What to do when your peers at work hate you?

Does anyone have any advice on what to do when your peers at work hate you?

Well, maybe not hate you, but are upset you "make them look bad".

I am not trying to brag, but I go to work to do my job. I do it well, and I don't waste time.

Several of my peers are upset upper management continually comes to me with the expectation that I can solve problems that they can't. I have also been put in charge of the most important processes rather than them. I am also likely in line for a promotion in a few months.

Basically my peers generally do their job, but they take it easy a little too much if you know what I mean. They are management as well, and they make poor judgement calls a little too frequently. They also pick and choose what is and is not "their job to do". This doesn't escape upper managements eyes, so they are not viewed very positively.

My problem is they are resenting me because I refuse to "take it easy" like they do, which makes them look bad while I do my job and they don't.

Anyone ever been in this situation? Did you find a way to get your peers to stop resenting you?

:shrug:

I got nothin'.

:shrug:

You know the stereotype of the lazy govt worker? True in some cases. I worked hard and made people mad. They backstabbed me badmouthed me, attacked me personally in meetings I didn't attend.Basically made me miserable. After my ally, my boss got forced out in a political move..It was worse. I quit even before finding a job. I would advise you to transfer or go elsewhere. No good will come of that situation.

some of the same thing are happening to me.

Make an effort to be helpful to them as well as your bosses. Be patient and explain yourself to them when you sense hostility. If they decide to hate you, there's not a whole lot you can do to stop it, but if they see you making the effort to be open and honest they'll have a much harder time hating you, and they might even feel bad about their behavior.

They might resent their obvious shortcomings. It's easy to make people look bad when they are! I'm lucky that I have coworkers that are (as far as I know) like family. Took me forever to find a home employment-wise...

Some workplaces make honesty into a personal failing. And I don't mean honesty like, "Gee, Bob, you really smell bad today." I mean being un-devious, as up-front as possible. Leaving off the politics as much as is safe for one's survival. Every office is its own little ecosystem.

That said, if people have problems with my work ethic, that's their problem, not mine. I am professional, cheerful and friendly with my co-workers. I don't try to mix work and friendship. I work hard and do my job.

My advice to you would be to look at it that way - it makes no real difference what they think. Don't act superior or smug, treat them professionally and simply go about your business.

That's a hard line to walk. You have high standards and if others are slacking, it's not easy to do things the way you see fit without making others look bad. You might need a "foundation" of friends in your workplace. It's harder to get ostracized if you have people who arent' threatened by you that will back you up. Maybe solidify some friendships with people that are not directly affected by your department?

I found that when I started out with people that didn't want me there because I made them look like total slackers, that after a while, I found ways to fulfill my personal expectations without making my immediate coworkers look bad. It takes some maneuvering, especially if your job restricts you to only certain functions. I now do things that they either can't do (just let them think they can, but that you do these certain things to save them the bother), or don't want to do. Find the spots or holes in the job that are not threatening to your insecure slacker coworkers if you can.

Good luck!

and don't sweat the small stuff. Let them dig their own hole.

or not.

If things are not fun for you at work...we all need a little fun...try getting even. Nothing destructive or rude, just fun stuff. Anonymous flower or gift deliveries to yourself...make sure that the card says what a great job you are doing. Management will think it is something personal and everyone else will think it's from management.

BOB SLYDELL
So what you do is you take the specifications from the customers and
you bring them down to the software engineers?

TOM
That, that's right.

BOB PORTER
Well, then I gotta ask, then why can't the customers just take the
specifications directly to the software people, huh?

TOM
Well, uh, uh, uh, because, uh, engineers are not good at dealing with
customers.

BOB SLYDELL
You physically take the specs from the customer?

TOM
Well, no, my, my secretary does that, or, or the fax.

BOB SLYDELL
Ah.

BOB PORTER
Then you must physically bring them to the software people.

TOM
Well...no. Yeah, I mean, sometimes.

BOB SLYDELL
Well, what would you say… you do here?

TOM
Well, look, I already told you. I deal with the goddamn customers so
the engineers don't have to!! I have people skills!! I am good at
dealing with people!!! Can't you understand that?!? WHAT THE HELL IS
WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?!!!!!!!


http://www.awesomefilm.com/script/office_space_transcript.html


Seriously, stick to your guns. Are you from the North East working for a California company? I had a supe once who was from Chicago and she went on and on about how California workers were lazier than back Easters.