Working with stupids

Shoppingbike

I work for public sector org running projects to assist disadvantaged groups etc. the company I work for took over the contract for this from another org that was closed down, there was some bitterness at the time from their employees but there had been some financial dodgyness reported in the paper.

I am the admin on min wage here so pretty much at the bottom of the organisation but I enjoy the work and think our projects are worthwhile and I feel lucky to have a job funded by the taxpayer during tough times. I have ability and min wage probably doesn't reflect my contribution to the project, I do my best.

The people in the office like me are all new apart from one remaining employee from the previous business. She is negative about our work and spends lots of work time on other interests - her second job. She would be paid market rate not min wage.

Ex employees from the old company let themselves into the office and use our equipment and nick stationery as do various neighbours in our building who are friends with this woman. She seems to encourage this and there seems to be a massive sense of entitlement from these people.

I am also given photocopying and work to by them which is nothing to do with my employers projects. Which I refuse. I am more than good at standing up for myself and putting these people right but I feel worn down by constantly having to mark boundaries with this woman and her friends and having to guard our equipment it's a lot if aggravation for the wage paid and entirely unnecessary. This woman seems to be a nice person just stupid to be honest.

There is very little management around but if I complain everything is ok for a while and then it creeps back in.

I am just pissed off at how cheap some people can be and the sense of entitlement. They are not poor or unemployed they are middle class who can easy afford a bit of photocopying and a few staples but would rather than hang around all day waiting for me to go to lunch so they can raid the cupboard. I would even get the Garda in but if these people are being given a key or let in by my colleague what to do. You couldn't make this story up. Apart from leaving what to do? It is winding me up terrible.

long_b

It's a tough one.
Could you put a lock on the stationery cupboard ?


Other than that I'd document who's taking what in as much as you can - could count as evidence.

Would annoy me greatly too.

Joe10000

Report it to your line manager, can't be that hard to nip it in the bud ? Lock the press, restrict access to the key and move the photocopier and put an access code on it.

rwg

Change title to "working with greedys"

Mrs OBumble

Unhelpful posts removed

Mrs OBumble

Personally I would document every request, and categorise it. Then give your manager a report once a week. It's possible that they don't realise just how much is going on.

Something to be aware of: the one woman may have been kept around simply because they needed some institutional knowledge, ie letting everyone go would have been an absolute disaster. It may well be that her days are numbered, once other people learn what she knows. So one option is to learn all you can about how the place works, while gathering evindence that your manager can use.

Another option is to just use the expereince to get a better job, paying a bit more.

Shoppingbike

Thanks everyone. Even the unhelpful post was helpful I will paragraph in future and keep it more concise. Feel better to know that I am not alone in thinking this is not acceptable and I'm not just being cranky. Looks like it will be a new job for me if I can find one as I can't see it getting sorted out anytime soon. It's a shame.

blindsider

Does your boss know how annoying and demoralising this is for you? If not, tell him/her. They should really take the lead on this.

Would you consider emailing the people in the office, incl. the lady in question, explaining that stationery costs and security are an issue, and looking for suggestions?

(If something valuable was stolen from the office at lunchtime, this could get messy. Questions would be asked immediately about security etc. And, there's alway Health & Safety - if one of your uninvited visitors slipped etc in the office, they could sue - more trouble!)

This is not a trivial issue and you're right to raise it. (BUT - it's not the biggest issue in the world either - sense of perspective needed)