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03.01.2017, 00:49
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| | Re: How to deal with difficult co-worker
How is your r German? If she is Swiss, maybe she just dislikes you because you are a foreigner that still hasnt learned German.
Or as I said before, often cases like this stem from how female perceive that older men talk incorrectly to/about women. | Quote: | |  | | | Thanks again.. I can rule out the jealously part because I might have taken a position she wanted.. my job requires English as mother language - she is native Swiss with mediocre English skills, plus I work for a tech company, and she has no technical background (I have a BS in engineering). She is literally an office administrator, answering the phone, generating invoices, managing the CRM. I will know more soon... I can't see ignoring her forever as a viable solution. Anyway, we have the company ski weekend in 2 weeks... she will be there, lots of booze...  | | | | | | The following 2 users would like to thank Tilia for this useful post: | | 
03.01.2017, 01:20
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| | Re: How to deal with difficult co-worker
By pure coincidence, a friend / former colleague in Michigan posted this on fb tonight | The following 2 users would like to thank Blueangel for this useful post: | | 
03.01.2017, 09:07
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| | Re: How to deal with difficult co-worker | Quote: | |  | | | Ha ha ha.
Crashed and burned. The heros answer to the problem. Be a man. Intimidate her. Yeah.
Wow you are really a tough person.
If you do that your situation will go from bad to worse.
What to do?
Get yourself a protector. Or become a slave to the woman. Or quit. Those are your only choices.
Man up. Really. Have you ever worked in an office? | | | | |
???? did you read my post in your angry voice?
Intimidate her?? where did I say that??? I said ask her whats wrong, plain, simple, problem solved in a couple of seconds.
Yes, I've worked in offices for what now, ermm 30 years nearly, and yes the few times workmates have had issues with me I've asked them outright whats up, and you know what, the issue went away there and then, an explanation, an apology (maybe) and job done.
Get yourself a protector ?? wtf are people on???? that's it, GANG up on someone because you think they have an issue with you, it could be something totally stupid like you left an unwashed mug in the kitchen, but hey, get your gang together and take the bitch out
seriously, I wonder about the sanity of some of the people on here, I'd really not like to work with some of you.
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03.01.2017, 13:33
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Here
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| | Re: How to deal with difficult co-worker | Quote: | |  | | | How is your r German? If she is Swiss, maybe she just dislikes you because you are a foreigner that still hasnt learned German.
Or as I said before, often cases like this stem from how female perceive that older men talk incorrectly to/about women. | | | | |
My high German is fluent. Dialect... not so much. I don't speak Swiss German, but understand most of it. She makes a point of speaking it with everyone though, it automatically shuts me out (I can listen but not participate). On the other hand, this is Switzerland and it's their native language so I don't have much of a leg to stand on.
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03.01.2017, 14:01
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| | Re: How to deal with difficult co-worker | Quote: | |  | | | She makes a point of speaking it with everyone though, it automatically shuts me out (I can listen but not participate). | | | | | Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Swiss German people I know say they learn high German from about 5yrs old, so if you understand what this person is saying in Swiss German, there should be nothing to stop you answering, and being understood, in high German.
Just saying because my OH's family are bi-lingual, whilst my OH and his brothers are tri-lingual. When the brothers are talking amongst themselves, they often use all three languages in one conversation, so perhaps you're colleagues could include you in a conversation in the same manner.
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03.01.2017, 14:58
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| | Re: How to deal with difficult co-worker | Quote: | |  | | | My high German is fluent. Dialect... not so much. I don't speak Swiss German, but understand most of it. She makes a point of speaking it with everyone though, it automatically shuts me out (I can listen but not participate). On the other hand, this is Switzerland and it's their native language so I don't have much of a leg to stand on. | | | | | Yes you could easily be singled out by not using dialict, but that would apply even if you did. In fact what you describe is the standard situation. So why do you think it shuts you out?
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03.01.2017, 15:10
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| | Re: How to deal with difficult co-worker | Quote: | |  | | | My high German is fluent. Dialect... not so much. I don't speak Swiss German, but understand most of it. She makes a point of speaking it with everyone though, it automatically shuts me out (I can listen but not participate). On the other hand, this is Switzerland and it's their native language so I don't have much of a leg to stand on. | | | | | posted 13.33h ..... are you still on holidays? Maybe she doesn't like you hangig out on EF during work hours ..... | This user would like to thank curley for this useful post: | | 
03.01.2017, 16:00
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| | Re: How to deal with difficult co-worker | Quote: | |  | | | posted 13.33h ..... are you still on holidays? Maybe she doesn't like you hangig out on EF during work hours .....  | | | | | ...maybe she's on EF and knows his username. | This user would like to thank Chuff for this useful post: | | 
03.01.2017, 16:13
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| | Re: How to deal with difficult co-worker | Quote: | |  | | | ...maybe she's on EF and knows his username.  | | | | | That might solve the problem all together | 
03.01.2017, 16:15
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| | Re: How to deal with difficult co-worker | Quote: | |  | | |
For my actual duties, I have very little to do with her as she has a basic admin function.
| | | | |
I had this situation many times and I think you don't have an issue. There will be always people who don't like me. So what?
Someone doesn't greet? Set the ignore bit to True. Next time just don't greet and pretend she doesn't exist.
A bigger issue would be if you have a lot to do with her. You cannot simply ignore the situation and you have to something. In this case the common wisdom of being nice usually doesn't help. Gather intelligence and see how you can get back to her. "you can get much further with a kind word and a gun than with a kind word alone"
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03.01.2017, 16:26
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| | Re: How to deal with difficult co-worker | Quote: | |  | | | Someone doesn't greet? Set the ignore bit to True. Next time just don't greet and pretend she doesn't exist. | | | | | ...and always remember that the minute you walk out of the door, she don't exist.
