I have been keeping up with this via your posts and I am just so happy that it would seem she may finally have reached the end of her rope so to speak! Good for you for having the guts to stick to your guns. She will get hers, it may just take some time.

Trish

Yippeeeeee!!!

Linda

Wow. She is a jewel. Hope they recognize her ineptitude soon.

what voo-doo does she have over the supervisor?

I wish I knew, Susan. When he first told me that there was an explanation for what she did, he said I would feel "comforted" by it, and I noticed that he seemed relieved. Right away I mentioned four inconsistencies with the story, and he looked kind of dismayed. Boy, was I glad the receptionist didn't "forget" like some people do to stay out of the fray. By coincidence, the manager came to our office today for something mundane- we rarely see him. They went and had a private meeting after he attended to the matter he was there for, and I'm sure the issue was discussed- which is a good thing.

This is the strangest office clamity I have ever heard of, but like I said I am an old geezer that owned my own business all my life. Susan, I am at a quandry as to why this woman has not lost her job already. But that is just me. Maybe I am just a dumb gray head.

Darleen

All I can say is that she's very charming when people she wants to impress are around.

All the lies are bound to catch up with her! Just be patient and her own stories will start to trip her up.

Unfortunately, I've worked in places where I think you'd have to kill somebody to get fired! Not sure how they stayed in business, but I got myself out of there before that ship sank!

Could she be having an affair with the boss?

I don't know the facts of your story, but just have to say that 'people who lie somehow seem to have the knack of making people believe them'.
It must be a special talent! Ha!
Hope your life is easier at work.

Oh, I know someone just like that, she can justify her horrible actions and convince even the victim that she's "just looking out for her best interests". Suffice it to say, the truth usually comes out eventually.

And a big YAY to the receptionist, Susan! I want to go pat her on the back for having the guts to tell the truth and to not want to be party to Nadine's big falsehoods.

Maybe, just maybe, this is the beginning of the end of her. I can only hope!

Have you ever read the comic strip Dilbert? The character named "Topper" who know matter what anyone in the office says or discusses he has always done better or has better etc.
I had one such person for years in my old office, a classic pathological liar. You couldn't discuss anything without him besting you or making up stories instantaneously to "top it".. For example you mention to a co-worker it's lightning outside,, Topper overhears and rushes over tell you how he was "struck by lightning" a few months ago. You ask someone to go to the casino,, Topper overhears and rushes over to tell you about the tens of thousands of dollars he and his wife won just last year, not once, but two weekends in a row. but they still don't have a pot to pee in.. LOL

Be careful....you said that she has personal "connections", both with the Union and local government.
The "talk" between your supervisor and her may well have been a talk to remind her to be a better liar, and not to get him or any higher ups in trouble.

This reminds me so much of all the office politics/bullcrap at the place I worked for so long.

Those supervisors can be so naive/stupid/gullible/lazy...just pick a word that fits!

Sad thing is, everyone suffers when the culprit is allowed to remain employed. I'd have a very hard time not spilling all the beans and getting rid of this B!tch ASAP. She doesn't deserve one more pay check.

How old is this woman.
It's very difficult to fire a union employee, and doubly difficult to fire anyone over 40 (age discrimination lawsuit-probability).
Many employment laws (and union contract stipulations) require documented proof of "problem", then the employee must be told what they have to do to remedy the situation, and a designated timeframe...all before a lawsuit-free termination can take place.
BTW - If the employee remains clean of any warned against infractions within the designated time frame...the clock stops, and if she does "it" again, the entire process must start over.

Don't be surprised if she doesn't get transferred to another department, and possibly a promotion, if the only opening for her is a higher position.
It's the easy way out when these things occur.

This is the real world.

Unfortunately, I agree with Monica. Something else seems to be going on here and I would be very, very careful. Continue to behave in a professional manner and allow her to become the aggressor. Don't take any crap but don't put yourself in the position of appearing to be the attacker. There has to be a reason why he said this:

Quote
When he first told me that there was an explanation for what she did, he said I would feel "comforted" by it, and I noticed that he seemed relieved.

Huh? And ---- Isn't it coincendental the manager showed up just at this time? Too many unanswered questions.

Just the fact that your boss is so keen to accept her stories and excuses worries me. I see three possibilities: 1) he's a dunce, 2) she's sleeping with him, 3) she's got pictures.

Or all 3. Bad, bad situation.

