Education & Reference If you find something you shouldn't have

[timetochange08]

I'm assuming your colleague has been there longer than you and is chummy with the area manager? Do you know if the area manager agreed with them, or asked them for an assessment of you? If not, don't sweat it - from a management POV unsolicited negative assessments of other staff is ordinary at best.

If so, most staff can tell when redundancies will be made - knowing turnover is down, worried looks from management etc etc etc. If that's not happening you should be pretty safe anyway (so long as you're not getting written warnings or talkings-to).

If so and you are worried about redundancies, or see a future for yourself in the company, use your advantage! You now know who you have to impress to get over this 'hurdle'. Go the extra yard for a couple of months and make sure the colleague / your manager / the area manager know it (don't be an obvious suck up though). People's assessments of others do change. If your manager or the area manager sees that you're a valuable asset they'll ignore the colleagues advice. I absolutely guarantee this - good staff are more valuable than gold.

But most of all don't ever mention the email. For you, nothing good can come of it.

PS. I hope you're not at work now. Pet hate for most managers today: amount of time spent on personal internet stuff at work.

no i'm not at work.the colleague has been there three weeks they are new!!!!!!!! the worst part is the area manager said will have to chat to me... so I can expect to be pulled up any time now... its pretty worrying.. Its just a kick in the guts...i just have no idea how to get out of this!!!

 

[nicky]

Excellent advice northrichmond.

No offence OP but what were you thinking going through someone elses email? Your collegues are pretty silly for writing that stuff on their work email as well because emails are monitored and most are read.

 

[nicky]

no i'm not at work.the colleague has been there three weeks they are new!!!!!!!! the worst part is the area manager said will have to chat to me... so I can expect to be pulled up any time now... its pretty worrying.. Its just a kick in the guts...i just have ni idea ho wto get out of this!!!

Are you underperforming?

What did the emails say?

I need this information to help you get out of this.

 

[timetochange08]

Are you underperforming?

What did the emails say?

I need this information to help you get out of this.

the store is underperforming I;m in a retail outlet but its office based filing and database management, it in a medical industry.emails say I hope (me is looking for a another job or the (area manager) says will have to have the "chat.."

one says (me) i'v heard is low on cash we can only hope that pushes (me) to look for another job...

the area manager responds saying it will be no loss if I leave...

 

[Kipz]

I don't take any of it back either OP.

 

[nicky]

The area manager is an idiot for emailing that.

Could you do what others have said and say that someone left it anonomously on your desk?

 

[The Goon]

the store is underperforming I;m in a retail outlet but its office based filing and database management, it in a medical industry.emails say I hope (me is looking for a another job or the (area manager) says will have to have the "chat.."

one says (me) i'v heard is low on cash we can only hope that pushes (me) to look for another job...

the area manager responds saying it will be no loss if I leave...

Agree with nicky that the area manager shouldn’t be discussing this with anyone on your level, especially a new employee. But again, please, for your sake don’t mention any email. It could be used as grounds for dismissal.

So there are three separate emails?

That does sound like it could be bad, but not necessarily as bad as you think. The ‘chat’ could be many things, or nothing. Sometimes we blow these things out of proportion based on incomplete information. I’ve got a couple of questions for you:
How long have you been there and are you still in a probationary period?
Have you had a performance review since you started?
Did you have any idea of poor opinions of your work prior to this, and if so when and how?
Do you think the new colleague knows the area manager from before they started?
Is the new colleague hot?
Does the new colleague have any motivation to white-ant you?

 

[timetochange08]

The area manager is an idiot for emailing that.

Could you do what others have said and say that someone left it anonomously on your desk?

nah i couldn't as the only other people who would have access to it are from other stores who have the intranet as well and why would they have the password or want to access it by the way I didn't have the password anyway as the inbox was left up for me to see..they weren't diligent enough in closing it down just stating that.

so where do i go with it? I mean its just really poor form allround...and I feel so lost over it all...

 

[timetochange08]

Agree with nicky that the area manager shouldn’t be discussing this with anyone on your level, especially a new employee. But again, please, for your sake don’t mention any email. It could be used as grounds for dismissal.

So there are three separate emails?

That does sound like it could be bad, but not necessarily as bad as you think. The ‘chat’ could be many things, or nothing. Sometimes we blow these things out of proportion based on incomplete information. I’ve got a couple of questions for you:
How long have you been there and are you still in a probationary period?
Have you had a performance review since you started?
Did you have any idea of poor opinions of your work prior to this, and if so when and how?
Do you think the new colleague knows the area manager from before they started?
Is the new colleague hot?

