happending in your case - they guys sound like they aren't around much and are too busy to react. With that said, you need to stop and think about what you want the manager to do on your behalf BEFORE you talk to them. If you walk in and simply complain, chances are nothing will happen and you will only be more frustrated. But if you come in and explain the situation, give concrete examples of the problem at hand, and let them know what you specifically want out of the situation, they can respond. Do you want the person fired? Do you want to transfer jobs? What are you trying to gain out of complaining? If you don't do this part, your complaint loses merit.

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This is very important advice. You need to know what you want out of this. I was in a situation a few years ago where I was working on a really good team. One of the team members just went off the deep end and became the most vicious insulting person I have ever seen. We went to management and said do something about her. They waffled and then eventually sent us all to "Team building". Useless two hours. The team fractured and people started refusing to work on it. The management did ask at one point whether she should be fired. I didn't think it was my position to determine another person's career and just wanted her to go away but there are times I had wished I said yes.

Another avenue which can be in addition to what you decide is to get training in dealing with difficult people. There are techniques which can short-circuit their nastiness and at the very least give you back your power in dealing with the situation.

Good Luck, Patty, and I wish you well.

Jana

Originally Posted by pjk5900

Am I required by common workplace etiquette (sp?) to put up with this??

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NO! I don't think the hospital is paying you to be abused. If it starts getting very bad then begin keeping a log of specific instances, dates & times, and witnesses. And, as difficult as it might be, do not stoop to their level. Take the high road! Good luck!

I would be tempted next time she answers you rudely to right out ask why are you being so rude and shouting when I ask a question? Very curious what response she would say.

Thanks for all the good advice!

Keep em coming please!!

I need a very direct way to confront her without going over the line.

I know what I want to tell the higher ups when I do talk to them.
That I do not expect to be talked down to like I am a totally insignificant person. I am not going to learn everything I need to know in 6 months, it is just not possible.
I have been keeping a little journal, but only recently started it so I dont have a lotta ammunition yet.
I just dont understand why this woman acts this way.
She doesnt do it to others, that I have seen, although everyone there does know she is a royal B****!

There are just some people that work there who need to be told with some authority that they cannot behave this way.
I know she has been there a very long time and thinks she can basically do what she feels like.

It just drives me crazy knowing there will most likely not be anything done about it.

I guess I just need to learn what to say back to her when she does this.
I wish I could tell her what I REALLY want to tell her!!