Just have to chime in here, Susan. I agree with Monica, the labour laws are so complex and so favor the employee, which in most cases is a good thing. But to fire a long term employee can be tricky business.
For your own sake, I hope you are keeping notes or a diary of events so you have it to refer to if you are ever required to offer direct instances, dates, times, etc. If you aren't keeping a written record, please start now.
I guess you've got your KT files if nothing else...LOL.
Hope you go to work today to find out she's been transferred to Venezuela...
Suzan J

All I can suggest is (1) CoverYourBackside(CYB)..document, document document. (2) start job networking; hopefully you won't need it, but there are no guarantees.

RE: the labor laws. There are loopholes for every employer. Can fire'm if they're over 40? Lay them off due to reduction of force or position elimiated. Take work away from them, give it to someone already very busy, so the position elimiated can be justified (not enough to keep employee busy). Believe me, employers have ways to dot i's & cross t's in favor of keeping the young slender ones with clothes 'up to here & down to there & snug in between' rather than appreciate the mature dependable employee. Elimate the older worker with more yrs with the company rather than layoff the younger & teach the older any skills needed for a new position. Employers have many ways to 'legally' get rid of good employees because of age.

Well good for the receptionist who wouldn't cover for Nadine's lie! I hope Nadine doesn't take it out on her in any way and make her sorry for it. As others have said, keep up the good work and let HER hang HERSELF.

Sweet! I hope more busts come her way. It drives me crazy to see people keeping jobs without doing what is expected of them, and getting away with it. AND making everybody miserable in the meantime.

Keep up the good work.

Trin

Well...good. That's one strike. I have a feeling it will take many more to show her the door. Can YOU transfer?

My goodness, what a day! Before I forget, a couple of people have asked about me transferring, and I meant to respond to that but sometimes I'm scatterbrained. I wouldn't rule it out, but it would be a little difficult. I currently work in the town I live in, which is handy, because we only have one car now. My DH drives to work with DD, but sometimes their schedules don't match up and we have to work things out. If I transfer, I would have to buy another car. Also, my one of my dog's cannot go all day without going outside, and I always take her at lunch. I would have to hire a sitter to take her out every day. It's not so much the cost, but she really hates people outside our circle. So the bottom line is, I would transfer if things became impossible to bear, before the point where I would have a nervous breakdown or something...lol.

Anyway, my supervisor approached me today and asked how things have been between me and Nadine since yesterday morning. This surprised me, because he usually would never refer back to an issue like that- he instead would typically just hope the subject didn't come up again. I said that she has been polite and professional since mid morning, yesterday (which was right after her meeting with him). He actually told me that he told her that it's a small team and she has to get along! He's so closed mouth I couldn't believe he even said that. He said there was more to it, and I knew that because they talked for 45 minutes. He specifically asked me to tell him if she did not do her work, and when I got up to go, he said it again. Some of those things she shirks does not show up on any report, so he wouldn't know without a complaint.

He also said that he would allow me to go talk to the OHN, if I needed to, and he encouraged to do it if I thought it would help. He said he could see that she has been hard on me in the last two weeks.

I'm still kind of shocked, and I have to credit this current manager we have, who I know must have directed him. This was a MAJOR change from how he usually handles things...

FINALLY! someone with balls.

(sorry that's not a mature way to say it but it sure sums up someone there who gives a dam#)

I sure hope he means it.

Progress! YES! That's very encouraging. I would be cautiously optimistic, Susan.

Toni, I can't get over it. She has worked for this employer for 22 years, and I don't think she thought it possible that she would be called on anything.

Flamingo, you're right- cautiously optimistic is how I'm going to approach it. And I'm going to go back to doing my work and minding my own business, as much as I can. I'm not going to go looking for things to report and will not report anything petty. I will only report provable things, if they're serious enough to report. When she gets back from vacation, the supervisor has her work day way more structured now, and I know that will not be easy for her, and she doesn't react well to not having things her way. This is more than ever, the time for me continue to conduct myself very professionally.

I think you handled things well and besides that, your approach is very mature. I would have hated to see you transfer since it would be a hardship with your dog and the car situation and all. It's high time she buckles down to work and earn her paycheck.

Just an idea for the dog: A doggie door that opens to a small, completely enclosed run. One clever person has a doghouse set up right against the house. The doggie door opens into the back of the dog house. When the dog goes indoors it appears to be going into its doghouse.