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MadCow *

09/03/2008 02:53 PM	Quote Reply
My co-worker is a bitch. He sends me a task an hour before emailing me about it's status. The issue is when he emails me inquiring about the status he cc's everyone on that email. I think it makes me look bad and it just pisses me off. I don't want to get into a pissing off match with him. But I don't want him to send such emails to everyone. I have been very nice to him. I am trying to be his friend but he still keeps doing this shit. I don't know how to handle this situation. Any hints, suggestions? Please.

Sexy Para... *

09/03/2008 03:13 PM	Quote Reply
First...are you a postal worker? If not, then reply to his email explaining that you just received the project an hour ago without a deadline. If it is a rush project he should have metioned it when he gave you the project. List all the projects that he's given that day or week and all the other work you're working on. Hit REPLY ALL and include your supervisor and his and you'll never get another email from him again. You're at work to work not make friends!! And be Civil not nice!!

WendyNC

Moderator

09/03/2008 03:26 PM	Quote Reply
MadCow, you describe this person as a co-worker, yet say he is sending you tasks. What is your relative relationship in the workplace?

Wendy Kimbel, ACP, NCCP Paralegal Assistance, Inc. 105 E. Center St., Ste. C Mebane, NC 27302 Phone: 919-967-4495 Fax: 919-304-0743

MadCow *

09/03/2008 04:06 PM	Quote Reply
We both are paralegals but he is experienced and I am kinda new. Sexy Para, I tried that. His reply is " I know, I was following up" I am not a postal worker. You know, he rejects and returns the documents to me because the name, date are underlined in the notary block. He cc's everyone. He will send the document back if there is "a" typo. He will write a half page email telling me about the typo and asking me to fix it and return it to him ( there is a typo on page 15 line 25. it should be An not an because ...blah blah.. I am so smart and sun rises up from my ass). He will cc everyone. He will return the document because the font of the heading is in Arial instead of Times New Roman. Again, one page email for that too and cc to everyone. It's just pissing me off. Am I being unreasonable?

Sexy Para... *

09/03/2008 04:51 PM	Quote Reply
Madcow, Does he do this to everyone or just you? And how does everyone feel about him? It sounds like he knows his job but has no people skills... P.S. The remark about the postal worker was a bad joke....meaning you dont' want to get him mad!!

WendyNC

Moderator

09/03/2008 05:44 PM	Quote Reply
MadCow, I see two separate issues here. The first we describe in polite society Pedantic Asshole. That's the part the sends back the document for a single typo, a font error, etc. with voluminous explanations. This will drive you nuts, but if you will read all that crap and act on it, you may learn a few things along the way if PedAhole knows whereof he speaks. Now that's a big if, so you'll have to use your own sense and judgment to evaluate what you're getting. The second issue has a very technical name: Insecure Wacko Control Freak. This is not about you although the constant barrage certainly feels as if it is and makes your work environment unpleasant. One thing I would caution you against doing is responding in kind. Your employers don't need two nutjobs. To answer one of your questions, no, you are not being unreasonable, because the hovering interrupts your work, the copying of all the emails to god and everybody clogs of their inboxes, and it's possible to give instruction on all those tedious technical points without being a total PedAHole. However, you only get to control your side of the street, so the next step is to figure out how to work around The Crazy and keep it from spoiling your work environment.

Wendy Kimbel, ACP, NCCP Paralegal Assistance, Inc. 105 E. Center St., Ste. C Mebane, NC 27302 Phone: 919-967-4495 Fax: 919-304-0743

MadCow *

09/03/2008 06:04 PM	Quote Reply
He gets along with everyone, even with me. Like I said, I am very nice to him even with all this crap he pulls up with me. I think he only does this to me. I don't know why. He is doing this since the day I started this job. Maybe I am not nice enough. Maybe he will be happy if I go down on my knees. F*k it. I try so hard not to respond in the like manner. But how long can or should I take it? It's just annoying. I think he is just trying to screw me over.

WendyNC

Moderator

09/03/2008 11:16 PM	Quote Reply
Screw nice. Be courteous, be kind, smile pleasantly and do really good work. Do not engage the crazy. If you're doing substantive paralegal work, the only thing he can find to criticize is clerical stuff, and he's telling your superiors about it on a regular basis, think about how that works out. I'm guessing that he's trying to intimidate you. Fighting back is frustrating and takes lots of energy, but sidestepping is fairly easy. It will also frustrate the hell out of him. Disclaimer: In a former life, I might have done some time in the trenches in a nasty passive-aggressive office cold war, so I tend to have rather jaundiced views about this kind of crap.

Wendy Kimbel, ACP, NCCP Paralegal Assistance, Inc. 105 E. Center St., Ste. C Mebane, NC 27302 Phone: 919-967-4495 Fax: 919-304-0743

lseidman

09/08/2008 01:44 PM	Quote Reply
I wouldn't worry about it, to be honest. So what if he copies in the whole office? Don't take it personally. Learn what you can from him, and leave the rest. No one is perfect, and even though we want to be perceived as being perfect on the job, if you look at this from the perspective of it being a learning experience and put the ego to the side, its not as bad as you think.

debjame *

09/08/2008 10:26 PM	Quote Reply
When you get his email an hour later, with copies to everyone, just hit "reply all." Let him know the status of the project, other tasks you have going on, and ask him where his assignment fits into the scheme of things. Also, ask if he's cleared this project with your attorney, because you have to take care of your attorney's needs first. Make sure that everyone is copied on that. That'll fix him.

debjame *

09/08/2008 10:33 PM	Quote Reply
I've been in some pretty crazy places too. This just occurred to me; thank him (reply all) for taking the time to carefully peruse your work and go into detailed explanations about the things that need to be corrected. Ask if he'd like to meet with your supervisors (his too) to utlize his help and guidance to full advantage. Be deadly calm when you see him, and don't forget to ask him when he thinks the meeting can be set up. (Preferably in earshot of quite a few people) That's guaranteed to show him as the micro-managing twit that he is, and have the supervisors watching him.

GA Paralegal *

09/10/2008 02:47 PM	Quote Reply
Find a confidante in the office, who will hit reply all and ask him to kindly take them off his list for these kinds of emails. I bet there will be several who will send him a "me too" email and eventually he will have to quit doing it. In addition, save every petty email, you may need it in the future. This guy should not be trusted. However, I agree with Wendy, you should take the high road.

debjame *

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