Posted on 06/21/2013 2:05:23 PM PDT by Catmom
Just found out my new boss is someone I've worked with since she was a student about 15 years ago. She's always been a stellar employee and I don't question why she got the job. It's just that she's been known to throw her opinions around at work, especially with conservative coworkers.
For example, early last year, when she was still a house supervisor, I went to her and complained about the huge number of nurses in our hospital who refuse to speak English at work.
I only came to her to vent because we've know each other so long. She gave me an uncomfortable look and said, "Well, that's a very conservative opinion." Taken aback, I responded to her that my concern had nothing to do with politics because the hospital has an English only policy and it clearly wasn't being enforced. She stunned me further by telling me that she'd never heard of it, but that she would look it up.
Stunned, I shared this conversation with one of the charge nurses who has had to deal with ongoing complaints from patients and families about the same problem. I didn't intend to start trouble but word got around the hospital about this and the managers, thank goodness, had meetings with their staff about the English at work policy. I didn't get into trouble and, so far as I know, neither did my new boss, but I'm sure she hasn't forgotten this.
I have since had conversations with former coworkers of hers to the effect that she's pretty free in expressing her opinions and confronting those who disagree. But not in an obnoxious way; that's not her style. I just hope she'll have the good sense to focus on job performance and leave politics, her own and other's, out of her supervision of them.
Any advice you have to share will be much appreciated.
Excellent advice! Sage wisdom for the lot of us!!
Hahahaha! Thanks for making my day.
Keep your mouth shut and smile. You are in a situation called NPG = No Possible Gain. Don’t express your opinions on things if you value your job. Pick your battles. Etc.
Just smile and go about your business.
It drives them nuts.
“Make it look like an accident.”
I know that’s a joke but it’s not funny.
I agree. Personally, I think they're demonic. I'm surrounded by them in Gig Harbor. My next door neighbor works for a Soros group.
Yup....I’ve learned over the years that it’s best to put personal distance between yourself & others in the work environment. And that’s not easy....too much distance & people start to think that you are anti-social and a little weird. Lol, I’ve learned to be social, but bland....if that makes any sense.
Find another job, and then file a complaint against her for creating a “hostile work environment”.
Let your lawyer (who will work on a contingency) pursue it until you get an out of court settlement.
Play mean with those who are mean.
I agree with the other posts , don’t try to talk or start a conversation on politics unless you know for sure your coworker is on the same level like you. I had a coworker who would bring up political conservations and she would keep asking me why does the conservative want to stop a woman right to choose. I then responded why does her side always want to regulate every aspect of our lives. She did not respond. I warned her about Obamacare and since she has Lupus and his Bi-poplar I told her that the government will not bother to spend money on her. Anyway the good part I got laid off from the crazy place I worked at and she too got laid off along with others.
Be thankful that you work in a hospital that has an English Only policy and keep striving to make sure the hospital enforces the English Only policy.
You can file grievances with hospital administrators against fellow employees who are speaking to other staff or patients in a language other than English.
As a 55 year old, I know where you are coming from. Since you are asking for advice, I would say keep your mouth shut, as much as possible. If asked your opinion, reply something along the lines of “Oh, I don’t know, what do you think?”. When given her opinion, reply, “Oh yes, I understand”.
As a side note, I was in Seattle just before the 2008 election, and was playing with my young nephews and their friends, on the sidewalk, in front of their house. One of the kids said “You’re voting for 0bama, right?”. My reply, “No, I don’t think so”. My nephew said “My Grandma and Uncle are staunch Republicans”. His pals all looked at me like I was an animal from the zoo!
Good luck !
If you choose to remain and work under her, which it sounds like you're inclined to do, I would journal/document any interaction with her that might be construed as tense, controversial or "disloyal" [from her point of view, not necessarily yours]. Don't tell your coworkers you're doing it b/c it will just look like you're a troublemaker. In the event there's ever a "she said/she said" situation, her superiors will be inclined to side with her based on her position. Your documented facts will offset her advantage and may protect you.
I hate to sound cynical, but the type of person you are describing will lie to protect themselves...
Yes! It makes perfect sense. I have learned to do this as well.
Some of my closest colleagues (I am in the film and music industry the former as a director/producer the latter as performer.) throw out far left, political tantrums inches a way from me some times on a daily basis looking to me for some sort of validation and hint that I am 'one of them.' I have mastered the art of bland look and refocus onto work or another subject.
It can be quite fun to see someone who has just shown their hateful underbelly left unvalidated and left hanging unto another subject. Needless to say this overtly political behavior has stopped. They know they are one not going to get validation but two will be left an open wound as I move to a work subject or something bland. Three the still don't know my politics. That has to tweak the really whacked out libs.
I’ve never known her to lie but she does seem to have an agenda.
Yes. Children these days are getting their brains filled with nastiness from the second they watch TV or film to the first day of school. The liberal areas are more and more totalitarian like.
Good for you, but some of us don’t have that luxury.
If she brings politics into her job duties, and it makes you feel uncomfortable, you should tell her. If she persists or gets offended and retaliates against you, you need to file a complaint in writing to whomever oversees her supervision. If you get periodic written evaluations from her, and you don’t agree with her assessment, refuse to sign it, or sign it and put your own comments on the evaluation sheet.
too bad. if she’s the head of a liberal or minority click at work, watch your back. scrupulously follow work rules. document and save all emails, etc. good luck.
of course she does. Yet regarding your job I do hope you take to heart much of the wisdom posted on this page. Ain’t nothin’ you can do about little miss totalitarian. Believe me it really is a sickness. Treat it as such as focus one your role modeling as a professional and one who has more life experience. It sounds as though you did a fine job with the non-English speaking issue and now your know what you are dealing with with her. If she keeps that up in such a way that it does impact the patients, she too will one day get her walking papers no matter how high of an achiever she is.
The best advice I can give is not to engage in to much political arguing with her, because you’ll never win with a liberal. Even if you can counter every one of their spurious arguments, that will just cause them to hate you and want to “get” you somehow. That’s fine if they are an underling or coworker, but if they are your boss, not so much.
Besides, when they throw around their opinions, a simple eyeroll, sigh, or shake of the head can be much more disconcerting to them than a well constructed counterargument. Liberals crave approval and can’t take ridicule.
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