Office Politicks

[rowan]

Hi everyone. I could use some words of wisdom.
We have a new person in my office(only 6 months there), she reports to a semi new boss. My boss is his boss.She mentioned to me that she worked some OT the other day, and told myself and another co worker who helped to hire her that she was going to see about getting Comp time for it. She said she was going to talk to her boss when he got back in the office from a meeting.  The co worker said yes you should. Her boss called and said he would not make it back before she left for the day. she leaves later than I do.  I was going to mention to her and her boss when she brought it up that my boss did not want us doing over time and that I was going to ask if he has changed his policy. Well since her boss was not coming in before we left, I e mailed my boss who is out of state at a confer. I stated what was his policy on clerical doing OT. That this person and I had a conversation on it and that she had to work late once. Now mind you the co worker and the newbie both new that my boss would not ok OT for me in the past.  My boss replied to my e mail and cc the newbie & her boss stating no OT and why was she having to do it. I was out of work the day the reply came in. When I came to work I was getting the cold shoulder from her and her boss, she works across from me and her boss works near us both. He then sent an e mail to my boss and me cc her stating why he felt it was justified. My boss if he replied to him did not cc me. To make a long story short it is very COLD IN MY OFFICE now, she will only talk to me if I ask her a question with very short answers. Should I send another e mail stating I notice the tense atmosphere in the office and that I sent the e mail to my boss because he is my direct report and that I wanted to know what the policy was since I would like to do OT too, and that I  just want the whole OT to be fairly distributed, cc all the same people. Or should I just let it drop and wait to talk to my boss letting him know that by him cc them that it caused stress in the office.

[misslynn]

I would let it pass. Quite honestly, if another admin in my office remarked on my working overtime to my boss's boss, I would also be upset.  I would recommend that, unless you have responsibility for that other admin, that you not be concerned about what she is doing.  

[raindance]

I quite agree with the response you have had from MissLynn.

I know it sounds brutal, but a good maxim to adopt is: if it's not your story - stay out of it, or, more elegantly, if this lady does not report to you then it is unwise to repeat things that she says to you (unless you hear something that is criminal such as her boss fakes his expenses claims every month).  

I think your co-worker made a mistake in confiding in you, but perhaps she was merely taking soundings and seeking your views before taking this to her boss. Actually, if you had waited for this lady to approach her boss, then he might have gone to his boss (your boss) and achieved what you want to have (paid overtime) without you having to lift a finger or speak a word.

I wouldn't email anyone if I were you. Sending emails can seem a little bit cold and "distant".  You heard something and passed it on to your boss; there are always consequences to our actions, and we may not appreciate those consequences.  

You could drop this entire thing and wait for the clouds to clear, so to speak, but
what I would do in your position is to mend some fences.  First, you could go to this lady and say that you are sorry for what has happened; that you actually meant some good to come out of this, but the opposite appears to have happened and you wish to work well with her etc etc.  Next, you can go to your boss and say much the same thing.  We all make mistakes and, unless these people are completely heartless, they will accept your explanation.  

[gee4]

To be honest I feel this matter was between your co-worker and her boss and if OT was being granted due to certain circumstances, then on this occasion I don't feel it was necessarily your business to interfere.

Sorry, just my opinion.

[rowan]

I do understand everyones coments,  and do need to state that, I would normaly not have said anything, but big but I am sick and tired of others who know how my boss feels about the overtime take advantage of getting it just because they report to someone else.  We are a Union shop and OT is suppose to be given fairly to people in the same work area, or type of job. Her boss also takes advantage of it by leaving early and so on.
I felt that they,  1. were trying to pull a fast one on my boss, and 2. that it is not fair since I could use OT and have the work to do  if I was granted it. This time I guess I was just feed up being the quite one who is allways keeping my mouth shut.  So now I am wondering do I just act like nothing has happend or talk to my boss about it. Thanks for everyones input it does help me to look at thinkgs from anothers view point.

[msmarieh]

Well I have mixed opinions on this.

Since it is a manager that reports to your boss that was authorizing overtime, and your boss has specifically banned overtime as a corporate policy, I have to weigh in on the other side of the majority to say that it was appropriate to request clarification from your manager.

However, I think I would have added the step of notifying the other admin first by saying - actually Bossie A has banned overtime in this office, which Bossie B might not be aware of or may have forgotten (just saying that to be courteous, though you indicated he did know). I'll go ahead and get clarification from Bossie A to see if the policy has changed. We wouldn't want you to accidentally get in trouble for violating a corporate policy.

More generally, I would be having a longer conversation with bossie about why he is banning overtime and how he expects work to get done if it is going to take more hours than you have in a regular work day.

Marie

[raindance]

I can appreciate your feelings, Rowan.  It's awful when people "don't play the game" or appear to receive something that we can't.  It doesn't mean that you have  permission to behave as they do, but it still shouldn't stop you from achieving what you wish to achieve.

The best way forward is to use the means at your disposal, such as annual appraisal/review and consulting your union rep (I see from your post that you are a "union shop", which indicates to me that your workplace is organized).  

With respect to office politics as a whole: this can be a very destructive, divisive game.  It's best to stay out of it, but to be streetwise and develop a shrewdness that will enable you to navigate your way in business with tact and without making enemies.  Very, VERY few people are born with this level of shrewdness; even if it is innate, it still has to be developed.  

I've worked in the business world for many years now.  I made some splendid mistakes when I was starting out and left behind a few people with sore toes (from stepping on their feet ).  I've been fortunate enough to have some good teachers, though, and can, on the whole, operate successfully without upsetting people in the process.

So, Rowan, mend fences if you can and put this behind you.

Best wishes,

Raindance

[rowan]

Thank you everyone. I have to say that even though it has been very chilly in my office I do feel better about letting my boss know what was going on, and not feeling like a door mat, (I hardly ever am the greasy wheel so to speak) Now though I am trying to mend fences but am getting no responce. I try to make chit chat and only get direct replies to my comments, like boy is it hot out, then I just hear Yup, or Yes it is. I would like to think time will heal this. Who knows, my co worker is not speaking to me. Well so is life I will just keep sending out postive signals. Thanks everyone for hearing about it. Office Politicks are tough.

[raindance]

Well, remember this, Rowan: the best thing about being the doghouse is having a kennel all to yourself.  Woof! Woof!

[countrigal]

I personally agree with what you did, though I too would have gone the additional step of letting co-worker know, as a previous poster stated.  You were not necessarily doing it to get them in trouble but to get clarification in case the situation had changed, so that you could also take advantage of the opportunity.

As involves the cold atmosphere, instead of another e-mail, I'd do a personal contact with co-worker and explain that you were not doing this to cause problems but that you were hoping for a change in policy so you could also get OT upon occassion.  Take her aside, let her know that you see how she might have construed your being involved as trying to cause problems, and then explain what you were doing.  Ok, really you may have been trying to keep everyone on the same field and meant to kind of get them in trouble, but there's no need to tell her that and continue with hurt feelings in the office, so a little white lie, which really isn't since you did state you were hoping that then you could work OT too, could smooth things over.

Been there, done that, and it definitely helped the atmosphere.  Otherwise, get a heavy coat, stick to your plans, and go about your day as if there wasn't a problem.  Either way, it's what you've decided and can live with.

CountriGal
Peer Moderator