harassed at work (again)

I work in a law office as a long-term temp employee. The woman who sits across from me behaves like a princess. She likes it warm all year round, has a heater under her desk and turns off the air conditioning in her corner of the office. Working across from her, I found myself falling asleep and drinking excessive water and tea from thirst. Finally, I had to say "enough!" I was sitting at my desk sweating and getting sick. No air was circulating. I was very uncomfortable. So, I complained out loud about the heat. I had to; it was awful. This has made enemies and led to harassment. The princess has a lot of powerful friends.

A tube of hand lotion was stolen from my desk. When I told her (not accusingly), she suggested that maybe I took it home and forgot. No way. Then my PC was sabotaged and the screen view was messed up. Her friend who is head of the IT department said he did not know how to fix it. But, when the person I was filling in for returned, it was magically fixed. Her manager and others are now jumping on my case for the smallest things.

All I want is to be able to breathe and be comfortable. Is that too much to ask? I guess I will have to start looking for another job. I hate being alive. This has happened so many times before. People only tolerate me if I'm a complete doormat.

Hello unguy: I'm sorry you are having this difficulty. I would guess that as a temp, albeit long-term, you're an easy target. One place I worked, they used to say: "The sh** around this place rolls downhill & I'm at the bottom!" Good luck with your job search efforts...

Temps are always treated like crap. It's horrible, and I suggest you look for a permanent position where you will be treated better.

Thanks. I've been treated like crap many, many times - even when I was a full-time, permanent employee. I am sure that being gay (really asexual now) has a lot to do with it. I have no idea what to do career-wise anymore. No one will hire me anyway.

Do you think you have been treated poorly because of people's homophobia? You could consider moving to a place that is more gay friendly. If you're just not sure why you are being mistreated, you might consider discussing this specific issue with a therapist.

Some work environments are set up to be 'crud-rolls-downhill/there-can-be-only-one-winner' environments. This is true of where I work and then the powers that be wonder why people aren't nice to each other.

Can you ask for a reassignment if possible when the going on your temporary jobs gets rough?

Is it possible to find a warmer and fuzzier workplace? If the workplace embraces good values, then maybe the employees are held to the same standards? The place you describe sounds like it was basically rewarding that snot nose woman for being mean to you.

I have had so many jobs . . . and so many therapists. My experience is that therapists know nothing about careers and working in an office. Nothing. They try to get you to look on the bright side and hope for a light at the end of the tunnel. They wasted my time and money. Therapy (which I've had lots of) never made my life better. Never. I received a lot of bad advice from therapists that did not work and did not help. There will be NO more therapy.

I am at the point where I hate everything. I no longer have any hope. Life is just about survival and nothing more. There is no joy or fun. I have no friends. I am treated badly everywhere. I don't want to be alive anymore. My life has always been awful.

Unguy, that sounds like a very hostile work environment. If you are a temp, can you report the behavior to the temp agency at least and ask them to reassign you?

Hope it gets better,
Seesaw

I have to agree that in my limited experience, therapists do not know about careers and working in an office.

Before you throw in the towel, though, please consider taking a bit of time to think out what would be a joyful or fun life for yourself. It may not involve office work at all. I was shunted (allowed myself to be) into office work and it is definitely one of the layers of hell--for me. I would rather be outside and I like physical labor, particularly working with my hands. Try some really outrageous thinking outside the box for yourself. Look at the costs and benefits of what you'd really like for yourself. Can you build yourself a more enjoyable life? It will likely involve giving up some things. But could those things have come at too high a price for you?

For myself, I am not willing to kiss you-know-what to get ahead. That is too high a price for me. So I haven't gotten ahead. And that is ok. I hope I have at least given you a glimmer of hope that you can improve your life.

Yeah, maybe I should apply for janitor jobs. That is what my mean old bosses would really like to see.

It is hopeless. No words of encouragement will make a difference. I am hopeless. It's time and I am almost there.

You need to take a step back rather than outburst when things aren't the way you want them to be. You could just as easily bring in a fan, if they work temp isn't between a certain range (contact to your attorney general to find out what your state range is), the company could be fined. You could contact Osha for space heaters, fire hazard. They are breaking rules (that I'm aware of) and it's up to you to stand up for yourself, in a professional manner.

People like happy people. Be proactive about things, what changes can you make, or who do you need to contact to make sure regulations are adhered to?

I understand your frustration. My last job I was mistreated terribly, by my standards. My computer was tampered with, I was not given advancement opportunities. What did I do, I got a new a job. I stayed with where I was tolerated, until I found something better. I left with grace and also learned something there from a co-worker. Life is what you create it to be. It's up to you to make your life what you want your life to be. So go figure that out and go from there.

unguy, I agree workplace politics can be so frustrating. Many times the workplace is a popularity contest that has little or nothing to do with job quality. If you feel you can't cope in the popularity contest, I think you would be well served to try and find someplace where you can find some sense of satisfaction in your quality of work.
I am not a popular person by nature, I cannot compete in that arena; my personality IRL is too intense. But I am have focused on doing the best quality work I can do and being someone my boss can lean on and rely on.