One Bad Apple …

Really can spoil the whole bunch! I read a great article (Rotten to the Core…) about research that was done looking at the effect of having even one person in a workplace that is dysfunctional in some way. The research showed that one person’s bad behavior can override all attempts of every other person in the same workplace to create a positive environment. I put copies around Library hoping that everyone would read it and think about solutions (we all know who the bad apple is here!)

Apparently the best defense in not to hire such a person but if you accidentally do hire one, make sure you isolate them – lock them in their office each day and don’t let them infect the rest of the workers with their negative energy! I’m not sure what the implications are for the tenure system?

Can’t We All Just Get Along?

We just had a particularly difficult department meeting. Major decisions about open positions needed to be discussed but surprise, that did not happen! It was clear that the decisions had been discussed at length by some of the faculty before the meeting and decisions had been made already. All they were looking for was concurrence.

In frustration, Doc and I attempted to interject discussion but there was no support forthcoming. The non-tenures just sat there, afraid to open their mouthes, eyes downcast. Spineless! It is infuriating.

After the meeting Gumby sent out a smarmy email, attempting to diffuse the tension? What a feeble individual it is who will not speak their truth and then tries to play the role of peacemaker.

Email Etiquette for God’s Sake!

How do you feel about others forwarding email that you intend for just them? I was shocked when Boobie forwarded – to all of Library faculty- a conversation that she and I were having through email. This was a conversation that she initiated encouraging me to attend a presentation about student evaluations (obviously a patronizing reference to my failure to acquire those evaluations last semester).

The exchange took a turn when she became condescending and I countered with my strong feelings about the biased manner that those in Library use to distribute student evaluations in their attempt to look like other faculty. She then forwarded the email chain to all in the department.

Lovely… Does it make a difference that she initiated the email? Maybe that was why she felt free to share it? I think she was just being a bitch…