Working With The Enemy
How can you continue to work in an office where you have seriously fallen out with someone and you actually feel that they are the enemy and possibly, that you hate them or severely dislike them? Is it a case of shrugging your shoulders, walking off and signing up with a recruitment agency for a new job? Or can you tolerate the situation and perhaps even make it bearable?
Well there is no hard and fast answer to this, but you do need to think very carefully before you jack in your job, since ultimately you may be the one to suffer. At least initially you should try to get on with things and tolerate each other, you may never end up in love, but you can minimise the hate as well.
Initially it may be worth trying to think about how things are from the other person’s perspective. Do they find it difficult with you there? Have you antagonised them or was it the other way round? Are there ways that you can avoid each other, for example, if they always take their lunch and sit in the rest room from 12 – 12.30, could you take your lunch at 1 pm, so you don’t have to meet.
Remember that if the person bullies you then you have lawful rights and you should report any instances of bullying to your manager. Do not let things fester; deal with issues as they arise.
Try not to turn other people in the office against the person you dislike, since this can backfire on you. Instead retain a dignified silence and only confide in people to whom you are close: that way you maintain your dignity and the moral high ground, no matter what the other person says or does! But if they are truly obnoxious and you simply cannot get on, then eventually you should think of your health and if it is causing you stress, simply move on!