Been with the company since april last year... prob lone gone... but new colleague on probo..theres been two people leave in the last three months one had been there two years and upped and left and didn't give any notice got another job and couldn't leave quick enough. one was there for two months and just handed in resignation and hated it .The one who first left (been there two years)didn't like me and i think had said quite a few things to the same area manager so thats where i think its stuck....and it stuck obvioulsy bad...

i can't see how they(new colleague) would know the area manager from before... and there've been there all of three weeks its puzzling at best....This person is younger than me and is not attractive at all..

I dunno I'm just at a loss over it all...theres also a new performance review thing happening and all the paperwork was just handed in for that ...thats where they are going to come in and sock it to me i think...and I'm shitting myself... the retail market is dead its a nightmare out there people and the traffic just aren't in the shops anymore!..well not where i am anyway

what does white ant mean??? i mean they don't even know me and i'm not a threat to their job.. its bizarre!

 

[nicky]

Go to HR and tell them you're being bullied and harassed, make such a fuss they do an investigation into emails etc.

He will get into trouble. What he did is very unprofessional.

 

[timetochange08]

Go to HR and tell them you're being bullied and harassed, make such a fuss they do an investigation into emails etc.

He will get into trouble. What he did is very unprofessional.

others are saying i will be dismissed if i mention the emails..

yeah we have a HR department but I dunno if they will look dimly on this .. i think they would....it wasn't just the area manger it was the colleague as well its two people who have done the wrong thing....

 

[nicky]

It would be good if HR did an investigation into emails without you telling them to.

 

[The Goon]

Go to HR and tell them you're being bullied and harassed, make such a fuss they do an investigation into emails etc.

He will get into trouble. What he did is very unprofessional.

nicky - be sensible. Yes the AM is unprofessional, but TTC08 can't go to HR without admitting he accessed a colleagues email account, which could be grounds for dismissal. TTC08 i's not being bullied and harassed, and if he claims he is and is found out ...

Been with the company since april last year... prob lone gone... but new colleague on probo..theres been two people leave in the last three months one had been there two years and upped and left and didn't give any notice got another job and couldn't leave quick enough. one was there for two months and just handed in resignation and hated it .The one who first left (been there two years)didn't like me and i think had said quite a few things to the same area manager so thats where i think its stuck....and it stuck obvioulsy bad...

i can't see how they(new colleague) would know the area manager from before... and there've been there all of three weeks its puzzling at best....This person is younger than me and is not attractive at all..

I dunno I'm just at a loss over it all...theres also a new performance review thing happening and all the paperwork was just handed in for that ...thats where they are going to come in and sock it to me i think...and I'm shitting myself... the retail markert is dead ist a nightmare out there people and the traffic just aren't in the shops anymore!..well not where i am anyway

what does white ant mean??? i mean they don't even know me and i'm not a threat to their job.. its bizarre!

White-ant means to undermine someone. I'm trying to guess if she thinks there'll be a cutback at your store, and she's trying to make sure that it's you not her. She could also just be a nasty gossip. BTW, look how they interact next time you see them. Plain but young girls can be attractive to men if they're friendly and flirty. It's very puzzling that he'd email her about this without some connection (new or old) between them - it's just so unprofessional.

What you've shared of the emails suggests (to me at least) that they're not going to fire you, they just wouldn't care if you left. A 'chat' could just be that you need to do better in some areas, or be friendlier, or make less mistakes, or (I'm just guessing here)???? Try not to automatically assume the worst (easier said than done I know). If you're going to spend time thinking about it try to be proactive / constructive.

If you can substantiate your performance do so, i.e. are you performing all of the tasks in your job description to satisfaction (be brutally honest with yourself)? Is the performance measured in some way? If you are performing and can prove it, and have not received any bad feedback since then, go into any review with confidence. You also have the advantage of being forewarned - use it. Ask yourself what may have been said about you and rehearse what you would say if it was brought up in a review. If they say you don't do X well, and you think that's not true say so. Tell them why you think you do it well and ask them why they think you don't. If they make a good point concede it and let them know you'll work on it. Listen - it's an underrated art.

Good luck. This is a shit situation to find yourself in. Let us know how you go.

 

[Colin D'Cops]

yeah so easy to say find another job you should see how tough it is out there to find something bloody awful and impossible....

If you're willing to work hard and explore, there's plenty of jobs providing you're fit and healthy.

 

[timetochange08]

If you're willing to work hard and explore, there's plenty of jobs providing you're fit and healthy.

