A big part of my recovery since returning to work has been to start standing up for myself and not letting others railroad me. That was certainly put to the test this weekend. Let me tell you I HATE confrontation. I typically let others do and say what they will and let it bring me down. Not anymore. There is a woman at work who has been giving me a hard time since I joined the team 8 months ago. She is the type that likes to take credit for everyone else's work, and will shove you down to make herself look better every chance she gets.
I took her abuse for the first few months until she made me cry and almost quit. That is how much I hate confronting. Thankfully my immediate supervisor who is also a great friend and co-worker talked to me that day and convinced me not to let her win. Since that day I haven't confronted per say but I haven't jumped when she said jump etc.
Now 6 months later she pulled something that infuriated me so much that I was severely shaking with anger. At the end of our last night shift (which would have been last Wednesday morning) there was an issue on her line with the casepacker she runs. I had just done some training on the casepacker on my line and my coach called me over to show me what was happening with that one and allow me to see what causes it. While the equipment was down, I put my locks on and took a look, without touching anything, and then got out and took my locks off so this 'woman' could get in and fix her mess. What I didn't find out about until Saturday morning is that she proceeded to tell the line leader and anyone else that would listen was that she had the equipment working wonderfully but then I went in and made some changes and then it didn't work anymore!
After I discovered this from a few extremely trusting sources I was furious! It isn't like she was making fun of my clothes, she was telling some very important people that I was a screw-up. I have worked very hard to prove myself and learn as much as I can to move up at work and here she was blaming her mess on me. I decided I was going to confront her on it, but I was going to wait until I calmed down since I didn't want to get myself fired. Before I confronted her she came over while I was loading material on my casepacker and told me she was having an issue with her casepacker gluing. I simply said OK. She then said "I was thinking the nozzles are plugged" to which I said OK. She continued to prompt me for answers without asking for help so I only said OK and then at the end of her futile prompting....That's nice. and walked away. I couldn't believe that she would have the gall to 'ask for help, without asking' when she had just finished telling everyone that I had created that mess just the shift before and she had to fix it. Funny how she was able to fix that problem last time but not this time.....lol I realize that was probably a petty and childish thing to do, but I was still furious with her.
Later almost the end of the shift, I sucked it up and went over and confronted her. She denied everything of course, while I wasn't surprised, I was disappointed. I own up to my mistakes.....why couldn't she??? Anyhow since she continued insisting that she would NEVER EVER do that to anyone blah blah blah. I told her that I believe everyone deserves a chance to give their side and defend themselves. I would let it go this time, BUT if this situation came up again I would get our Boss involved. I am not about to let someone tank my career.
I must admit that afterward I felt good. I felt as though the world had been lifted from my shoulders and I became happy and was able to have a great time the rest of my shift. I am hoping she has realized that I am not going to let her get away with treating me badly anymore. I doubt it, but it is always worth hoping :) At least I know that I can stand-up for myself. I can do it professionally and diplomatically.
Well I think that is all for today.....the story doesn't end there of course, but I will tell the rest another day.
To Be Continued...
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