I work with someone who is keeping track of everyone else's movements in a journal...

February 2005, Article 9

Dear Office-Politics,

I work with someone who is keeping track of everyone else's movements throughout the day in a journal..she also follows a certain individual around whenever she's not at her desk, is this harassment?

Suspicious

Dear Suspicious,

Your letter raises serious questions, however when I first read it I laughed out loud. And only because it gave me insight into myself. I am known to walk around with a journal taking notes, at meetings, on the phone, with family etc...

So I wouldn't want to jump to any conclusions that this coworker is up to something devious or malevolent! She simply could have a note-taker type of personality. I take notes because it helps me to gain perspective on what is going on in my life, it keeps me organized -- and it is a terrific memory tool. It helps me enormously to look back to a conversation and remember the important details. But I understand that it can make some people nervous, and unsettle them. In my case, if it's not evident why I'm taking notes, I'll tell people what the purpose of the note-taking is. I do this to make people relax.

Keeping a workplace journal can have important and far-reaching consequences. Recently a worker at a Paper mill factory was featured in the news for a journal he had kept over a period of many years. He was very concerned about the adverse health effects of the chemicals used in the factory. He dutifully tested and recorded the emissions at various places in the factory. He also kept notes on the medical symptoms his coworkers were experiencing. His journal is now being used in a court case to prosecute the Paper Mill for an unsafe work environment.

Let's return now to your question. I've given you examples of why people keep journals. You need to find out what the purpose of your coworker's note-taking is, and why she's following another worker around. Ask her directly. (Take your own journal with you and write down her exact comments! Don't forget to also record her reaction to you taking notes ;-) If you think her answer is off-base or makes you uncomfortable, then speak to your Supervisor about it. It's better to get the issues out in the open than speculate privately on this worker's true motivation.

Thanks for writing to Office-Politics.

Franke James
Creator, The Office-Politics Game