Dear Workplace Dilemmas

I’ve been in the same job in maintenance for 10 years and I hate it. It’s nasty; it makes me feel so worthless and I need a change.

Dear Workplace Dilemmas,

I’ve been working in the small office of a nonprofit organization for about two years, and six months ago another employee joined our staff. Over time, she's become increasingly rude and demanding. This is something that both visitors to the office and other co-workers have noted. She’s argumentative about everything, big or small; she resists any kind of help or suggestions concerning her work; she won’t inform me about important meetings; she yells at people over the phone and uses the f-word often.

Dear Workplace Dilemmas
My boss is involved with the Boy Scouts and he constantly asks me and another co-worker to work on flyers, posters and other Boy Scout material. This has nothing to do with our work. What can I say to him, or should I go above him?

Not a Happy Camper

Dear Katherine and Kathi,
I work with a woman who loves to point out mistakes and always wants to be in charge.

This coworker is a back stabber – although she constantly picks, she’s very friendly to my face. She once told me that my boss didn’t want me in my current position because I wasn't qualified.

Dear Workplace Dilemmas,
At my most recent performance review, my boss was very positive about my work but cited one negative – my office is too messy.  It’s true I’m not a neat person and I have stack of papers on my desk and on the floor. I don’t like to file and the clutter doesn’t bother me. I’ve always been this way and I don’t think it interferes with the quality of my work. I know where everything is and I never miss a deadline.