So, am I being irrational?

[SeattleSparkle]

So I needed a little vent time about my job (which I am actively searching to leave ...)

My department is getting a new VP (VP of Marketing) and I''m excited. She seems like she''ll be good to work with and since my dept. only has two people (my current boss and myself) it will be good to have more bodies. Well, the other day she sent my boss a gorgeous bouquet of flowers and a letter regarding how excited she is to be working with her. While I think that is a nice gesture, and wouldn''t bother me if there were, say 10 people in my dept., but I didn''t even get an email saying "I''m excited to work with you." Nothing, nada. Let me remind you, there are only two of us to reach out to. I totally wouldn''t expect her to send me flowers or anything, but a nice email would have been appreciated (especially since I had to listen to my boss gush over them.)

Second, with the hiring of our new VP, I have to give up my office for her. (I have a huge office only b/c I used to share it with someone, and then they resigned and the desk hasn''t been filled since). Totally fine, except I have to move into a cubicle and I will then be the only person in the entire company who works in the office full time in a cube. So I''m in a bit of a mourning period (and I found out as I was leaving work on Friday ... happy weekend to me.)

So that''s fine, I had time to digest. I was discussing the move with our office manager when (we''ll call him G) came by and was asking what the deal is (he is a General Manager). I told him the situation and he blurts out, "That Sucks!!" with a big grin on his face, and I was trying to be big about it, and say, yeah, it does, but I''m okay with it now. And then in sort of a condescending tone, said, "Well you got to put in your dues." Sooo rude. Yeah, I was hired on as an intern and have done pretty much all I have for the company, so I felt compelled to tell him "Well, I have been at this company longer than you ..." (by a good 7 months or so) and he quipped, "No, not like that...." and I said I knew what he meant, but I''ve done everything I can so far.

What a rude way to treat another employee. No? I understand that I''m not a GM and am a long way away from being there, but atleast let me move to my cube with dignity. If you read this whole thing, thanks for letting me rant. Am I being completely irrational for letting this get under my skin a bit?

 

[Mara]

hmmm i was thinking about the interaction between your GM and yourselfa nd thought that after he said the 'well ya gotta pay your dues' i would have said 'yep i guess so!' and that's it. i wouldn't have gotten upset about it but then again i typically don't get upset about work stuff, corporate politics are just that and are EVERYWHERE you go. a job is a job and then there is your life afterwards IMO. so don't let it get to you and he may not have even meant anything derogatory by it. yes you do have to pay dues and climb the ladder and in corporate life where you are on the ladder is all people see typically.

i wouldn't worry too much about the VP either, because chances are she has had interactions with your boss or heard about your boss from someone else but maybe has not heard of you (this sounds so corporate)...if you have HER information i would send her an email and say you are looking forward to working with her. start putting yourself in her path in a positive way. good luck with the situation!!

 

[monarch64]

I agree with everything Mara said. It''s a hard pill to swallow sometimes, but you have to be able to play the game, and sometimes that means setting aside your pride and sucking things up altogether. I hate to sound harsh, because I know exactly where you''re coming from, but once you''ve had some time to get used to the situation I bet you''ll realize that at this point being a team player and being accomodating to others instead of expecting them to accomodate you will get you further faster. I hope that your feelings about the situation don''t cause you to make any hasty decisions regarding leaving your company...I have honestly learned from experience that you don''t want to burn any bridges. My first reaction would''ve been the same as yours, i.e. jeez, I have to give up a lot for this newbie, and I''ve been here even longer than my GM, WTH! But you have to sit back for a minute and think about how your future actions and attitudes will be perceived, and you have to think about whether you need these people to make a positive contribution to references later in your career. Hope this helps, it is not intended to be negative at all! Good luck, I wish you the best and hope everything works out for you!

 

[Lorelei]

Sorry I can imagine how hurtful it is but Mara and Monarch have given you great advice!

You can turn this around by reaching out and welcoming her, you will be glad you did

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Date: 1/17/2006 2:50:55 AM
Author: Lorelei
Sorry I can imagine how hurtful it is but Mara and Monarch have given you great advice!

You can turn this around by reaching out and welcoming her, you will be glad you did

I agree - It will make the remainder of your professional lives together much more enjoyable.

 

[Madam Bijoux]

The whole thing could have been a test to see how you would react to being moved. The best thing to do is never show that you''re upset about a thing like that.

 

[SeattleSparkle]

Well, if it was a "test," I failed miserably. And that''s fine. I don''t think that testing someone in such a manner is appropriate and is a bit of an abuse of power. I talked to my manager about the incident and she was a bit upset by the GM''s behavior too. (He''s been a bit "Pompous" around the office lately, and it was even brought to the attention of the CEO not too long ago.)

I guess that what really gets my goat is the idea that I don''t "deserve" my desk in the first place ... which the original reason why I was put here was I have a lot of things to produce (marketing materials and what not) and need the extra workspace. I''m sad about losing that workspace, who cares about the status thing, hey, when I first started here I had to clean out the freezer (full of fish) when the refrigerator stopped running. I''ve definitely putting in some of my "dues."

I appreciate the very "professional" responses. Live and learn I guess.

 

[decodelighted]

Honestly I don''t think you''re irrational for being upset ... but I''d also encourage you to adjust your expectations of corporate life and other workplaces because what you''ve just experienced is FAR from rare (or even intentionally rude really IMO).

Not sending flowers/note etc -- she doesn''t know you yet & may only be vaguely familiar with the idea there is someone else she''s working with. What I''d think is -- "Cool. She''s appreciative and generous when she wants to be. I''ll make her appreciate me."

The "pay your dues" comment -- depends on how it was said really, but not truly out of line.

I kinda think YOUR comment of "I''ve been here longer than you" was disrespectful. And a less than flattering example of "small picture" thinking demonstrated in front of others - TO a boss.

Unless you hit LOTTO or find an unusually kind workplace ... get ready for more of the same. As a boss of mine once said so prophetically: "Toughen up!"