Franke James is Editor/Founder of Office-Politics.com and Inventor of the Office-Politics® Game.

Peter R. Garber has worked as an HR professional for over 25 years and is the author of many business books including: Winning the Rat Race at Work and 100 Ways to Get on the Wrong Side of your Boss.

Dina Beach Lynch, is an Ombudsman, Author and former attorney. An award-winning mediator, Dina served as the Corporate Ombudsman for the 7th largest bank in the US helping over 48,000 employees to resolve workplace issues.

Dr. Rick Brandon is CEO of Brandon Partners. He has consulted and trained tens of thousands at corporations worldwide, including Fortune 500 companies across a variety of industries.

Dr. Marty Seldman is one of America's most experienced executive coaches. His 35-year career includes expertise in executive coaching, group dynamics, cross-cultural studies, clinical psychology, and training.

Arnie Herz, is a lawyer, mediator, speaker, author and consultant nationally recognized for his practical and inspired approach to conflict resolution and client counseling.

Dr. John Burton LL.B. M.B.A. M.Div. Ph.D. is an ethicist, mediator, lawyer and theologian. John is currently located in Prince Rupert, B.C., Canada, working with Canada's aboriginal communities.

A few people think I am assigned to do all the'grunt' work - that I enjoy it, and like being yelled at when they are in bad moods...

July 2005

Dear Office-Politics,

Presently I am a receptionist / assistant in a medium-sized firm. I've got a few people who think I am assigned to do all the'grunt' work - that I enjoy it, and like being yelled at when they are in bad moods. I just keep my head down, do the work, spend the paycheck and focus on my part time college classes.

Well - I was recently accepted into a prestigious undergrad institution (as a transfer student) and I had only told one person in the office. We have an office located near this school and I am thinking about transferring. Well, this one person knows that I've been picked on and decided to share with everyone my good news (partially because he wanted to put the others' noses in it!). This, of course, made my day.

However, now these few people seem to be trying to find me making "stupid" mistakes as if to point out that I am not that smart... I'm an understated person to begin with so that's probably why this comes as a 'surprise' to them. Is there anything I can do to alleviate the inferiority / superiority complexes going on?

Still waters

Dear Still waters,

You are awesome. Congratulations on your acceptance to college!

The people putting you down are petty and not worth your energy.  What you can do is keep remembering how fortunate you are to have a promising future. Give yourself and them good wishes. If they continue to be nasty, then just avoid them the best you can or, if you feel it is appropriate, confront them. If that does not work, then perhaps find a new job. Trust yourself and you'll know what to do.

Thanks for writing to Office-Politics.

Arnie Herz

Arnie Herz, Esq.
Author, LegalSanity
Attorney at Law