She's only 22...

repeat subject line as a mantra, while rocking...

One of the things I've learned over the years is that most irritants in the workforce should be ignored.

I've been having trouble with one of them. She's 22.

In time I hope the the repeated use of the short sentence, "She's 22" will become an automatic mantra designed to soothe my angered spirit.

It didn't work today. The funny part of this is that eventually I was the lone female working in a group of men. It's a riot to watch them all tip-toeing around me in fear that I would unleash my anger in their direction. I don't think I've had so many men try to make up to me since I was....ummm...let's just say, a LOT younger!

My schedule clearly stated that I was to work in NICU today. So was the 22 year old. It's not unusual for two lab techs to be there. But we've been trying to shift folks around to varying locations because we really are walking over each other in a very small lab. This will ease up when Bay 5 opens up at the end of the month.

Did I mention that she's 22? (I've really got to quit gritting my teeth.)

But, this tale begins at an earlier time. I'm just not quite sure of the actual starting date, but as far as I know, it was yesterday.

Little Mary Sunshine worked the weekend. Apparently, from what I've gathered, she was 'very tired' and it carried over into Monday. She grouched into work, helped with morning labs in NICU and then grouched her way back into Critical Care Lab. She wouldn't talk, she answered the phone in a surly manner. She spent her morning glaring at me, when she deemed it necessary. She tried to grab samples away from me, tried to hog all the work, and did so in such a way that it was just plain annoying.

Have you ever worked with someone who seemed to have it out for you and you haven't a single clue why? That's where I was. We'd had fun the last time we worked together before my six days off - at least I remember thinking that maybe she was going to turn out to be okay to work with.

I spent a lot of time wondering what had gone on during my time away. I'm still mystified, for generally I tend to journal or blog about my work gripes, but I don't carry tales to other workers.

But, I do have a gripe against Little Mary Sunshine. Have I mentioned she's 22 and this is her first REAL job?

Up to now, it seems that LMS has had sunshine blown up her ass for most of her young life. I don't think she's ever had to knuckle down and work...I mean get yer fingernails dirty, work. She's always been able to work her way out of work. One of those who, if they worked as hard at their job as they do getting out of their job, they'd be far more successful. You know the type?

She's trying to make her job what she thinks it should be in past jobs. Her day begins with doing draws in the NICU...but before she can do the draws, she has to flap her tits around in front of the two older guys who help out there each morning. She's a shameless flirt, and she's the kind of flirt that talks baby talk, bats her eyes, plays rowdy, push 'em in the shoulder *You GUYS!!!" sort of games. If they make her laugh, she always tries to have water or soda in her mouth so she can spit it out everywhere and then loudly complain that "you made me squirt pop through my NOSE!"

Gag me.

Although she's a capable phleb, (I didn't say good, I said capable) she has decided that doing heelsticks is the only needle work she should do. She refuses to help out in the lab when asked to do extra things that would help fill the time.

It's not in my job description!

She has a degree in chemistry. The jobs she has been asked to do are things that would help her get a promotion in time. She's not bright enough to figure that out.

I wasn't hired to do that job.

And, that's just the tip of the iceberg in working with her. The thing that's amazing is that all the men just plain cater to her. Brings back that comment that men have two brains and there's not enough blood supply for the both of them.

Today we all gathered in NICU to do the usual morning labs. When the work was done, we sat in the lab for a bit to regroup.

Little Mary Sunshine asked who the CLS was, and was happily clapping her hands about it. I'm kind of puzzled considering I'm the person who is supposed to stay in NICU today.

She looks over at me.

"You need to get back down to CCL."

HUH?

"Nope, I'm scheduled to be in NICU today."

"No you're NOT! I AM! That is, we're both scheduled to be here but we don't need two of us here and I'm ALWAYS the one who defers to everyone else so YOU NEED TO GO!!!!!! Besides, Role-game Player is down there already and you work with RGP, not me!!!!!!!!!!!!"

And the two men stood there and watched this with their intelligent brain clearly drained of blood in deference to the little blonde and tit liking brain.

She was actually SCREECHING!

I said, "Excuse me, but I haven't been in NICU for almost ten days. I think it's my turn. You were up here yesterday for morning labs before you came downstairs."

Didn't matter to her. After all, she's been DEFERRING to everyone else!

So, I got pissed. I mean, right there, no work up to it. Just plain pissed. So pissed I growled "FINE - I'll go downstairs just to keep the peace around here." And, I left my purse and knitting bag in the lab, necessitating that I turn around and go back and get them...which pissed me off even more.

I slammed into the CCL with murder on my face. Another co-worker took one look at me and asked what was wrong. I informed the whole freakin' lab that I was sick and tired of Little Mary Sunshine and her antics. And I slammed into the back area to cool off for a bit.

I intended to cool off and just let it go. But my supervisor came back and wondered what was going on and I let him have it. He claimed innocence at the lab catering to her. But, he listened. I told him that I was 55 and I'd be pissed for ten minutes or so and be over it, and she was allowed to be 22 and be mad for however long she wanted. I told him it was ridiculous that things were not equalateral for all the workers and that something needed to be done because I was not about to work at my job feeling like I was in the wrong about something just because someone else was allowed to bring her 'TUDE to work and the rest of us know that many things should be left at the door.

I also told him that I wasn't going to pull the "seniority" card, but if I was to pull that card, I'd be expecting that it be understood that I've already earned my stripes in this job and LMS has NOT. He got the message, I believe.

And then the dance of 'catering' to Kate began. Maybe that's the secret. Maybe I should let the inner bitch out more often at work. I mean, those guys were dancing around me trying to make sure I was not mad AT THEM. My supervisor even sat down with me for the last two hours trying to work out some kind of schedule that will keep people in the lab more equal and happy.

Maybe some good will come of this. We'll see.

/End rant...for now.