How to deal with an office snitch?
 

In the office I work in, there's this lady (who isn't my supervisor) that always tells my boss what time myself and the other interns get in and what time we leave. She likes to tell the supervisor that we need work to do, based off what sees when spying on us. I know my supervisor isn't telling her to do these things because anytime my supvisor wants an update on anything from the interns, she does it directly. This lady is really starting to irritate me, I shouldn't have to go to work everyday worrying about if I look busy enough for someone who isn't paying me. Any recommendations on how to handle this?

Do your work.

Come to work on time.

It's not your responsibility to question her ethic it's your responsibility to solidify yours.

True. That's why I really haven't said anything to anybody about it because I've been ignoring it. Its just that another co-worker of mine keeps bring it to my attention everytime the lady does it to somebody. I just think its really petty and shows exactly how much "free time" she has on her hands. But anyway, good advice. Thanks!

That is excellent advice...and you can always go to your supervisor inquiring about your performance and how you can better assist her and the company achieve its goals/objectives. That will show that you are thinking about how you are committed to the company and the work that you do. I couldn't agree more with the other comment, make sure you go to work on time and take the allocated amount of time for lunch...make sure you are doing everything right....

The co-worker who repeatedly brings it to your attention sounds like a petty thing itself.

You don't know... if your supervisor does not work in the immediate area, she may have asked this employee to keep an eye on you guys and your general whereabouts. Your supervisor is probably too busy to babysit you guys and keep an eye on you at all times.

You said you know your supervisor isn't asking her to do these things b/c your supervisor asks for updates. Well that doesn't mean your supervisor isn't asking this employee to keep an eye on you guys.

This happens all the time, particularly with interns. When I clerked at a law firm, there were four of us clerks. The attorney who had sole responsibility for supervising us was out of the office frequently, had his office on the other side of the building, and would often be on the phone or in meetings with clients. So his secretary and the receptionist would keep tabs of our comings and goings and tell him various things about what's going on. If the interns screwed up (and yeah, we were all grouped together, if one screwed up we all got a bad rap), it would be his ass on the line and he would have to answer to the partners about why we weren't supervised enough.

If you're doing your job and coming in when you're supposed to, you have nothing to worry about so why sweat it? And encourage your co-workers to do the same.

You are an intern. You are the lowest position on the food chain. You're going to be watched. It's part of the office environment. It's part of life.

I would say say do you...meaning forget about her and do your job...if you are doing everything right, then she will look like a jack ass.