Dear Joan:

There are worse things we could call our co-worker than "call girl," but that term sums things up. We are four women in our early 50's, all hired within the last two years, as was a young woman in her early 20's. This is her first job. We're all seasoned and accomplished journalists. We learned recently that this young woman was promoted to a position for which she has no training, no background and no experience. The job opening was not posted. We were just told one day she had it. A month later we learned she had been dating/sleeping with her supervisor, who was married and is now separated.

The job promotion came after the two of them got together. Several of us complained to Human Resources about the situation and eventually the woman was told she would have to leave or transfer. So, she opted to transfer and was given an even better job and more pay for a job that requires (for everyone else) a masters and five years experience. She has no experience - only 2 years at the company and no Masters degree.

The company has a hiring freeze and a training reduction yet they found room for her. So now, instead of being in our office with us, she'll be in Corporate Headquarters in a job she does not have the skills (emotional, psychological or physical) to do, making more money than those of us with 20 and 30 years experience - all because she was and is sleeping with her manager - a fact she now flaunts - to the point of yelling across the newsroom "I love you," when he walks in.

She still has a month here before she moves to corporate - one hour away. I say the company's "official" policy seems to be "sleep with your boss to get ahead" as this has happened before - with the same results.

We're all discouraged, disgusted and depressed. We work at a major media outlet and are wondering what we're supposed to do when this tramp is assigned to "train" us on stuff we've all been doing for years...any suggestions on how to react to someone who truly doesn't know what she is doing and got her job by other than legitimate work/talent/skills? How can a major media company do this? I don't know whether to look for another job or put up with this and hope her total inexperience, inappropriate dress and obnoxious behavior get her fired. We doubt it will since it seems to have gotten her promoted.

Comments?



Answer:

And people ask me how I've been able to come up with column ideas each week for twenty-five years&you can't make this stuff up.

My first question is how far do you want to push this? Your first question might be should we take legal action? I consulted an experienced attorney on the matter and his input suggests legal action may be a waste of time. He said if the woman had been offered the promotion in exchange for sleeping with him--and she said no and he took the promotion off the tableshe could have a case, but for the rest of the women there has been little success in cases of "the boss' sweetheart got the promotion claims.

It doesn't sound like part of a "hostile work environment since there isn't enough to show it was severe or pervasive. There might be grounds for sex discrimination or age discrimination (because the job wasn't posted, the qualifications weren't met and you could argue it was awarded to someone who fit his stereotype) but an attorney would have to hear more details before deciding if it was worth pursuing. And if you took this issue to the HR Department, or the EEOC, and protested as a group, you'd better have your ducks in a row.

So that leaves you to stew in your own juiceand marinating in depression and disgust isn't healthy. Since she is going to be in a training role, you are going to be subjected to her for limited periods of time. If you are rude or hostile during those sessions, it could come back to bite you.

So your best bet is to avoid the training by proving you already know the subject matter. If you have to attend, suck it up and just get through it.

I don't want to give you false hope but from what I've seen I can tell you that people like this rarely last long. I think your last comment is right on the moneyher behavior, dress and inexperience isn't likely to win her any supporters in the corporate office. If she isn't gone within a reasonable period of time you'll either have to get over it or get out. Let's hope someone in corporate comes to their senses before that happens.




Joan Lloyd is an executive coach, management consultant, facilitator and professional trainer/speaker.  Email your question to Joan at info@joanlloyd.com.  Joan Lloyd & Associates, (800) 348-1944, Visit www.JoanLloyd.com Joan Lloyd & Associates, Inc.