I need some advice

[Elizabeth]

This might seem kind of weird to post, even in an off-topic section, but I really need some advice.

Since November of 2005 I've been working as a dietary employee at a hospital and a lady, let's call "M" has worked there for I think a year longer. She was originally hired as a cook but has been recently taken off those positions since she was unable to do those jobs well, never starting or ending a tray line on time.

Now she works on positions which consist of washing dishes, getting tallies ready, and other miscellaneous things. However, she can't do these either. She consistently won't make the required amount of Jello, won't restock anything, and no matter how high the count is she can't finish doing the dishes on time. She's so slow that she's even made me complete her tallies, but that finally stopped when I made several complaints to supervisors and the head of our department.

What still goes on is her making really stupid mistakes. One day she left without cleaning an entire cart full of dishes, claiming she "forgot". Other times she won't go and get food carts forcing the person on the dirty end of the dish machine, to go up and get them themselves. Another issue is her constant chatting on tray line which slows her down even more since she apparently can't talk and set trays at the same time. She's been written up many times, but it has no effect.

Even worse is her personality. A co-worker told the head of our department that she called me a "Little witch" (I've done absolutely nothing to this woman that could be considered unkind or cruel except reporting when she doesn't do her job). She also enjoys making snide or sarcastic comments.

Just two days ago she was singing during tray line when "T", a supervisor, started this exchange:

T: "Elizabeth's" ears are bleeding!
M: What?
R (another supervisor): "Elizabeth" wants to beat us all up.
M: Oh, well that's every day.

All I was doing this time was my job; I made no comments about her obnoxious singing at all. I told the department head about this situation and all she told me was to "toughen up".

Is she right? Should I just put up with awful this woman is or go above her head to Human Resources and make a complaint? I've requested not to work with her and I'm with her four days in a row on the next schedule. My stress level is at an all time high and it isn't fair that I got to work dreading what someone is going to say or if their poor work performance is going to get me behind. I really think she should be fired.

Any suggestions would be highly appreciated.

[Vicious1915]

Sometimes it's best to start finding a new job. Aside from that, you should make a complaint, but ONLY if you're sure it can be kept confidential. This is quite a ridiculous situaton, especially since a supervisor began the exchange you described. One solutions is to, in fact, toughen up, and dish out exactly what you get. If they wanna be snarky then be snarky back, or EVEN BETTER, call them out on their childishness. Nothing gets under an antagonist's skin better than your rising above them. Just practice a little arrogance. It also seems to me that the chain itself may be corrupt. If all of these people are friends then that may explain why you're having a hard time effectively communicating your grievances. In such a case, I can offer little advice aside from trying the human resources step or checking the want ads.

[Fuyukaze]

Go over your boss once you have another job lined up. Otherwise you can kiss your job goodbye. No one in managment enjoys hearing it from their boss how some low level emp made them look bad and you WILL be made to regret it. They may not fire you but they'll make you wish they did. Right untill you quit.

If the boss doesnt have a problem, reguardless of their work performance, then you dont realy have many options. Basicly you can either learn to accept incompetience in your co-worker or find a new job. I understand where your coming from. Every day I see simular at my own job. Some people get away with no call/no show and others get fired for being late 10 minutes. Some can call in sick hours after they are soposed to be there, and others get told if they dont show up it'll be wrote up as a no call/no show termination. There is no such thing as equality or ethics in alot of jobs these days. The best you can hope is how ever stupid or lazy your co-worker is doesnt show up as something you had a part in. Eventualy they'll screw up enough that the boss will have to take notice and do something. By then you may have another job but sadly you dont have many options.