by Chris Ferguson

Created on: August 31, 2008

I commuted 4 hours daily (2 each way) to a very hostile environment public-sector job that included 2 bad-attitude, difficult, devious, manipulative, schoolyard-playing, kissing-up-to-the supervisor, back-stabbing coworkers. Their basic attitude was: "As long as I show up for work I'll do anything I like, treat people anyway I like-and I won't get fired." One coworker and I held the same title, so technically the work should have been shared, but wasn't. Her attitude towards my supervisor, associates and the public was so bad none of the associates would ask her to work for them so they'd ask me; meanwhile she'd sit and surf the net all day pretending she's busy. I didn't have a problem with her having net priviledges when the rest of us didn't-but the bottom line was: she got away with not doing her share of the work.

A few times coworker would answer the phone and if she didn't feel like answering whatever questions the caller asked, would get agitated and disconnect the person. That person would call back and swear I hung up on them-to which I'd respond with a smile: "No, I didn't hang up on you; however I'll be VERY glad to give you the name of the person who did. Her name's xxx, her title's xxx and if you'd like to file a complaint with my supervisor, her name's xxx and if you like, I'll be VERY glad to transfer you. In case you're disconnected, her extension's xxx." No confrontation, conversation or accusations with coworker. The more calls she hung up on, the more I gave out her name/title because I wasn't about to be blamed for something I didn't do. If someone has been treated disrespectfully by a public-sector employee, that person has the right to ask their name and title, and file a complaint with the head of that department. We're servants of the public and the public has a right to be treated with dignity and respect. If that person refuses to give their name, complainant can still file a complaint describing the employee.

I did ask for a transfer, but didn't complain about my coworker. My supervisor's response? "Well...we thought you could deal with xxx, she's difficult, hard to get along with, encentric, but she does her work(?!)and since you feel you can't get along with her, maybe you should consider a transfer." In all my years in the workforce, which includes working in the private sector, working part-time, temp, volunteering, and working in every shift you can name, that was the first time I ever heard a supervisor side with an employee. Those words validated what I thought all along-the more difficult an employee is, the more management tolerates it. It wouldn't be tolerated in the private (or corporate) sector.

So I figured: what were my options? Stick around another few years and tolerate this garbage, realizing that transfers were few and far, or take early retirement, get out and get peace of mind? I chose early retirement. A toxic environment isn't healthy and since those coworkers didn't respect me, I didn't respect them: I never said anything to anyone about retirement until I sent my supervisor 1 week's notice via Email and she told them. From that day until my last day they never spoke to me again-and I couldn't care less. They're still sitting there, miserable and causing trouble for others. I no longer have to tolerate their bad attitudes.

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