Back in the 1970's there was a song... Sign Sign Everywhere a Sign......
Do this, don't do that can't you read the signs?
in·tu·i·tion/ˌint(y)o͞oˈiSH(ə)n/noun- the ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning."we shall allow our intuition to guide us"
- a thing that one knows or considers likely from instinctive feeling rather than conscious reasoning.plural noun: intuitions"your insights and intuitions as a native speaker are positively sought"
in·tu·i·tion
/ˌint(y)o͞oˈiSH(ə)n/
noun
- the ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning."we shall allow our intuition to guide us"
- a thing that one knows or considers likely from instinctive feeling rather than conscious reasoning.plural noun: intuitions"your insights and intuitions as a native speaker are positively sought"
A reader recently shared:
Today I walked by the "big boss" at work and was greeted with a forced hello. This is not uncommon. This woman has shut a Zoom camera off in my face during an interview and shamed me.
I was hired and for the first months sat in the corner and had no interaction with my supervisor.
I was not given active badge access to the organization until two years later.
During COVID-19 I was moved around from place to place and forced to do my job plus two other jobs associated with COVID.
I was hired to oversee types of funding and compliance and within two weeks my then supervisor prohibited the accountant to share information with me.
The job description for my job was changed between the time I interviewed for the position and the time I was hired.
The then supervisor a year after I was hired changed his job description to specify that his position was responsible for overseeing the funding.
I sat in a room with a colleague and listened as she talked on her phone to another colleague about me. This was both immature and unprofessional.
I had to fight to get an office so I could have a place to focus. This in lieu of sitting in the corner.
Although second in command, when an interim position was opened to lead our department I was overlooked.
As stated previously I was in an interview with "the big boss" and she turned off the camera on me. She hired a novice with no experience from the outside.
Although set up before the incident above, I interviewed for another position and was not hired. Once again, they hired outside.
In the almost three years I have been there I have been moved around, disregarded, and treated as less than. I think I am in the wrong place.
I am a strong cookie... I try not to take things personally... I have a lot of knowledge... I have a positive work ethic... I believe people like me... I feel respected by my peers...
I have begun to take things personally...I have a lot of experience and maybe am trying to perform in a position where I am over qualified or the fit is off?
Perhaps the Universe is sending a message..
The arrogance.. the shaming... the disrespect...I don't think I am imagining it.... There is a root cause with the
I have considered if this is age discrimination.. fear.. there is definitely a patriarchal mindset... that seems to be moving into paranoia on her part... And I have done nothing wrong.. I am loyal.. keep quiet...do my work.. and look out for the good of the organization in the work I am hired to do...
I don't want to sound like a whiner or hurt my career. But I have had enough...
Signed... Am I Crazy?
My Answer
Do not work where you feel physically ill. It is apparent that you have stepped on toes and she probably is going to attempt to move you out because you hang on the fringes.. and you have let some opportunities go by so admit your place in the problem.. If you have regrets, grieve them and move on...
Lay low. Follow the rules. Treat people with respect.. Don't try too hard to please... Document when the slights happen to release the tension at the time and in case you need it later..
Don't be paranoid or overreact...Have an exit plan.. take care of yourself...don't let the day by day positive interactions with colleagues and your enjoyment of the work hold you back from moving on... Keep your head up.. take breaks when you need them..it sounds like you have some positives.. people you enjoy working with.. a good direct boss...a chance to make a difference.. take your focus from the slights and put it on the other good things but know that in the long run .. this sounds like this is a pattern.
Ask yourself if the common denominator in the problem is you and if that is the case, make changes. Keep a work/life balance.. but have an exit plan..
