I work for California's largest RV dealership and one the nation's largest as well. My title is Finance Sales Manager. (Big deal this is not the point of the thread.... please read on but that info effects the ending). I was transferred to a new store because I wanted make a bigger percentage because I would be the lead manager and make a lot more money for the store. Our facility has not even been built and we are in a small, did I say small, building. We are working with a pretty skeleton crew and in cramped quarters.
Before I got to this location, a receptionist was finally hired. She is 22 and frankly, very immature, not pretty and not very intelligent. She has lately informed us rudely that she is a carpet muncher (her words). But she was the ONLY woman who worked there. At first when I got there she was excited to have another woman there. But then as time went on, she took my messages, paged me for calls, etc...... When I asked her to read her messages back to me: "What does this say?" "Where is the phone number?" "Please don't go in the finance office drawers, we keep money in there" etc........ she started calling me "Boss Lady" ...... I told her to please sit at her desk and answer the phones and greet customers, she didn't belong outside with salespeople and leaving the phones untended.
She started 'freezing me out' for days at a time, you know..........no good mornings, etc. I didn't care, I come to work.
She came to a work meeting and was dressed inappropriately .........I told her to cover herself with her sweater. "Please cover up your bra with your sweater." She got in my face and then stormed out of the building. I told corporate about the situation. They have received numerous complaints about her and told me whenever they call someone else is answering the phones. My boss got mad at me at first!! He was mad I went to corporate rather than him but I explained since she has made up stories in the past I wanted them to hear from me first and he was on vacation. Well, he and I discussed her message taking (you know........Tom called. No last name no phone number) and how we can't read the durn things and her bossy attitude over the store. He decided he would write her up after her mom got out of the hospital. Corporate had told me I had the option to write her up for her insubordination if I chose to but I thought it would be better for them or my boss to do it.
So........yesterday, she comes in my office slaps piles of forms on my credenza and mumbles something, I asked her what she said she walked out. She came in with another shipment of supplies and slapped them down.........this pile was getting huge and it was not all for our finance office. I asked her something again and she walked out. Finally, I went out and said, 'Lisa, when I ask you a question, you need to answer me." She looked at me horrified that I say that to her. I said, "Lisa, I mean it." She came in with more forms and I said, "Lisa, I don't need all those, give some to sales." She then gave me this weird look and moved her body all around and said, "PLEASE, THANK YOU, MA'AM" and walked out.
Well, I came to work today, my boss took me aside and tried to say, "You two need to work this out." I told him that I would not defend myself or my actions. That Lisa gets irritated when I tell her what to do or how to do it. He knows I have tried to talk to her and explain how important receptionists are to a business.......I tried to make her see herself as valuable in her role. I told him that she does not see me as a manager but as a co-worker (which would be fine if she did her job). I told him that if I have asked her to get the messages right, that that's okay for me to do!! If I tell her to hold my calls, I don't need eyes rolled at me and then snotty unkind remarks to whoever happens to be near her, especially so I can hear it! He agreed. He told me we would talk to her together and try to get her to see that I am a manager.
So...........late in the day, my boss came to me and told me that he was so mad at her attitude. His light went on. He said she doesn't realize that if he and the other sales manager are not there, she is to look to me for direction. That I am 3rd in charge.......we have 5 managers. So, he took her on his own and told her that she needed to show respect for me, that in our whole company I am the top performer and have earned the right to be a little snitty if I wanted (thats what she said I was to her). He told her that I have customers, banks and salespeople to tend to and she has not earned the respect that she wants.
He was sooooooooooooo proud of himself and said, "I stuck up for you."
But...........he said Tuesday, we will talk to her together.......... I told him, I am not defended anything I said or did. All I know is I hate confrontation, I am wondering what I will say to her in this meeting. I don't want to get into a recital of situations with her. I just want her to do her job and stop getting her nose in everyone's business.