Your Hangout message:

"Hi, Sir TOny.

"A happy belated Halloween.

"I would like to seek your thoughts, sir, regarding my work.

"I have been working as a ___________ for a government ____________ that handles ______ __________ for almost half a year now. When I accepted the job, I knew, and it was a fear too, that the working environment would be competitive, and there will be 'pulitika.'

"It took me a while to fully adjust to my new work environment, and have only recently felt at ease. However, a few weeks ago, I learned that a workmate somehow disliked me, which I have already sensed during my first months.

"I think it has something to do with the deferment of our regularization. She may have put some blame on me and another co-worker, which I don't think is right since performance evaluation, as far as I know, is individual.

"My feeling towards work may have been influenced by this as I begin to feel unease again at work.I feel that there is a deliberate exclusion of me. I am also not okay with tasks assigned to me since I feel that task assignments are mixed up, and I am no longer assigned to writing tasks. I do not want to come across as 'pabibo' if I ask for tasks that I feel more appropriate for my position.

"I do not know what to do sir. Gusto ko lang po magtrabaho nang maayos, pero hindi po nakakatulong na may ganito pong issue. As much as possible, I want to avoid politics and negative issues at work. I also do not want to leave work just because of this. I do not want to confront anyone din because these are only 'feelings/senses.'I may or may not be right about how I perceive the situation. How do I handle this, sir?

"Thank you po.

"______________"

My reply:

Hello ______________!

The right way to handle this is to stay in the background for now while doing your work as excellently as possible. Your situation will pass, as does everything. Take heed always from the Opus Dei guideline about Saint Joseph the Worker: If you are made to sweep the floor, go ahead and do it, but make sure that you do it well.

Employees are frequently assigned to do odd jobs as a test. Your success is determined by your attitude, your flexibility, your social image, and your self-esteem.

Many, many years ago, on my first job, I had a co-worker named Norma who was a malicious gossip, a manipulator, a backbiter, and a sower of petty intrigues. When I moved on to my second job in another office I was overjoyed to not see her ever again. But, guess what? There was someone like her in that second office. And in the third. And in the fourth.

Here, then, is the tenet of every employee: THERE IS A NORMA EVERYWHERE.

That is why the most important thing for you should be to do your assigned tasks well, regardless of your co-workers, because it is the only thing that you have under your control.

If what you are asking for, however, is a magical solution, you will find it in my cyberspace book 99 Panibagong Kulam.