Need advice DU.

[Dark]

Okay. I currently work under two supervisors: Chris, from sales, and Mark, from processing. They each are at equal rank in the company and despise each other. Usually, I end up working right next to one of them and listening as one verbally bashes the other. I like both of them alot, they're both nice otherwise. But I need to know:

What do I do when they start blasting each other with insults?(I can't avoid them when they do this.)Do I play both sides or what?

Please help! I have no experience with these things

[cally]

1. Tell them each separately that they are putting you

in a horrible situation. They are both your supervisors and you respect both. As a subordinate, ask that they keep you out of their disagreements. If they don't stop, then speak to their supervisor. Say to their supervisor that you are worried about your job. Don't blame anyone just ask their supervisor for advice how to handle this problem. Say that you feel awkward and are afraid that your job might suffer.

[Dark]

5. The problem is

that they would each become pissed at me for that. They may be nice to me, but they are somewhat immature. Also, their supervisor, Johnathan, is the only person they hate more than each other, so they'd simply get even more pissed at each other and me for tattling on them.

[Parrcrow]

6. Their supervisor Jonathon should know...

but only for the sake of information. If it explodes later on J. will have known your situation.

[eyesroll]

2. Could you stay out of it?

I mean, if they're doing this around you, could you ignore them? Or are they bringing you into it?

If it's just the noise that's distracting, perhaps pointing to your need to get your work done will help? "Hey, Chris and Mark, could you guys do me a favor and let me get this report finished? I really could use some quiet. Thanks."

If that approach doesn't work, maybe it's time to call in HR or someone above them?

Good luck. My workplace climate is such that I can (and have) used the phrase "will you please shut up?" with my boss (he asked me what took me so long). I take it yours is not.

[Teddy_Salad]

3. One thing I've learnt.....

and I think it's the most important thing to do when at work is this.

"Keep your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut."

I've been in similar situations and say nothing....concentrate on the work that needs to be done and don't get involved.

It's so much easier this way and it keeps you out of trouble.

[Dark]

8. The problem is

they don't wait till our break time to do it. They do it while I'm at my desk doing my work, which happens to sit right by one of the bosses. Some days, I'll be stuck sitting right next to the other boss. They both are alot alike, they want attention and if they don't get it they'll be really pissed.

Perhaps I should go a little further. At my job, as the old saying goes, it's not what you know, it's who you know. The reason I've kept my job so long is because Chris liked me and kept moving me to different departments within the sales part. Now I'm in processing, which I do very well. Thus, Chris is only my boss half of the week. The other half, Mark is. I can't afford to piss either of them off, but I don't want to take sides.

[TreasonousBastard]

9. Then don't take sides.

This is an annoyance, but it's between the two of them. On the bottom line-- it's none of your business, even though it does affect you to some extent.

Rest assured that their boss knows all about this, and if he doesn't, he probably wouldn't know what to do if you brought it up to him. Vast numbers of supervisers are put into that position for reasons other than knowing how to handle employees and their problems.

You stand a good chance of being moved around again, so that should take of the situation. You're best bet is to remain on good terms with both of these clowns so you can get your own best deal out of it.

Pissing people off is never, ever, a good idea unless you have a "rabbi" somewhere who can take care of you.

Who knows, you could end up being THEIR boss if you stick it out long enough.

[Dark]

10. Thanks for the advice.

I think I'm just going to try to ignore it.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

4. Immediately notify their boss

It's not so much for ratting them out purposes as it is protecting your own ass purposes. Heaven forbid one of them thinking you're taking the other's side. THAT will be a problem you will not want to deal with.

[Skittles]

7. Orion, what you need to do is change their behavior, not yours

their behavior is unacceptable. You need to let each of them know, firmly, that you will not tolerate their pettiness. DO IT ASAP.

[cheezus]

11. play them against eachother

"hey chris. mark said you were a big pussy and that he had sex with your mom"

"hey mark, just wanted to give you a heads up. christ is trying to get you fired"

hours of amusement.

[brainshrub]

12. Just quit and use your trust-fund money to survive.

That's the was a Republican would handle it.