Friendships at work can be difficult to navigate. Sure, that’s where you spend a good portion of your waking hours, so it makes sense that you’d bond with the people you work with. But, when you have friendships across levels, it can become tricky for everyone else at the office. For example:
My co-worker and manager have been friends for 8 years. They eat lunch together, go to social events together, and talk on the phone over the weekend. I work on commission. She steals my leads and now I’m getting trouble for not producing enough. She used to have my job, but now she is in a different one which doesn’t require selling. This has been going on for about 6 months. I am to my breaking point and feel like it is threatening my job. I want a career, but do not know how to handle this since they are friends. I do not want conflict in the office. My co-worker is constantly trying to throw me under the bus, and my manager always takes her side. I am trying so hard but am starting to feel defeated. I work for a great management company “good benefits, pay, etc…” and don’t want to lose my job. What do I do?
To read the answer, click here: When your boss and co-worker are best friends
Been there, except they were also 1st cousins. I don’t work there any longer. You can’t win here. Get out before you get fired.
Aside from Suzanne’s advice about talking to your boss, can you try emailing your boss on some of the stuff you do? Not everything but of course picking and choosing.
” Hey Jane… I just wanted to let you know that I secured buisness with Beulah’s Company. I am so excited I finally got this account to work with.”
So when your co-worker takes your work, you can have the Email ready and say something to your boss. ” Jane, I see that Cora has been working with this account that I secured and started, the one I told you about on this Email. Can I get clarification on who should be working on this?
(I don’t know exactly how to word it but that is the gist.)
Maybe your boss would see it diifferently? See that you did start it and should be finishing it?
And if she denies it or ignores it you have your answer on where her ethics are.
Just a suggestion……