Voting Question: Co-worker is being a snob. How do I cope with her?
Long Term Care - - Posted on March, 10 at 1:03 am
I need to preface with this…I have been working as a Psych. Tech for an after-school program for children with significant psychological and behavioral needs. I have held this position for almost 3 years and during that time I have witnessed some of my co-workers acting like they were the ones in need of help. Each one complains about the various stressors related to the job; and they also, complain about each other. Every time I walk into the front office someone is talking about somebody and not in a respectful way. This makes me wonder if they talk about me. Ok. I admit it has. I’m almost paranoid in fact. I don’t feel comfortable talking about others and being present when others are talking about someone– esp. a co-worker behind their back.I co-lead a group with a girl named “Kate.” Kate is a nice girl for the most part but I feel, since she has worked there longer sees the room as her territory. She makes changes and such without asking me– and that’s fine. She has some good ideas. But on many days when she walks in she never asks me how I am doing after me asking her. Almost like she doesn’t care. She also knows I am single and continually plays with and stares at her wedding ring during program. I’m glad she’s married but shouldn’t her focus be on the kids? I was talking to her the other day about how her 3 month leave of absence had affected me. I admitted I felt like I burned out and since she returned, I felt things were much more balanced and like I could breathe again. She looked at me like I had 3 heads. She obviously did not appreciate me stepping in for her and covering things while she was away. I told her that I bet we all, at some point have felt burned out… and it’s true. One of our Clinicians is leaving because of it. Lately, our program has gone through significant changes and our jobs are reduced to that of baby-sitters. I joined Kate and another co-worker in a conversation last night. We were all talking about how stressful working with the kids can be– how we all need time off (we all agreed); and how we don’t have a lot to do in terms of programing. The other co-worker said she was thinking about going back to school and I said “Me too!” Kate looked shocked when I said this. I don’t understand this? My boss said Kate has gone though many partners and I think I know why. How do I deal with her?
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