I have been applying non stop I barely get any interviews I just dunno whats wrong or if i'm too old mid thirties...

 

[nicky]

Don't put your age on your resume.

Do you think you'll get the sack? Don't they have to performance manage you out or does retail have different laws?

 

[Colin D'Cops]

I have been applying non stop I barely get any interviews I just dunno whats wrong or if i'm too old mid thirties...

Depends on expectations too I spose. You aiming for the top or just something to pay the bills?

 

[Drakescoffeecake]

Bad luck OP. Would be a kick in the guts. But at least you now know where you stand. Did you have an inkling that's what people thought of you or was it a complete surprise?

It's always fun to get sent emails that weren't for your eyes. I got sent an email from a work collegue who was speaking about a good friend of mine who's also a work collegue. These were her actual words - it had something to do with attending a work function.

"She hardly ever attends work functions. Though she is a stuck up whore with a deadbeat husband who never wants to do anything so I suppose, who can blame her?"

To this day she doesn't know she sent that to me, nor does she know that I've gone and told the girl in question, plus most of my other close friends in the office. She was a fat pig before this email but this just topped it off. Everyone now hates her.

I wouldn't worry about any legalities in regards to reading the emails. Printing them off is a bit sneeky but respect! I would've sent the emails to my personal email account and printed them off at home, just to avoid any trouble that could arise. But you've done well. It could be an eye opener but at least you know where shit lies now and can start looking for a new job if that's the path you're gonna go down. Personally I can't see the point in working in a workplace where you're surrounded by poisonous ***** with no respect, or brains for that matter.

Good luck

 

[timetochange08]

Bad luck OP. Would be a kick in the guts. But at least you now know where you stand. Did you have an inkling that's what people thought of you or was it a complete surprise?

It's always fun to get sent emails that weren't for your eyes. I got sent an email from a work collegue who was speaking about a good friend of mine who's also a work collegue. These were her actual words - it had something to do with attending a work function.

"She hardly ever attends work functions. Though she is a stuck up whore with a deadbeat husband who never wants to do anything so I suppose, who can blame her?"

To this day she doesn't know she sent that to me, nor does she know that I've gone and told the girl in question, plus most of my other close friends in the office. She was a fat pig before this email but this just topped it off. Everyone now hates her.

I wouldn't worry about any legalities in regards to reading the emails. Printing them off is a bit sneeky but respect! I would've sent the emails to my personal email account and printed them off at home, just to avoid any trouble that could arise. But you've done well. It could be an eye opener but at least you know where shit lies now and can start looking for a new job if that's the path you're gonna go down. Personally I can't see the point in working in a workplace where you're surrounded by poisonous ***** with no respect, or brains for that matter.

Good luck

I have to look for a new job I don't want to work here anymore... i just can't...I knew the area manager didn't like me... but the new colleague is just beyond words we;ve barely worked together and hardly know each other... so whether they have got a preconceived idea of me from somewhere else I dunno...These people are pathetic and I can't stand looking at my colleague... the area manager is tough cookie and would probably be getting pressure for results from above but you don't take it out on one employee.. of many...

I've been feeling quite depressed from it all...

 

[timetochange08]

Depends on expectations too I spose. You aiming for the top or just something to pay the bills?

not aiming for the top at all..but I dunno I just don't want to be a cleaner... and I don't put my age on anything I reckon they can just guess...

 

[buzzbuzz]

Here's the big question - and be totally honest - are you a good employee?

 

[timetochange08]

Here's the big question - and be totally honest - are you a good employee?

hey I'm average just your jo blo.. but i've never stolen from them done the job to my best ability and do try .i would say thats not good enough

 

[THRILLHO]

Your go-to indicator of being a good employee is to mention you havent stolen from them? Pretty sure that's the minimum standard.

 

[nicky]

Your go-to indicator of being a good employee is to mention you havent stolen from them? Pretty sure that's the minimum standard.

Exactly what i thought but will also add, 'atleast you're honest'

 

[timetochange08]

Your go-to indicator of being a good employee is to mention you havent stolen from them? Pretty sure that's the minimum standard.

I do my job... I'm not an outstanding peformer ..hey I have wanted to find other work but the more I've applied for things the further away I seem to be from landing interviews... I know I needed to move on at some point and find another job but you can't do so until somebody give syou a chance and you have to land an interview to even have that shot....

I'm not your nathan buckley in a team.. lets put it that way but I don't feel like I'm worthless like how those pathetic people wrote in their emails...