Posted by faceynotary on 12/7/06 10:46am
Msg #164535

"Workplace Bullying"

Workplace Bullying:

He all, just wanted to share a story with you that happened at work today. The law firm for which I work asked me to sign someone else's on the Christmas cards that will be going out next week. This attorney only comes in every so often and is an elderly person who has arthritis.

I told this partner attorney that I don't sign anyone's name on anything. She said it was not a legal document, "just a Christmas Card." She said you would not do it for your job? I said "I would not do it for my place of work, personally or anywhere else." She said that she will find allocate someone else to do it. She said you can do the mailing labels. I told her I have been overseeing everything else and that would include the mailing labels (and she knows this already).

The person who sits next to me, pushed this project on me and is supposed to be helping. The attorney who has arthritis is her boss, so why doesn't she sign this attorney's name on the 800 cards? The attorney who asked me to sign this man's name, is also her boss. Perhaps she will now. However, it doesn't matter, for I am not doing it.

My late granddad was a very terminally ill man. He signed whatever document that was put before him. My grams (his wife) still signs her own name and she has arthritis. So I don't want to hear it.

Workplace Bullying is rampant, and I read about the Notary Community being coerced into doing illegal things. Only 2 of my bosses know I am a notary and I have done courtesy notarizations for them, but I don't publicize my commission for many reasons. It is a law firm so they can find one anywhere who will be happy to comply with whatever, but I sure as heck am not listing my name in the directory as a "firm notary" for reasons such as the aforementioned. Although this was not related to my commission (but in some small way it is), it still runs in that same category of "workplace bullying." Since becoming a notary, I take the law very seriously and there are just certain requests I will not concede to.

There is a lot of politics that have been going on here, and God willing, I will continue to work on my goals for next year.

Thanks for listening all. I love reading and sometimes posting here since many of you have so much insight and can empathize with many experiences we all dare to share on this board and/or other notary forum boards.

Savvy Brooklyn NYC Gal

Reply by MelissaM_FL on 12/7/06 10:51am
Msg #164537

I don't get how this is bullying.

You were asked to sign someone's name to a Christmas card, which you were not willing to do. When you said no, the person asking simply assigned it to someone else. No harm, no foul. Unless you have reason to believe that the attorney would not want his name signed to a Christmas card for religious or personal reasons, then I don't see a problem.

FTR, I've signed plenty of Christmas/Holiday cards for employers in the past. Of course, the person(s) whose name(s) were to be signed were always the person(s) to request that I sign their name(s), so that may be the sticking point for you.

Reply by faceynotary on 12/7/06 10:57am
Msg #164538

Re: I don't get how this is bullying.

No she insisted that I did and no the person personally did not ask me to sign his name.

I understand your point. Ms. Melissa, but it's something I just don't do.

Jacqueline

Reply by faceynotary on 12/7/06 10:59am
Msg #164540

Re: I don't get how this is bullying.

Oh and it hasn't been assigned yet. There might be further asking. Sorry did not make this clear. My particular dept has a way of weaseling people into doing things.

Jacqueline

Reply by SueW/Tn on 12/7/06 11:04am
Msg #164542

Ms. Facey

sounds like there's more going on within your firm than this small incident. I know, I know...appears small to me but huge to you perhaps because of past history. I don't want to make light of this so please take my comment in the most casual of ways...IF this is the worst case of "bully" you've got, you've got nuttin' honey. Office politics have been going on since Caesear (et tu brute') and will continue with or without your co-operation. There's always gonna be an office hero and an office a$$ hole, it's merely human nature. Don't let the negative vibes get into your space, a simple and kind "no"...then move on.

Reply by faceynotary on 12/7/06 11:09am
Msg #164547

Re: Ms. Facey

Yes Ms. Sue, there is more going on... This is probably why Ms. MelissaM did not see it workplace bullying.

I will try not to let this be a negative thing. There was an incident that happened a few weeks back, whereby on of the big wigs wanted to notarize his wife's name without her presence. I thought my neighbor was going to give me up and she did not. She said she knows that is not legal. I don't know if the requestor knew I was a notary or did not. She was a notary but let her commission expire and cursed all day that she wish she wasn't expired.

I know this is a small issue, but I have only been her less than a year and I've experienced small instances of workplace bullying so this is probably why I am bothered by this.

Thanks again Ms. Sue.

Reply by PL on 12/7/06 11:07am
Msg #164545

If you don't like where you work, move on. Seems fairly simple to me. Sometimes I get so ticked that I just want to quit, but I don't have the nerve to tell me.

Reply by MelissaM_FL on 12/7/06 11:10am
Msg #164548

PL, My biz partner and I "quit" all the time...

but we still take that next phone call....

Reply by faceynotary on 12/7/06 11:11am
Msg #164550

LOL... Mis MelissaM- business is business n/m

Reply by faceynotary on 12/7/06 11:10am
Msg #164549

PL I am work on it... thanks. I guess you understand.

Reply by faceynotary on 12/7/06 11:12am
Msg #164551

"working" I mean PL.

Reply by SueW/Tn on 12/7/06 11:13am
Msg #164552

I loved PL's comments too...ROFLMAO

something I always keep in the back of my mind..."give em enough rope"...always helps me smile and stay positive

Reply by faceynotary on 12/7/06 11:17am
Msg #164553

I hear ya Miss. Sue...

I hear ya Miss Sue. I keep a journal at work with any uncomy moments I've experienced....

Reply by SueW/Tn on 12/7/06 11:19am
Msg #164555

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh n/m

Reply by faceynotary on 12/7/06 11:20am
Msg #164557

Re: Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

OK... thanks all... I am outta here, until this afternoon. I needed the pick me up.

Reply by MaineNotary on 12/7/06 1:51pm
Msg #164601

I've forged - opps! - signed many a bosses signature in my past. But always at that person's direction. I signed payroll checks, correspondence, etc. when asked BY the CEO. No doubt the bank customer service reps thought my rendition of his signature WAS his and had he attempted to cash something with "his" signature, they may have accused him of forgery. ;-)

But I wouldn't sign anything at someone else's request. Not even a card. That belongs to the person, part of their identity.

signed,
a Carnarsie-born transplant to Maine

Reply by faceynotary on 12/8/06 9:56am
Msg #164767

Miss Maine

Carnarsie in the hizouse. I am not far from there, close to Brookdale Hosptal and not far from Nazereth HS.

I hear ya., after I became a notary I am more aware of what I would do versus what I would have done prior, but even then I was cautious.

Savvy Brooklyn NYC Gal