I have decided to take a part time job as a RN in a long term care home. I do have a full time job, as an RN but looking down the road, I see changes coming along within the next 2-3 years that will make me want to leave my current employment. When I applied, the interviewer commented on how good a fit I seem to be with the company, and she wished I would consider full time, also the possibilites of promotion and managerial level positions because they promote from within. I had my first orientation shift yesterday, fell in love with the possibilites with this employer, and went to get the paperwork filled out at the job site this morning.
And so bursts my bubble.
It seems that my former boss, who hired me at the job I have currently (full time) will be a co worker at this new casual job. When she was my boss we initially got along well, but when she discovered I don’t gossip about my co workers, or tattle tell about minor things, at this point our relationship changed. It became very difficult,;she became openly hostile to me. To be fair, I often felt she was not approachable, or knowledgable in some areas, and would go over her head or around her for advice and direction. (Which was technically correct, but a tactical error on my part, plus rather openly insulting.) This led to her placing an official reprimand on my file and she made life miserable for me for months, threatening disciplinary action for any percieved slight. Eventually I was injured and went off work for several months, (workers compensation) and in that time ( year and a half ago) she was fired from the hospital. I don’t know exactly what happened, nor do I particularly care to discuss it ever. When I went back to work, I had a new boss and things have been fine ever since.
So, we meet again, but this time we will be on the equal footing. (which of course represents a loss of status for her) Does anyone have any advice for working along side and equal to a former boss? Especially one who made your life difficult previously? I am not out for revenge, nor to hurt her, I just don’t want her to carry it forward.
My suggestion would be to just be polite & cordial if you have to work together, and hope you don’t otherwise. It sounds like she’s likely to make trouble; if she does, make sure you document it and don’t sink to her level.
My experience personally has been a good one. One of my current coworkers is my former boss who hired me at my previous job. Before she was let go (change in administration), we got along very well and she often treated me as her equal. Now officially we ARE equals, but we come to each other with questions as we each have slightly different expertise in our new positions. I think it helps that we’re not that different in age (she’s slightly older) so other than our original roles we were pretty much contemporaries.
I’m sorry your dream job isn’t looking so dreamy anymore. 
I think the issue is your problems with her, not her status as your boss. When I got promoted to manager the first time, I worked with my boss (it was in a spinoff group) with zero problems, but he was a great guy. He eventually wound up working for me. is your case any different from if she were a more senior equal who made your life miserable?
IMO, cover your ass and cover it fast. Make sure your current supervisor/manager knows that your new coworker used to be your boss. I’d suggest framing it as something like, “Person X used to be my boss at OldJob. Do you have any suggestions for working with her has a peer now?” So (a) you alert your superior to the potential for fallout, but (b) you don’t specifically bring up any history that could make you look like you’re not a team player, and (c) you get to butter up the new boss by showing that you care about their opinion and guidance.
The difference between her being a former boss, and just a former co worker is in her former capacity she had the power to make my life difficult merely by being my boss. If your co worker is miffed that you don’t gossip, it makes for a bit of tension in the nursing station. If your boss wants you to tattle, and you don’t she can start using words like “insubordination” around, and escalate things.
I have no problem being cordial and polite with the ex boss. It is not like the day she wrote me up was the last day I worked with her. That was February, I worked until June, she was fired in November. The way the facility is structured I will not have to be working directly with her. It is an odd social dynamic to have the person who tried to get you fired as a co worker. My plan is to just kind of ignore the old structure, since it is not relevant at the new place, but would it be like ignoring the elephant in the room if I didn’t mention it?
Shot from Guns I hadn’t seen your post when I replied. I like your answer. I will do that. The main thing is I know I don’t NEED this job, just want it. The former boss probably NEEDs this job, so in my opinion it behooves her to play nice.
Thanks.
My boyfriend just pointed out that she is the one who was fired and hasn’t floor-nursed in Og-knows-how-long. (She is about my age, but she was a stay at home mom until she worked casually for a year, then parlayed who knows what into a management job that no one else wanted.) She might be more embarassed and on edge because of me and what I know, about her, than vice versa. Still, I will be extremely on my guard, and definitely won’t be gossiping with her. ( I abhor workplace gossip anyway and get more than my fill of it with some of my co workers… shudder…)
Why don’t you just go full time with the new company, get promoted to management, and simply smile sweetly every time the two of you meet?
There is full no full time positions open now. Six weeks ago when I interviewed there was (and I wasn’t interested, I want to get five full years in the pension plan before I move jobs) The ex boss took the position. Any managment position that opens up will be open to her too. Maybe she would get it based on previous experience as a manager. Maybe I would because Im pretty damn sure I know the NURSING part of it better than she does, and hell, I wasn’t fired from my last job. Anyway its a big company, I can always bid on places out of the building.
But Contrapuntal, I like the way you think…
Just an update on this situation.
Tuesday I walk into the orientation, she is not there. I start filling in my tax forms, this and that, and in walks Ex-boss. She takes one look at me and calls me out by first and last name. And sits beside me and chats like we are old long lost friends. She tells people that Mona Lisa and I worked together at (facility)
She is spinning the story that she was let go because of the changes going on, and the downsizing, which is plausible enough. But its not what I heard, not what people who were there the day she was “Walked” said, and … well no, something aint quite right with that story.
But I can give her the benefit of the doubt, because I wasn;t there, and again I don’t really want to talk about those days.
The day after the power-point type orientation, she had a day shift orientation, and I came in for an evenings. She looked frazzled and hectic, talked about how much walking around there was in that building. (there should have been a lot more walking around in her old job, but um, well she was scared of the patients and rarely left her unit to walk the floor.) She had no idea about some meds. I know, first day and all, but she was as fish outta water as could be. I loved my shift, found it interesting, good work and exactly what I like to do… walk around, talk to everyone, trouble shoot and problem solve.
I’m not worried about her any more, except that I feel I may end up trouble shooting and problem solving about her!
Personally, since you are both starting at the exact same time - I would say you are good.
It would be more awkward if she had been there before you and knew all these people that you didn’t. Clearly seems like she is more scared of you and wants to keep on your good side - go with that 
Good luck!!
Thanks, Melody… I feel pretty much the same way. I actually felt sorry for her, she lost her house after she was fired (laid off, let go whatever) and she has come down a lot in the world in the last 3 years since she was the bane of my existence.
And, in the “It never rains but it pours” department, I have an interview for a manager type job next month. They called this morning, and started out with questions like "Can you travel out of town (4 specific days in September) for orientation? Would occasional weekends and evenings be a problem for you?, before they even told me about when and where the interview would be held.
I think that bodes very well. Wow. And I have two resumes out right now too, at least one should call me for an interview.
Yay! Hope things keep going well.