Problems outside of work should be left at the front door of your workplace, and workplace clashes of personality should be left behind when you walk out of the door. Sometimes it's very difficult to do, but you'll be a lot happier in yourself when you make that division.
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03.01.2017, 16:35
| | Re: How to deal with difficult co-worker | Quote: | |  | | | ...and always remember that the minute you walk out of the door, she don't exist.
Problems outside of work should be left at the front door of your workplace, and workplace clashes of personality should be left behind when you walk out of the door. Sometimes it's very difficult to do, but you'll be a lot happier in yourself when you make that division. | | | | | Very true. And if you find it difficult, it's helpful to have an actual physical marker after which you are no longer at work: a railway tunnel, a bridge over a river, a particular station... whatever.
I used to have a very emotionally challenging job and I found that it used to eat me up day and night to the extent that it was actually affecting the quality of my work. I sought advice and this is exactly what I was advised to do. I've tried to do it ever since (in fact, it's one of the reasons I live so far away from where I work) and it isn't always 100% effective, but it still serves as a helpful reminder.
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03.01.2017, 16:36
|  | Member | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dicken, St Gallen
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| | Re: How to deal with difficult co-worker | Quote: | |  | | | My high German is fluent. Dialect... not so much. I don't speak Swiss German, but understand most of it. She makes a point of speaking it with everyone though, it automatically shuts me out (I can listen but not participate). On the other hand, this is Switzerland and it's their native language so I don't have much of a leg to stand on. | | | | | Native Language?
No thats Rätoromanish ..isn't it?
Theres as much Italian & French here, Swiss German isn't a language it's a dialect.
If you understand the dialect just give em German back or learn some handy Dialect phrases ( i'm sure people here will help you out ) in particular then make sure to use them in all the wrong places and meanings just to make the point.
Last edited by audiodruid; 03.01.2017 at 16:38.
Reason: missed out the word WRONG ....
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03.01.2017, 16:40
| Senior Member | | Join Date: May 2008 Location: Verbier
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| | Re: How to deal with difficult co-worker | Quote: | |  | | | ...and always remember that the minute you walk out of the door, she don't exist.
Problems outside of work should be left at the front door of your workplace, and workplace clashes of personality should be left behind when you walk out of the door. Sometimes it's very difficult to do, but you'll be a lot happier in yourself when you make that division. | | | | | Additionally, you'll probably move to a new job in a couple of months or years. And put everything behind you. Why bother so much?
| 
03.01.2017, 16:46
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| | Re: How to deal with difficult co-worker | Quote: |  | | | Very true. And if you find it difficult, it's helpful to have an actual physical marker after which you are no longer at work: a railway tunnel, a bridge over a river, a particular station... whatever. | | | | | 100% agree! Jct 14 of the M25, Manchester Piccadilly station, etc...and breathe | This user would like to thank Blueangel for this useful post: | | 
03.01.2017, 19:30
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| | Re: How to deal with difficult co-worker
And as Mike Harding once said, if someone is giving you grief, you need to picture what they look like sitting on the lav with their trolleys around their ankles. You'll never take them seriously again after that. | Quote: |  | | | Very true. And if you find it difficult, it's helpful to have an actual physical marker after which you are no longer at work: a railway tunnel, a bridge over a river, a particular station... whatever.
I used to have a very emotionally challenging job and I found that it used to eat me up day and night to the extent that it was actually affecting the quality of my work. I sought advice and this is exactly what I was advised to do. I've tried to do it ever since (in fact, it's one of the reasons I live so far away from where I work) and it isn't always 100% effective, but it still serves as a helpful reminder. | | | | | | The following 3 users would like to thank nickatbasel for this useful post: | | 
03.01.2017, 19:35
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| | Re: How to deal with difficult co-worker | Quote: | |  | | | And as Mike Harding once said, if someone is giving you grief, you need to picture what they look like sitting on the lav with their trolleys around their ankles. You'll never take them seriously again after that. | | | | | That can cause you nightmares, beware.
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04.01.2017, 10:20
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| | Re: How to deal with difficult co-worker | Quote: | |  | | | My high German is fluent. Dialect... not so much. I don't speak Swiss German, but understand most of it. She makes a point of speaking it with everyone though, it automatically shuts me out (I can listen but not participate). On the other hand, this is Switzerland and it's their native language so I don't have much of a leg to stand on. | | | | | Try to speak with her in High German and see what happens. She'll come around.. If this sort of situations scare/unsettle you I don't know what to say..
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05.01.2017, 15:37
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| | Re: How to deal with difficult co-worker
Sometimes people hold on to things for way too long. i can smypathize with you not easy being around negative fibes.
best way to cope is to be yourself around her act normal and radiant positive vibes. Always be professional with her and try doing subtle nice things for her cause believe it or not that will make you feel better. but i wouldnt go out of my way and invite her to lunch, but i would hold the door or elevator for her for example.
we cant control other peoples reactions but only ours. so make sure that you are smiling, talking with other coworkers and going to work social events.
you need to have the attitude of not everyone is going to like me, but I am not here to win a popularity contest.
you seem like a nice guy wanting to resolve it and give her a chance to like you, but let it go my friend, your just not her cup of tea, but again go back to my advice...you dont give a shit what she thinks
all the best
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06.01.2017, 04:12
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| | Re: How to deal with difficult co-worker | Quote: | |  | | | … Swiss German isn't a language it's a dialect.
... | | | | | It's colloquially called a dialect, but from a linguistic standpoint Swiss German easily meets the basic criteria for being considered a distinct language. (Linguistics is one of the things I studied.)
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