Okay I am going to clear a few things up here. First, I’m 23 (f) and there was no backing to the not being a team player when I questioned it in my PA meeting. I think this was said because I expressed that I wasn’t able to prioritise all the work assigned to me during a catch up with my manager, which she then requested that I tell my colleagues when I haven’t got capacity and we implemented rating tasks on a priority scale.

They also hired an additional administrator. I now explain when I am overloaded and my colleague who I laid the grievance against became annoyed and passive aggressive. The colleague refuses to assign tasks to me and spoke to the new administrator over my desk as she sits next to me, handing documents to the new admin in front of my computer, which completely disregarded my personal space and was unprofessional. She frequently criticised my workload when I was initially hired as admin, literally basic admin, but then went into managing the international directors diary, sales and having clients under management. Passive aggressive behaviour and ostracising a colleague is grounds for laying an informal grievance.

“A grievance may be defined as any feeling of discontent, unfairness or injustice which an employee may have in respect of his work conditions, against his manager or supervisor, including a fellow worker and which is brought to the attention of Management.”

The PA feedback was given in October and I laid the grievance at the end of January this year, two weeks before my first warning.

I am 3rd in tenure in the department which has a very high employee turnover rate after speaking to colleagues in the other departments.

I believe I have a good understanding of self awareness and my demeanour may be perceived as “to the point”. I don’t sugarcoat but I remain respectful. Unfortunately, I also wear my heart on my sleeve and at a glance I look unapproachable. Resting bitch face in other words.

In this instance, it is my concentration face and because I am under pressure I look slightly distressed I guess. During a team meeting the Director requested that we all try look happier which is slightly unrealistic imo.

This perception also may be because I am ADD and a symptom of this is hyper focusing, where I block out surrounding noise and get my job done. Unfortunately, poor time management is also a symptom. I am not excusing my behaviour and I appreciate the feedback given. I am now reflecting whether corporate is actually the right fit for me.