Being Nice Doesn't Pay: Work (Almost) Woes

Am I perfect?

Hell, no.

Can't I make a mistake?

Of course, I can. I'm only human.

But (and that's a massive, gigantic BUT), when I make a mistake, I admit it.

Years ago, in college, I told one of my classes one big, silly thing. One student told me I was wrong; I checked, she was right, and the following week, I made a big mea culpa and corrected my mistake.

I'm formatted that way.

Because it's better to correct a mistake and admit that one was wrong (that's what it says in my book).

As well, even though I'm not working in anything dangerous or vitally important for the safety of the entire planet, I'm extremely careful about my job and the things I have to do because:

a- I'm paid to do my job properly

b- it's the right thing to do

c- I'd have panic attacks if I didn't do my job properly

Now... in one of my several jobs, I had to work with someone...

I'm not a fan of team work, because there's nearly always someone below me who thinks "it" should be above me (and I'm usually too nice to bark).

Today, I did bark.

Imagine the Mars Project:

Supervisors: A, B & C

Coordinator: me (D)

Rest of the team: E to Zx2 (big team; over thirty people, in fact)

I was to collect files from each team members. I got two files early, about twenty files on time, the rest was late and one... one was never given to me.

Since I'm not the kind who points and says '"it" didn't do "its" work', I forgot BUT I noted it down in my archives (I've got archives for everything; I've got so many folder, sub-folders and sub-sub-folders that the Minotaur would be at home in my files).

Since I'd forgotten who the lazy one was, I looked for the missing file during a meeting. When I remembered that I was never given the file, I didn't want to embarrass the person, and I didn't say that "it" had let me look for the file whilst I'd never had it to begin with. [Note to self: NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

The person who didn't do "its" work went to see C to complain that I'd lost the file, and C, being too good a heart and too trusting, asked me in front of A and B what happened with the lost file.

Good thing that I can prove that the "team" members is the one lying, otherwise I'd have to explain why I've lost a file (for the moment, I've never lost anything: I'm paranoid about work, and I'm obsessed with order).

I can't believe that this person went above me to save "its" hide.

It proves that snakes (apologies to actual snakes) are amongst us, and that it doesn't pay to be nice because someone will stab you in the back.

From now on, in all my jobs, I'll no longer be nice. Oh, and I'll name and shame, since it'll make sure that I have witnesses on top of my well-kept archives in order to prove that I'm innocent of any wrongdoing.

The gall of some bipeds will never cease to amaze (and sadden) me.